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December 2018

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Season’s Greetings everyone

If you are like me you are probably wondering how we made it to December so quickly. 

When reflecting on some of the highlights for the Commission this year, I am mindful they all have been achieved by working with you, our partners.

This year, I’ve been privileged to meet many of you who are working towards helping all Queenslanders achieve positive mental health and wellbeing. I am always inspired by the lengths people in our sector go to, to make a difference, and I sincerely thank you for this.

This festive season, I urge you all to replenish, recharge, stay safe and continue to take care of each other.

I invite you to read my year in review >>

Ivan Frkovic
Queensland Mental Health Commissioner 
 

System reform

Leading Reform Summit

Leading Reform Summit 2018 presentations and videos are now available on our website.
Presentations and videos here >>
Sue Scheinpflug, Queensland Mental Health and Drug Advisory Council member; Dr Leanne Geppert, Executive Director, QMHC; and Rebecca Lang CEO, QNADA at the Leading Reform Summit 2018.

Strategic plan artwork

Artwork featured in Shifting Minds was created by members of an art therapy group run by Aftercare. ‘It’s time to shine’ uses the clock metaphor to reflect each artist's unique hopes for the future, while acknowledging that people are at the centre of the renewed strategic plan.

Read more  >>

Stretching service engagement

Seven organisations will participate in the pilot and evaluation of the Stretch2Engage Framework. The framework is a set of best-practice principles to guide the engagement of people using services, and their friends and families, in service design in Queensland’s mental health and AOD sectors.

Services participating in the trial include:
  • Metro South Hospital and Health Service
  • Karakan
  • QuIHN (Queensland Injectors Health Network)
  • Belmont Private Hospital
  • Toowoomba consortium—Toowoomba Clubhouse, Sunrise Way, Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service
The pilot and evaluation commence officially in February 2019, with preparation work already underway with the pilot sites. The pilot and evaluation are set to run for 12 months.

Learn more >>

Strengthening mental health and wellbeing

Strengthening Indigenous communities

Commission staff were among the 500+ delegates from across the world who attended the annual World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference in Perth, Western Australia, on Ngoongar Country in November.

Policy makers, researchers, and delegates from across Indigenous communities came together to share experiences and collaborate on suicide prevention solutions and to hear from keynote speakers: Professor Pat Dudgeon, Professor Helen Milroy, Pat Turner, Professor Gracelyn Smallwood and Professor Tom Calma.

Out of this gathering, a set of recommendations to strengthen communities will be published. These recommendations will address issues, including:
  • having government recognise colonisation and subsequent trauma
  • developing and implementing suicide prevention strategies based on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership and self-determination
  • ensuring inclusion of the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQ+SB, those with a lived experience, participation of young people, traditional healers, and Elders.
Read more >>
At the World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference: Whadjuk Ngoongar Elders and Native American Chief Clayton Logan, as part of the official Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony.

Growing the lived experience workforce

Commissioner Ivan Frkovic was honoured to celebrate the achievements of the first cohort of graduates of the Certificate 4 in Mental Health Peer Work: a collaboration between Gold Coast Health, Spectrum Training and the Runaway Bay Rotary Club. For each of the 29 students, all of whom have a lived experience of recovery from mental health challenges, problematic alcohol or other drug use, and/or suicidal thoughts and attempts, the graduation ceremony was a personal and academic triumph.

The lived experience workforce includes peer support workers, consumer consultants and companions, and emerging evidence suggests their employment in services can contribute to positive outcomes for people and potentially reduce costs for services.

Supporting this emerging workforce in the areas of training, supervision, support, culture and career progression is imperative. The Commission is working with Dr Louise Byrne to develop sector-wide strategies as part of the Lived Experience Workforce Framework project, and will be seeking your views early next year.

The knowledge and perspective these graduates will bring to their work equips them with unique insights and empathy and we wish them all the best in their chosen career paths. 
Commissioner Ivan Frkovic addressing students, graduates, their families and friends at the inaugural graduation ceremony for the Certificate 4 in Mental Health Peer Work.

Stronger communities

Better Futures Grants: now open!

Our Better Futures Grants are open for applications, with funding of up to $200,000 available for projects to improve housing and employment options for people with a lived experience of mental illness, problematic alcohol and other drug use, or those impacted by suicide. #BetterFutures

Find out more >>

Sponsorships


Looking to extend the reach of your mental health, drug or alcohol awareness event, conference or project? Sponsorships up to $10 000 are available. Current round closes 28 February. 
Learn more

Sector grants


The Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) publishes a comprehensive list of sector grants.


 

Events


Check out the latest major sector events, hosted by the Commission and partner organisations.
Learn more
Learn more
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