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Queensland Mental Health and Drug Advisory Council members, Sue Scheinpflug, Brett Emmerson with Professor David Crompton catch up with Ivan Frkovic at the last Council meeting. |
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Hi everyone
This month we’ve seen further funds injected into mental health and AOD following the State Budget and recent Commonwealth announcements, despite tough budgetary conditions and competing priorities.
I’m also keen to share the first-hand experience I gained of some exciting programs in Stockholm and Portugal recently: clearly putting the spotlight on prevention and early intervention.
This year at the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership (IIMHL) it was great to see how Sweden is addressing maternal and infant health, including mental health. I was impressed with their Rinkeby postnatal home visiting program provided to all first time parents, and not just to those families identified as vulnerable or at risk.
The program links health and social services to focus on early support and prevention and shows how important it is for health and social care to work together in an integrated way. There’s some exciting insights that will contribute to our thinking on the Strategic Plan.
We’re also working on a report on the innovative way Portugal is addressing problem drug use. Their focus is harm reduction and it’s ground-breaking and effective. In this instance the police are working hand-in-hand with health and social services, and there are great lessons to be learned from their experience. We’ll be sharing more on this in the near future.
Best wishes
Ivan Frkovic
Queensland Mental Health Commissioner
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It’s pleasing to see further funds injected into mental health and AOD following the State Budget and recent Commonwealth announcements, despite tough budgetary conditions and competing priorities.
Focus areas include community mental health services, drug rehabilitation, early development, youth mental health, eating disorders and NDIS transition.
Under the State Budget there’s $106.4 million for community mental health services over four years. This funding is important as it supports alternatives to the emergency department or acute inpatient treatment, and helps people to stay well in their community. We hope this money is a combination of public and non-government sector funding to help ensure the sustainability of the non-government sector.
The Budget also funds commitments to build a purpose-built 42-bed drug rehabilitation unit in Rockhampton ($14.3 million) and $28.1 million for an adolescent extended treatment facility. There’s also a focus on early development under the $20 million First 5 Forever, spread over four years.
There’s also $1.5 billion to support Queensland’s third year of transition to the NDIS.
The Budget also directs new money to areas that are vitally important in terms of prevention and early intervention, such as improved housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, domestic violence, child safety, family support and education. See Government’s health budget media release.
In other welcome news, the Commonwealth has also announced $11 million over three years for Lives Lived Well drug and alcohol support services for Caboolture and Bribie Island and $3.2 million for a pilot to improve treatment for people with eating disorders.
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Read our media release >> |
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With new appointments to the Queensland Mental Health and Drug Advisory Council, the expanded Council met recently with Commission stakeholders and staff. The communique from this meeting will be published shortly and the schedule of meetings for this year includes a regional visit.
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Meet the Council members >> |
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Advisory Council members (left to right): Karlyn Chettleburgh; Hamza Vayani; Sue Scheinpflug; Martina McGrath; Samantha Wild; Jeremy Audas; Gavrielle Villic (Deputy Chair); Commissioner Ivan Frkovic; Jessica Martin, Executive Director; Emma Kill; Mark Wenitong; Brett Emmerson; Kerrie Keepa. Absent: Robert Bland; Janice Crosbie; David Kavanagh (Chair). |
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Strengthening mental health and wellbeing
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Tackling stereotypes to reduce stigma
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Earlier this year the Commission appointed ACIL Allen Consulting to lead research into the ‘impact of stigma and discrimination related to problematic alcohol and other drug use on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, families and individuals’.
The first Project Steering Group met recently and began with a Welcome to Country delivered by Aunty Carol Currie, a South East Queensland Elder, descendent of the Jaggera and Butchulla peoples. Danny Goothala Doyle, a traditional healer and teacher, performed a didgeridoo act in traditional dress.
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Learn more about the project >> |
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Tackling stereotypes to reduce stigma, project steering group. Front: Danny ‘Goothala’ Doyle, traditional healer and teacher. Second row: Melissa Blackman, a Butchulla woman, Graduate Officer, Mental Health Alcohol and other Drugs, Dept of Health; Mackayla Jeffries, Manager, Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland; Sara Goodson, a Kamilaroi woman, Senior Policy Officer, Queensland Mental Health Commission; Helena Wright, a Kabi Kabi woman, Deputy Director-General, Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships; Kelleigh Ryan, descendant of the Kabi Kabi people and South Sea Islander community, Consultation Expert, The Seedling Group; Nicole Tujague, descendant of the Kabi Kabi people and South Sea Islander community, Consultation Expert, The Seedling Group. Back row: Karen Roger, Principal, ACIL Allen; Glynis Schultz, Manager, Queensland Mental Health Commission; George Onisiforou, Project Manager, ACIL Allen; Christine Foran, Project Director, ACIL Allen; Rebecca Lang, Chief Executive Officer, Queensland Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies (QNADA); Eddie Fewings, a Mbabaram man, Alcohol and Drug Coordinator Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council; Jayde Fuller, a Kamilaroi woman, Principal Policy and Planning Officer, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Branch, Dept of Health; Jessica Martin, Executive Director, Queensland Mental Health Commission. |
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It's a date: Queensland Mental Health Week
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It’ll be here before we know it—Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW)—so mark 6–14 October 2018 in your diary now. Coordinated on behalf of the sector this year by MIFQ and CheckUp, QMHW is an opportunity to focus community attention on the importance of mental health and wellbeing. Join in now by subscribing to the QMHW e-newsletter or follow the week on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
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Sponsorship: investing in wellbeing
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A conference aimed at fostering a resilient culture within higher education, and a convention to finalise development of the Queensland Alcohol and other Drugs Treatment and Harm Reduction Outcomes Framework will benefit from Commission sponsorship.
The Australasian Mental Health and Higher Education Conference will be held 6–7 July at James Cook University, Townsville. For more information and registrations visit the conference website.
The Queensland 2018 AOD Outcomes Convention, to be held on 22 June, aims to gain broad AOD sector endorsement of the Queensland Alcohol and other Drugs Treatment and Harm Reduction Outcomes Framework.
Successful applicants from the latest round of our sponsorship program will be announced shortly, with the next sponsorship round closing 31 August.
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Learn about our sponsorship program >> |
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Grants: standing together
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The Stand Together paddle-board program is the perfect combination of mindfulness, the outdoors and physical activity. Find out how this program, funded through our grants program and coordinated by Wesley Mission Queensland, is helping current and former Australian Defence Force members improve their mental health and wellbeing.
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Read more >> |
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The NDIA’s Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) Jurisdictional-Based Grants are expected to be released later in 2018.
The Community Services Industry Alliance is partnering with National Disability Services to help you, your organisation and your community to understand inclusion and make an application for an ILC grant.
ILC application skills workshops are being held at locations across Queensland. These hands-on workshops will build your organisation’s capability and capacity to make an ILC grant application: individually or in collaboration. The workshops will introduce a suite of tools and resources to help you develop your application. Head to NDIS website to learn more.
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Register to attend a workshop >> |
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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 31 August. |
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Sector grants
The Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) publishes a comprehensive list of sector grants.
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Suicide prevention
AISRAP is offering a free two-day suicide prevention workshop for those who work with people at risk.Contact Griffith University with questions or register your interest below. |
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