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February 2022

MHCV Team Update

Hi valued carers,

We would like to welcome you all to another busy year with our first newsletter for 2022. We hope you're all staying safe and enjoying the new year so far. With a bit of luck and support, 2022 will definitely be a better year for all of us. This year we are also very happy to welcome Catherine Joseph to the Mental Health Carers Voice team (which has now exclusively become a team of Catherine's).

Thank you to all the carers who came along to the Caring Together conference last Friday. It was an insightful and thought-provoking day to remember. We had a wonderful time, heard some inspiring stories, and shared some deep moments together.

Suffice to say, the Conference has kicked off what is sure to be an exciting year. We will be using the feedback we received during the event to shape some of our work for the year ahead. Focuses like the safety of carers in the home, and access to NDIS for psychosocial disability remain top priorities for us. We ensure that you, as our valued carers, are updated every step of the way as we start working collaboratively to see the landmark legislation of the Carers Recognition Act 2021 come into force within the ACT. Your voice is vital to the work we do and if you have anything you wish to share please feel free to contact us via email mhcarers@carersact.org.au.

All the best,

Catherine Joseph and Catherine Vonarx,

The Mental Health Carers Voice Team

Get Involved

Want to be more involved in Mental Health Carers Voice's work? You can:

Sign up for our consultation list by updating your subscription settings here.
Check the consultations page on our website for upcoming opportunities.
Like us on Facebook for regular updates and opportunities.
Join our Advocacy and Policy Advisory Group, a group of mental health carers who draw on their lived experience to drive our work. Learn more.

Revised COVID Restrictions in Mental Health Inpatient Units

From Wednesday the 16th of February the Adult Mental Health Inpatient Units have eased their visitor restrictions. The following restrictions now apply to the all the units:

Two visitors per patient, per day but only one visitor at a time unless approved by the clinical team
It is strongly recommended that visitors are fully COVID-19 vaccinated but not mandated.
Compassionate exceptions to the visitor advice should continue.
All COVID-19 safe principles and behaviours continue to apply to all visitors.
The visitors per day can be in addition to active participants in care (for instance care workers)
Children under 5 years of age should avoid visiting health facilities, where possible.

For more information on the current restrictions at the Canberra Health Services head over to the ACT Government website here.

Multilingual COVID Fact Sheets

The Department of Health has developed fact sheets in 63 languages which contain important information regarding COVID-19. This includes information on common symptoms, the types of tests available in Australia, when to get tested, and information for people who test positive for COVID-19 or are close contacts.

You can access them here:

New Guides to the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights and Open Disclosure

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare has released a new easy-to-read flyer for consumers of health services to provide a quick-reference summary of the seven healthcare rights.

The new consumer flyer describes what to expect when receiving healthcare and is useful to help patients and their carers have conversations with their clinicians about healthcare rights

The My Healthcare Rights flyer is can be accessed here. 

The Commission have also released two fact sheets on open disclosure:

Open disclosure – 'what to expect if you experience harm during health care?' is a short fact sheet about open disclosure and healthcare rights.
Preparing and participating in open disclosure discussions - a fact sheet with specific information for a person and/or their support people when starting the open disclosure process. This includes what to expect during the process, how to access support and how to prepare for open disclosure discussions.

The fact sheets are available in easy English versions and 25 language translations. They can be accessed here.

For more information on either the flyer or the fact sheets, email partneringwithconsumers@safetyandquality.gov.au.

Lifeline’s new Crisis Support 24/7 Text Service Open

Lifeline Australia has been able to fast-track the expansion of text and chat services to 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week to meet demand and increase accessibility for hard-to-reach groups.  In a 2019 evaluation of the service, 42% of contacts said they would not have used another service if the text or chat were not available. 

If you, or someone you know are feeling overwhelmed, we encourage you to connect with Lifeline in the way you feel most comfortable. You can text the Crisis Support Text Service on 0477 131 114 or phone Lifeline to speak to a Crisis Supporter on 13 11 14.

Rent Relief Fund

The Attorney-General has announced a Rent Relief Fund of $133,000 which commenced on 26 November 2021. The Rent Relief Fund provides grants of up to $1000 to eligible tenants in private or community housing which is paid directly to the landlord or grantor as a credit towards the tenant’s rent.

The Rent Relief Fund is being administered by Care Financial Counselling Service on behalf of the ACT Government and applications are currently being accepted. Find out more and apply here.

Counting the Costs: Report on ACT Community Sector Funding released

Commissioned by ACTCOSS, the Counting the Costs report shines a spotlight on the financial pressures faced by the ACT community sector and has applauded a commitment by the ACT Government to work with community services to develop a more sustainable model of funding.

Further information can be found on the media release and the Counting the Costs report.

NDIS: Community Connectors Final Report released

The NDIS have released a Final Report reviewing the outcomes and lessons learned from the National Community Connector Program for people with psychosocial disability. This internal review found that the program was successful in supporting greater participation of people with psychosocial disability and experience or risk of homelessness in the NDIS, across the seven program locations.

Read the NDIS Community Connectors Final Report here.

NDIS: Consultation Summary Report on Interventions for Children on the Autism Spectrum released

Results of the NDIS' consultation on interventions for children on the autism spectrum are publicly available. During the consultation period, the Agency hosted public information and feedback sessions and met with representatives from national peak bodies, academic experts, participants and other stakeholder groups. 

Read the NDIS Consultation Summary Report here.

ACT’s Disability Health Strategy Steering Committee Invite

The ACT Government is inviting people with disability, families, carers and service providers to join the ACT Disability Health Strategy steering committee to help shape the future of health services for Canberrans with a disability.

Read more in the media release or find out how to apply for the committee. Expressions of interest close 5:00 PM 25 February 2022.

Words and Images: Focus Group Invite

Everymind is seeking participants for a series of focus groups exploring the use of language and imagery in public communication about mental health and wellbeing, mental illness, suicide and alcohol and other drug use. They are seeking media professionals, professional communicators, people with professional and personal experience with mental ill-health, suicidal behaviour and/or alcohol and other drugs to participate in targeted focus groups. Participants will be asked to share their views about safe, inclusive and non-stigmatising public representations of mental health issues, suicidal behaviour and alcohol and other drugs. The results from these focus groups will contribute to and inform the development of resources to support best-practice communication for a range of stakeholders, including media, professional communicators, organisations, governments and individuals.

The focus groups will be conducted between the 1-10 March 2022. Find more information about this research study and register to participate.

National Mental Health Commission: Lived Experience contribution Invite

The National Mental Health Commission has several significant projects in progress, including the Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy, the National Workplace Initiative, and the establishment of the National Suicide Prevention Office.

If you, or someone you know, would like to add your voice to the diversity of experiences shared with the Commission, please register through the Have Your Say platform and help to shape Australia’s mental health and suicide prevention reform priorities.

Healthy Prison Review 2022: Submission Invite

The ACT Office of the Inspector of Correctional Services (OICS) is conducting the second Healthy Prison Review of the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) in 2022. The review will assess how the AMC is performing against the OICS ACT Standards for Adult Correctional Services. OICS invites input in writing or any other format (e.g. video message) from any entities, groups or individuals with knowledge or experience about the AMC.

Find out more here. Submissions close 15 March 2022.

Take Control - Live Well Program

Take Control – Live Well is a FREE 3-week group program made for ACT residents over the age of 18 with a chronic health condition (lasting 3+ months) to provide the skills and confidence to take control of their condition to improve health and wellbeing. The program will help connect with others and get support to make changes and live well.

To find out more information on this course and how you can register please visit the Take Control – Live Well web page or call the Central Health Intake on (02) 5124 9977.

Managing Your Medicines Seminar

The Health Care Consumers' Association are organising a seminar on medication management, presented by a registered pharmacist. This seminar will help you or someone you care for to:

Understand how to interpret a medicines label
Know the differences between generic and brand medicines
Learn about medication interactions
Provide you with information that may help to reduce your medicine costs

The seminar will be held ONLINE via Zoom on Monday the 28th February 2022 between 2 - 3 PM. You can register via Eventbrite or phone the HCCA on 6230 7800.

Carers ACT Mental Health Carer Support Groups

Carers ACT host three carer support groups a month, provide Mental Health Carers with the opportunity to talk freely about how their caring situation impacts their life.

If you are interested in learning more about these groups, please call us on 6296 9900 or email support.groups@carersact.org.au for more information.

Events Coming Up