eNews  |  August 2022

Path to Treaty

The Queensland Government has announced the historic next steps on the Path to Treaty with Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The momentous leap toward reconciliation in Queensland will include structures to be established in legislation—a First Nations Treaty Institute and a Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry.

Co-Chair of the Treaty Advancement Committee Mick Gooda said: “The journey to treaty starts with the truth… We know that truth-telling is central to the healing we must all go through, without the truth we will never heal properly”.

Dr Jackie Huggins AM, Co-Chair of the Treaty Advancement Committee added: “The Path to Treaty is about how we mend the very fabric of our society… We want all Queenslanders to walk side-by-side with us on the Path to Treaty, so that we can overcome those huge injustices that still, unfortunately, persist in our society…It opens the doors to our shared future”.

These are things that really matter to our First Nations people and will support healing, social and emotional wellbeing, resilience and hope for the future. Read more about the Path to Treaty.

The lived experience peak is growing

Following recruitment to grow the Mental Health Lived Experience Peak (MHLEPQ), we are delighted to introduce three new staff to support Interim CEO Jorgen Gullestrup. Read all about them and how lived experience drives their passion for the new peak and for lived-experience led reform. We look forward to working closely with the new peak, it’s board and its staff as it moves towards full operation.

Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW)

QMHW is coming 8-16 October 2022. This year’s theme is ‘Awareness. Belonging. Connection’ and reflects the important factors that help people maintain positive mental health and wellbeing, reduce stigma, encourage help-seeking, make connections and celebrate the sector.

There are 104 events already registered across Queensland – an outstanding result, with more to come as we count down to the week. Don’t forget to sign up for major events such as the Walk for Awareness, the Recovered Futures Art Exhibition, Out from the Mist photo exhibition and the Queensland Mental Health Week Achievement Awards. Visit the QMHW website to find out how you can get involved, attend an event or register your own event.

You don't want to miss this!

Note this in your calendar - we’re hosting our first Leading reform summit in two years from 23-25 November 2022, with a great program of nationally and internationally recognised speakers -  including a special program devoted to growing, sustaining and supporting the mental health, alcohol and other drugs and suicide prevention workforce. Sector leaders are invited to register your interest now.

Have your say - staff, consumers, carers

A strong and sustainable non-government community mental health sector is an essential component of a balanced mental health system and a vital ingredient for system reform. That’s why the Commission is undertaking a systemic analysis of the mental health non-government community services sector in Queensland with our partners the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health.

This important work will increase our understanding of the current environment, challenges and opportunities for the sector. To help us, we have launched the 1000 Voices survey for:

1. Staff of non-government organisation services
2. People accessing these services (consumers and carers).

Responses are anonymous, however you can (separately) nominate to go into one of the draws to win a $100 voucher. Please distribute this survey to mental health NGO services and to consumers and carers who access them.

Launch of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lived experience portal

The Black Dog Institute has launched the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Portal. The portal facilitates partnerships between organisations and lived experience community members.

New Study - NOCC Outcome Measures

Lived Experience Australia has released a new study report, Creating positive experiences using NOCC Outcome Measures. The study documented the experiences of consumers with lived experience completing outcome measures associated with their mental health.

$40m funding for Skilling Queenslanders for Work

Applications are open for a new $40 million round of Skilling Queensland for Work projects. The program supports community-based projects for unemployed or underemployed Queenslanders to join the workforce and build careers, including those with mental health or alcohol and other drug issues.

Keep an eye on your drinking

At least once a month, one in three Queenslanders (or 1.2 million people) engage in risky drinking - unaware of current health guidelines or how much they consume. Keep an eye on your drinking is a new health campaign to increase knowledge and awareness about how much we're drinking.

New guide for pregnancy and new parenthood

Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA) has released a new video guide to relaxation and grounding for pregnancy and new parenthood. It includes a combination of different coping skills that can help parents manage stress and uncertainty in any situation.

Emerging Minds - new trauma courses

Emerging Minds has developed a suite of free online learning courses and resources to assist different practitioners – from students and volunteers through to specialist practitioners – to understand and support children and families who have experienced trauma.

Mental wellbeing report

KPMG and Smiling Minds recently released the first report of the Australian Mental Wellbeing Index. The report gives a snapshot into the mental wellbeing of Queenslanders, demonstrating resilience despite hardships in early 2022.

Young Carer Bursary program

Applications are now open for the Young Carers Bursary Program 2022. The Young Carer Bursary Program supports young carers to continue with their education. The program offers 1000 bursaries of $3000 each year.

Adult safeguarding in QLD: Volume 1 released

The Public Advocate has completed the first volume of a two-volume report on adult safeguarding in Queensland. The first volume reports on extensive consultation to identify adult safeguarding ‘gaps’. The second volume will identify reforms to address these gaps and is due for completion later in 2022.

New Multicultural Action Plan

There’s a new Multicultural Action Plan to support Queenslanders from diverse backgrounds overcome barriers to involvement in local life. The new plan consists of six actions to build the economy and community, increase interpreter access, and improve diversity data to enhance service delivery. 

'Closing the gap' pilot for Doomadgee

Doomadgee will lead a state-first ‘closing the gap’ pilot to identify how best to roll-out priority programs like health, housing, and early childhood in First Nations communities in Queensland.

Child and Youth Participation Framework

The Queensland Family & Child Commission has recently launched a Child and Youth Participation Framework to guide lived experience participation with children and young people.

First Nations: Cultural safety in health care

The AIHW released the Cultural safety in health care for Indigenous Australians: monitoring framework. The framework assesses progress in achieving cultural safety in the health system for Indigenous Australians, including measures for culturally respectful services, access and patient experience.

Royal Commission interim report released

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has made 13 urgent recommendations in its interim report. The inquiry is focused on identifying systemic problems and solutions to suicide and suicidality among serving and ex-serving ADF members.

Applications are now open for the $2.5 million annual Stay Connected Fund The fund provides up to $150,000 to community organisations to improve community connections for vulnerable Queenslanders. It supports one-off projects that build connections and reduce feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Read more.

The 2022 Queensland Council of Social Service Conference is almost here! The conference will be held on 6-8 September and will explore the Power and Politics of the Care Economy, with a fantastic range of sessions that will examine the broad trends impacting the sector. Topics include the future role of the care economy in Queensland, advancing gender equality, the Path towards Treaty, and the implementation of the Human Rights Act 2019 across the community services sector. Register here.

Rethink Addiction National Convention is being held in Canberra on 12-14 September and will bring together people with lived experience, frontline service providers, researchers, and policymakers to discuss the challenges and what needs to change. Register here.

Racism. It Stops With Me is a national campaign that provides tools and resources to help people and organisations learn about racism and take action to create change. Go to the campaign.

Sponsorships

We offer sponsorships up to $10,000 for sector events. Next round closes 31 August. 

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.

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