Noticeboard - General PPEI
The latest news in the area of promotion, prevention and early intervention for mental health. Additional news relevant to Consumers and Carers is available here.
A complete list of items for this year is available here. Older noticeboard items from last year are still available for your perusal.
| 2008-04-01 |
Development of e-learning package: COPMI consultation
The National COPMI Initiative is currently consulting with consumers,
carers, mental health professionals, academics and professional
colleges and associations from around Australia about the content for an
e-learning package. The package will be a free resource available to
mental health workers (psychiatrists, nurses, social workers,
psychologists, occupational therapists) and GP’s who interact with
children and families where a parent has a mental illness.
COPMI is also hoping to interview people who have developed and/or
implemented workforce training programs in the past two years in
Australia. Information about the process is available from the COPMI Website or contact Kylie Eddy, Ph:(08) 83670888 Ext 25, Email: Kylie Eddy until April 30th.
| 2008-04-01 |
New research into parent fatigue
According to Associate Professor Jan Matthews, Director of Research
and Practice at the Parenting Research Centre (PRC), when parents are
coping with fatigue it can have an impact on their ability to raise
children. This survey of parent wellbeing will help to determine the
level of fatigue that families are coping with on a daily basis, as well
as to identify any potential impact on parenting. The research findings
will be of real value in developing information and strategies to help
support families.
The PRC would like to hear from any parents of children aged 0-6 who
would like to participate in the parent fatigue and wellbeing survey:
for more information go to Parent Fatigue Survey.
| 2008-03-31 |
Angels and Demons: Andrew Denton looks at the world of mental illness
At the 2007 Annual Mental Health Services Conference in Melbourne
Andrew Denton met people from many walks of life who have struggled with
severe mental illness. "Angels and Demons" provides a rare insight into
the experiences of those with mental illness and finds the possibility
of a better life for people often dismissed as beyond hope.
This episode of Enough Rope will screen on ABC TV, Monday April 7th at 9.35pm.
| 2008-03-31 |
Mental Health (MH), Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) and MH/AOD Comorbidity Courses: Scoping exercise
The National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA)
has been contracted by the Australian Department of Health and Ageing to
undertake a scoping exercise of Mental Health (MH), Alcohol and Other
Drug (AOD) and MH/AOD Comorbidity courses in Australia.
A list of accredited courses is available for viewing on the NCETA website.
If you are involved with, or aware of, any accredited courses suitable
for inclusion: please see guidelines and a submission pro-forma for key
stakeholders and the general public on same webpage.
The deadline for submissions is Friday 11 April 2008. Electronic submissions are preferred and should be forwarded to nceta@flinders.edu.au.
| 2008-03-26 |
National 'Listening Tour'
Sex Discrimination Commissioner and Commissioner responsible for Age
Discrimination, Elizabeth Broderick, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Social Justice Commissioner and Acting Race Discrimination
Commissioner, Tom Calma, joined with the Northern Territory
Anti-Discrimination Commission and the NT Legal Aid Commission, in the
first 'Listening Tour' consultation yesterday in Darwin. The
consultation was part of Commissioner Broderick’s national tour.
"We had a vibrant conversation about the unique challenges in the NT on
the three themes of the tour - economic independence for women, work and
family balance across the life cycle, and freedom from discrimination,
harassment and violence" Ms Broderick said.
The 'Listening Tour' can be found online at Listening Tour Blog.
| 2008-03-25 |
New research into parent fatigue
According to Associate Professor Jan Matthews, Director of Research
and Practice at the Parenting Research Centre, “We know that when
parents are coping with fatigue it can have an impact on their ability
to raise children. Previous international research has shown that
fatigue can get in the way of parent-child and partner relationships,
which has implications for a child’s emotional, physical and cognitive
development, as well as for people’s physical and emotional health.
Fatigue may even be a trigger in post-natal depression so there is a
major need for resources to help parents address their fatigue”.
The Parenting Research Centre and the Parent Wellbeing team would like
to hear from any parents of children aged 0-6, whether they are feeling
fatigued or not, who would like to participate in the parent fatigue and
wellbeing survey. For more information go to Parenting Research Centre.
| 2008-03-17 |
Racism research tender: request for researchers
The Foundation for Young Australians is seeking Expressions of
Interest from experienced researchers interested in conducting
qualitative and quantitative research on the experiences and impact of
racism on the health and wellbeing of young Australians in 2008.
Expressions of Interest should briefly outline the proposed research
methodology for undertaking the research (including details of research
tools and analytic frameworks), provide an itemised budget, and indicate
availability and timeframe. Expressions of Interest should be received
by email or in hardcopy by 5pm Monday 21 April 2008
Further information about the project is available on the Foundation for Young Australians website.
| 2008-03-13 |
National Indigenous Health Equality Summit
More than 100 representatives from peak Indigenous and mainstream
health bodies, non-government organisations and the reconciliation
movement will partner with the Australian Government in convening a
National Indigenous Health Equality Summit from 18-20 March in Canberra.
The summit will be led by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Social Justice Commissioner, Tom Calma.
The summit will then culminate in a public event at the Great Hall of
Parliament House on 20 March with the Minister for Health and Ageing,
other members of the government and Opposition, as well as Olympians
Catherine Freeman and Ian Thorpe. This event is open to all members of
the public: RSVP Brett Harrison .
For more information go to HREOC webpage.
| 2008-03-12 |
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Research Foundation: Funding research into indigenous health and more
The RACGP Research Foundation supports general practice research
through the provision of grants, scholarships, fellowships and awards
each year. The Foundation especially encourages the provision of high
quality health care to Indigenous people. In cooperation with the
Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute (APHCRI) the
Foundation will offer three RACGP/APHCRI Indigenous Health Awards in
2008;
Up to 9 alternative awards are also being offered to fund a plan of study or travel, or to undertake research.
Applications are open and all interested RACGP members are invited to
apply. Applications close 14 April at 5pm (EST). Grant descriptions,
eligibility criteria and application forms can be downloaded online at RACGP grants webpage.
| 2008-03-07 |
Self-injury and eating pathology questionnaire
A student of the Doctorate of Clinical Psychology at Deakin
University, Melbourne, is seeking females aged 18 years and over to fill
out an online questionnaire. This research is looking at how specific
personality traits (impulsivity and compulsivity) may or may not be
related to certain behaviours (disordered eating and self-harm) in
females. This questionnaire will take about half an hour to fill out.
The results will be confidential, and can be anonymous (if you opt not
to receive the results of the research or to participate in the
follow-up study). This research project has Deakin University Human
Research Ethics Committee approval.
To fill out the questionnaire go to: Deakin University webpage.
| 2008-02-15 |
'Social Alternatives' issue on mental health: call for papers
Social Alternatives is an independent, quarterly refereed journal,
committed to the principles of social justice. The journal will publish a
special issue focusing on mental health and is seeking relevant papers,
personal stories and poetry. The submission deadline is 1st June 2008
with a release date in November 2008.
Guidelines for interested contributors can be found at: Social Alternatives webpage.
Or contact guest editor Dr. Victoria Palmer (Research Fellow, Mental
Health, Primary Care Research Unit, The University of Melbourne)
E-mail: vpalmer@unimelb.edu.au.
| 2008-02-14 |
Greater focus needed on prevention
The Rudd Government believes prevention should play a far greater
role in the health system and has already taken steps in this direction.
The government has committed to a National Preventative Health
Strategy, to be developed by a National Preventative Health Taskforce
and has also announced that the forthcoming Australian Health Care
Agreements will include a focus on preventative care.
In a press release Nicola Roxon, Minister for Health and Ageing, stated
"We are determined to shift prevention from the margins to the centre of
health care – a crucial part of building a health system for a modern
Australia".
To read the full release go to 13th Feb. Press Release.
| 2008-02-11 |
Indigenous gathering: 'Live Long, Live Strong'
Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA) has begun planning for a 'Live
Long, Live Strong' gathering, to be held in September 2008 (date to be
confirmed). The general aim of this gathering is to assist the healing
of grief and loss felt by Indigenous communities; as well as
contributing to the further development of strategies for advancing
indigenous issues within the National Framework for the Prevention of
Suicide in Australia.
An interim National Indigenous Gathering Working Group has been formed,
chaired by Mick Adams and funding is being sought to progress this
project. Any individual, organisation or business interested in this
initiative is encouraged to email Suicide Prevention Australia or phone (02) 9568 3111.
| 2008-02-04 |
Workshops and grants for small non-government organisations
The Department of Health and Ageing has provided the Mental Health
Council of Australia (MHCA) with $6 million to assist in the development
of the capacity of non-government mental health organisations and other
organisations delivering services relating to mental health. The MHCA
will be providing 14 free, full day workshops around the country
(designed to build stronger not for profit organisations and projects)
and one-off grants of up to $40,000.
The MHCA is keen to hear from organisations working in: drug and alcohol
rehabilitation, counseling, telephone help lines, family support
services, men’s services, asylum seeker support, eating disorders,
suicide prevention and addiction.
For more information please contact Rachelle Irving, or go to the MHCA website.
| 2008-01-31 |
Saying sorry is essential for moving forward
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner
(Tom Calma) says that saying sorry to members of the Stolen Generations
is an essential step in healing and progressing life outcomes for
Indigenous Australians and congratulated the federal government for its
announcement today that it would make a formal apology on 13 February.
"An apology that acknowledges the existence and the impact of this dark
aspect of our history where Indigenous children were forcibly removed
from their families, and which pays respect to the Stolen Generations
for their suffering, their resilience and their dignity, is an early and
exceptional sign of goodwill from the new government," Mr Calma said.
To read more of this media release go to HREOC media release page
| 2008-01-29 |
Launch of the National Register of Mental Health Consumer and Carer Representatives
The National Register of Mental Health Consumer and Carer
Representatives is set to be launched in April 2008 following the
National Register workshop (31 March–1 April) that will further develop
the skills of 60 mental health consumer and carer representatives. The
workshop will strengthen the skills of participants to successfully
promote the interests of consumers and carers at a national level. The
workshop will focus on leadership, advocacy, training, policy
development, mentoring and a range of other relevant topics.
Those seeking a mental health consumer and/or carer representative
should contact the Project Manager, Emma de Tassanyi, (Project Manager,
Consumer and Carer Mentoring Project) Mental Health Council of Australia
on (02) 6285 3100 or at emma.detassanyi@mhca.org.au.
| 2008-01-24 |
Comorbidity Professional Development Scholarships
The Alcohol and Other Drugs and Mental Health Comorbidity
Professional Development Scholarships Program is being coordinated by
NCETA on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Health and
Ageing. Eligible applicants can apply for scholarships to increase their
capacity in the detection and treatment of co-occurring mental health
and drug and alcohol-related problems. Scholarships are available for
existing, not-for-profit, incorporated, non-government owned
organisations and/or their staff whose role substantially involves
providing services to clients with AOD- or MH-related issues.
Applications close 3 March 2008. For further information go to NCETA Comorbidity Scholarships
| 2008-01-16 |
From Margins to Mainstream: 5th World Conference on the Promotion of Mental Health and the Prevention of Mental and Behavioral Disorders
This international biennial conference will be held at the Melbourne Convention Centre, on 10-12 September 2008.
The conference will highlight activities that contribute to promoting
individual and community mental health and wellbeing. The conference
also aims to show the mental health and wider community that the
promotion of mental health and the prevention of mental illness is no
longer on the margins of the health debate. Instead, it is integrated
into mainstream areas of research, policy and practice, across many
diverse sectors, such as the arts, sports, housing, justice, education,
employment, health and others.
Potential presenters at the conference are invited to submit abstracts
of their proposed paper for consideration by the International
Scientific Committee. For more information go to: 'From Margins to Mainstream' website.
| 2008-01-14 |
Evaluation of Australian Rotary Health Research Fund (ARHRF) Community Mental Health Awareness Forums
The Australian Rotary Health Research Fund (ARHRF) wishes to engage
an independent external evaluator to evaluate the “Looking after our
mental health” Awareness Campaign to ensure good practice in mental
health promotion. The Evaluator will become a member of the ARHRF
Reference Group which will run over the term of the contract (to 14th
September 2009).
The closing date is 31st January, 2008. For more information contact:
Cheryl Deguara, Project Manager, Australian Rotary Health Research Fund,
PO Box 3455, Parramatta, NSW, 2124. Telephone 02 8837 1900. Email cheryldeguara@arhrf.org.au.