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Learn more about our work and cross-sectoral action << Click here >> |
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Watch the Productivity Commission video on the draft mental health inquiry report. | |
Watch now >> |
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Productivity Commission mental health inquiry report
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Mental ill-health and suicide cost Australia almost $500 million every day, amounting to about $180 billion a year, according to the National Productivity Commission’s draft report on mental health released this week.
The report calls for major reforms to close service gaps, better target services to meet needs, and focus on early intervention and prevention. |
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I’m pleased to note that many of its findings and recommendations align with the Shifting minds: Queensland Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Strategic Plan 2018-2023 and Every life: The Queensland Suicide Prevention Plan 2019-2029.
Feedback on draft report
Queensland Mental Health Week shines
October has been a busy month at the Commission, with the opportunity for me to get out and about in regional cities and centres including Toowoomba, Townsville and Ipswich.
Queensland Mental Health Week, from 5 to 13 October, was a huge success. We launched the week at Customs House in Brisbane, with CheckUp, Wesley and Tudor Vasile from the Mental Awareness Foundation, and ambassadors Brisbane Lion Daniel Rich, Olympic swimmer Jessicah Schipper and long-distance walker Bryan Dorfling.
Queenslanders took part in a record 318 registered Mental Health Week events across the state. One of the quirkiest was a Guinness World Record-breaker in Townsville – for the most people wearing high visibility clothing. The event broke the previous high-vis record, held by Kitakyushu in Japan, by 363.
I was privileged to have important conversations throughout the week, at the Walk for Awareness in Brisbane, the Recovered Futures Art Exhibition in Brisbane City Hall, the Mental Health Achievement Awards and a range of other impressive events. My main takeaway has been how willing people are to talk about mental health and take positive action to increase their wellbeing.
The extensive media coverage of the week across Australia has contributed to increasing awareness of the importance of taking time for mental health. I hope this will contribute to reducing stigma and discrimination around mental illness, and I encourage everyone to consider how we can help keep mental health top-of-mind for government, non-government organisations and our communities. |
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Carers carry enormous load
Queensland Carers Week (13 to 19 October), celebrated the people who provide unpaid health, mental health and disability care and support to friends and family members.
More than 10 per cent of Australians take on such roles, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Informal Carers report released in September.
Mind Australia estimates it would cost the governments about $13 billion extra to provide this care, even considering allowances, payments and services provided to carers.
Queensland Carers Week is a tribute to the important role carers play in the community. Mental health carers can carry an enormous physical and emotional load, and they’re not always recognised for the work they do and the toll it can take.
I joined others in stressing the importance of carers on a panel at Arafmi’s Becoming Visible Carers Forum, which highlighted key issues facing carers and the actions that can be taken to support them.
All the best,
Ivan |
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Queensland Social Enterprise Strategy launched
A Queensland Social Enterprise Strategy has been launched to support growth in the social business sector and to help provide more jobs and training opportunities for disadvantaged Queenslanders. | |
Find out more >> |
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Social Enterprise Grants to fund businesses with a mission
The new Social Enterprise Grants Program offers between $5,000 to $50,000 to enable social enterprises to thrive by accessing expertise, testing their ideas and trialling new technologies. Apply now. | |
Find out more >> |
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Couch Surfing Hotline to tackle youth homelessness
Thanks to a QMHC Better Futures Grant, Brisbane Youth Service (BYS) has launched a new Couch Surfing Hotline, offering vital assistance to Brisbane’s vulnerable young people and families. | |
Find out more >> |
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NSW guidelines hope to reduce festival harm
Festival season is just around the corner and unintended drug-related deaths remain a risk, particularly without a national pill testing regime. New South Wales’ new festival guidelines go part-way to helping deliver safer music festivals in that state. | |
Find out more >> |
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Why governments should prioritise wellbeing
Economic cycles are inconsistent and can’t universally guarantee better lives or living standards. Shouldn’t all countries think about the wellbeing of their people first and foremost?
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Find out more >> |
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Reports highlight social isolation and loneliness
Find out what two recent reports have to say about social isolation and loneliness in the lives of Australians, the link to mental illness and what can be done about. Plus a University of Queensland project to tackle this growing phenomenon. | |
Find out more >> |
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NZ's ground-breaking approach to child wellbeing
Focusing on children living in poverty and with greater needs, New Zealand’s Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy delivers $3.5 billion in investment and articulates the one thing children and young people want most.
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Find out more >> |
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SURVEY: Help shape workplace mental health programs and tools
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is seeking insights into the preferences, barriers and drivers for organisations when it comes to developing and implementing health and safety management systems that consider mental health. | |
Find out more >> |
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State's first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health officer
Haylene Grogan started work as Queensland's Chief Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Officer in October, in a first for the state. | |
Find out more >> |
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Consultations start on the path to treaty
State-wide public consultations started in Cairns on 17 October, as part of Queensland's significant first step towards treaty.
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Find out more >> |
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ABS Causes of Death data released
The Australian Bureau of Statistics Causes of Death data released in September showed a slight drop in suicide across Australia. | |
Find out more >> |
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NMHC National Report 2019 released
The National Mental Health Commission's National Report 2019 has been released, revealing that the mental health system in Australia is undergoing significant change and Australians’ mental health continues to suffer. | |
Find out more >> |
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Workshops to embrace multicultural mental health
Are you looking for ways to build the cultural responsiveness of your practice or service? There are tools and resources to support you, plus an upcoming workshop in Brisbane on 4 December. | |
Find out more >> |
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Advisory Council visits West Moreton and Darling Downs
The Queensland Mental Health and Drug Advisory Council met in West Moreton and Darling Downs on 2 and 3 October, joined by the Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services, Dr Steven Miles. | |
Find out more >> |
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THREE WEEKS to Leading Reform Summit 2019
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The program and speakers for the Leading Reform Summit 2019 are now out.
The Leading Reform Summit sets the agenda for ongoing reform of Queensland's mental health, alcohol and other drug and suicide prevention system.
A by-invitation event, the Summit is intended to be a catalyst to align leaders, introduce new evidence and strategies, fuel collaboration, harness the collective knowledge of sector leaders and drive the reform agenda forward.
The Summit not only shapes the direction of reform, it asks powerful questions of leaders about the solutions and the actions individual and collective leaders can take to drive system change.0
Tickets are limited. Enquiries to summit@qmhc.qld.gov.au | |
Get the program >> |
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The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has released a range of material that provides important insights into mental health and related areas, encompassing the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities.
Australia’s Welfare 2019 contains mixed news in a comparison of 2009 with 2018, with fewer people now working very long hours, but a 13 per cent increase in long-term unemployment. More than one million low-income households were in housing stress in 2017-18, and specialist homelessness services supported about one in every 100 Australians.
Health expenditure Australia 2017-18 reports a government health expenditure decline of 1.6% as a proportion of tax revenue, while membership of health insurance funds fell by approximately 33,000 between 2016-17 and 2017-18. These factors have the potential to affect people’s ability to access health – including mental health – care and services. |
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Sponsorships
We offer sponsorships up to $10,000 for sector events. Next round closes 30 November.
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Sector grants
The Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) publishes a comprehensive list of sector grants.
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Events
Check out the latest major sector events, hosted by the Commission and partner organisations.
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