From the CEO
Hello everyone
Welcome to our February enews!
I have been fortunate to visit some of our services in January, making my way to meet with some of our amazing teams in Morisset, Newcastle, Wollongong and Nowra. Our teams are making significant impacts to the people they support, both with families and carers and people impacted by mental health challenges. I look forward to other visits in the upcoming weeks, including to some Mind services in Victoria.
On behalf of One Door Mental Health, I would like to congratulate Prof Anthony Harris AM on being appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia during Australia Day honours. Your significant service to mental health as a clinician and academic is truly commendable, and reflects your dedication to making a positive impact for the people we support. One Door Mental Health is proud to have you as our Chair, and we celebrate this well-deserved recognition of your exceptional contributions.
One Door will again be participating in Mardi Gras Fair Day on Sunday 18 February on Gadigal Land. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the LGBTQIA+SB community as a member or as an ally, and we hope to see you there at this family-friendly event. If you’re around, pop over to our stall and say hello!
Mental Health Australia has prepared a Pre-Budget Submission 2024-25 noting that, whilst the Australian Government made progress in some key areas of mental health reform in 2023, the current system is not equipped to support the current and growing needs of the community and there is a dire need to build upon this work to fundamentally reform the mental health system and improve Australia’s mental health. You can review their recommendations here.
Mind Australia’s Stratford Scholarship is now open for expressions of interest from the Peer Workforce and emerging Peer leaders for a new, national opportunity for an emerging Peer leader – individually or as a group - from diverse and intersectional backgrounds who want to be part of transformational change in their community. Potential outcomes of the scholarship might include discipline specific supervision, leadership development training, peer led innovations and development of new initiatives. The Stratford Scholarship was established to honour Lived Experience pioneer Anthony Stratford and his dedication to advocating for a recovery and lived experience approach to supporting people with mental health and wellbeing challenges. Applications close on 7 February 2024 and you can find more information here
Lastly, registration is now open for the Finding North Network Lived Experience e-Symposium “Perspectives 2024” held across 19 and 20 March. This year, the theme is “Amplifying Lived Experience Perspectives for Connection, Awareness and Change” and will showcase diverse Lived and Living Experience voices and perspectives. Registration for this free online event is essential, with the option to attend Day 1, Day 2 or both days, and the e-symposium will be recorded and shared to all those registered following the event.
Until next month …
Kathi