eNews  |  March 2023

Advisory Council appointments

The work of the Commission is supported by an independent Queensland Mental Health and Drug Advisory Council. The Council comprises a diverse range of views and brings together knowledge, skills and experience of mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues, including people with lived experience, families and carers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Queenslanders, and people living in rural and remote areas of Queensland.

I am pleased to announce that the Health Minister has appointed Professor Cindy Shannon, Paul Martin and Sanam Ahmadzada to the Queensland Mental Health and Drug Advisory Council.

The Minister has reappointed Naraja Clay, Professor Jason Ferris, Eddie Fewings, Jorgen Gullestrup, Professor David Kavanagh, Emma Kill and Jane Williams to the Council and extended Professor Brett Emmerson, Gabrielle Vilic and Karyn Walsh for a further 18 months.

Cindy Shannon will take on the position of Chair, while Gabrielle Vilic continues as Deputy Chair.

The Commission will benefit from new and diverse perspectives, as well as experience and continuity from the continuing members of the Advisory Council.

My sincere thanks go to outgoing Council members Kerrie Keepa, Ignacio Correa-Velez and Kimina Anderson for their hard work and service and to Sue Scheinpflug and Professor Robert Bland whose terms wind up in early August.

Commission appointments

I am pleased to announce that Amelia Callaghan has been appointed to the position of Executive Director at the Commission. Amelia has responsibility for strategy, policy and research across the Commission and brings extensive experience from across the mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and youth service sectors.

In addition, I’d also like to introduce two new Directors to the Commission—Nicci Goulter has taken up the role of Director-System Reform leading the AOD and Mental ill-health portfolios, and Meagan Killer has taken up the role of Director-System Reform leading Suicide Prevention and Prevention, Promotion and Early Intervention (PPEI). Nicci and Meagan have considerable experience working across government and mental health and AOD services; we welcome them to the team.

I am also pleased to announce we are recruiting for a newly created senior position at the Commission, being the Director of Lived and Living Experience. This position will inform change, drive reform and lead collaboration with our community of lived experience stakeholders. We look forward to announcing an appointment to this important role in coming months.

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Congratulations

Congratulations to Cindy Heddle who has been appointed to the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum executive committee as the Carer Ordinary Executive Member.

Drug diversion and drug checking

I welcome the recent announcement by the Queensland Government that drug checking services will be introduced in Queensland for the first time.

This initiative, along with police diversion, were central features of the Achieving balance alcohol and other drugs plan, and are important steps in reducing drug-related harm across Queensland. Read more about the initiatives in the QMHC blog.

The Commission recently made a submission and presented to the Parliamentary submission on Police Powers and Responsibilities Amendment Bill. You can read our submission here.

Mental health indicators

Several new reports have been released providing an insight into increased community distress, that may translate to increased demand for mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and suicide prevention services.

The ACDC (Assisting Communities through Direct Connection) project, run by Community Mental Health Australia, recently surveyed the mental health of 37,500 households across Australia. Nearly half reported being in distress and more than one-third said they needed more support – but many encountered barriers to receiving help. You can read the report here.

Lifeline has also revealed over 26,000 searches for assistance and support in January 2023 across Australia, the highest on record. Referral searches by Lifeline’s helpline counsellors specifically relating to financial issues and homelessness also went up 49 percent between August 2022 and January 2023.

Suicide Prevention Australia’s Quarterly Community Tracker also reported that almost half of all Australians (46%) are now reporting elevated distress from cost-of-living pressures—a significant increase (+5 points) on the December Quarter (41%).

The Commission continues to monitor this data to inform our policies and provide advocacy for additional supports and programs to reduce people’s distress.

Betting advertising linked to riskier gambling behaviour

A new report from the Australian Gambling Research Centre has revealed a strong link between exposure to betting advertising and riskier gambling behaviour and greater harm. 

Suicide prevention peer workforce

Roses in the Ocean has released a new policy paper Expanding the Suicide Prevention Peer Workforce, which calls for greater accessibility and availability of peer workers for people in distress or suicidal crisis. 

Fee-Free TAFE for lived experience workforce

Fee-Free TAFE is available for the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work and Certificate IV in Mental Health. These courses will support the lived experience workforce to use their lived or living experience perspective in mental health, alcohol and other drug services.

Physical activity benefits mental health

UniSA has found physical activity is 1.5 times more effective than counselling or the leading medications. The study of 129,000 people showed physical activity is extremely beneficial for improving symptoms of depression, anxiety and distress.

Peak body for supporting psychosocial difficulties

The Queensland Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships has funded QAMH to be the state’s peak body for people seeking support for their psychosocial difficulties, and/or who may be eligible for the NDIS. 

Accoras ABC Pilot Program Evaluation 

An evaluation of the Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up Program (ABC) piloted by Accoras during 2021-22 has been released. The ABC Program is a free parent coaching program aimed at supporting positive infant mental health for families.

Wellbeing that works for you

Queensland Health has launched a new phase of the Dear Mind campaign—You’re better at your best. The campaign’s objective is to build more resilient Queenslanders who take an active role in looking after their mental health, by reminding them of the things they can do to put them in their best frame of mind.

Understanding male suicide

In Queensland, throughout Australia and internationally, males continue to experience disproportionately high rates of suicide. The Commission funded an independent systemic review of male deaths by suicide in Queensland to examine any patterns, contribute new knowledge and build understanding to assist suicide prevention efforts.

New Lived Experience Advisory Group

The Commission is establishing a Suicide Prevention Lived Experience Advisory Group to provide input into suicide prevention policy and initiatives. Roses in the Ocean is coordinating recruitment to the Advisory Group on behalf of the Commission. People interested in the opportunity are invited to complete an Expression of Interest.

Help Us Help More campaign

The Australian Association of Psychologists has launched the Help Us Help More campaign with the aim of ensuring psychologists can deliver the best possible care and that vulnerable Australians have access to quality mental health care, whenever and wherever they need it. The campaign also aims to reverse cuts to medicare subsidised psychology.

Walking the Path to Treaty

Historic new legislation has been introduced into Parliament, formalising Queensland’s Path to Treaty. The landmark Bill seeks to establish a First Nations Treaty Institute and a formal Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry and amend existing legislation that reflects discriminatory policies of the past. The Commission welcomed the opportunity to make a submission to the Bill. 

Inquiry into vaping and e-cigarettes 

The Queensland Government has announced a Parliamentary Inquiry to investigate the availability and prevalence of vaping devices and the health risks associated with e-cigarettes. The Inquiry will also look at current measures being undertaken in schools to discourage vaping, which are steadily growing in popularity – particularly among younger Queenslanders.

Queensland Care Consortium Grants are now open. The grants are open to organisations to design and implement projects to meet the gaps in local workforce planning and development for the health and community sectors. Find out more.

The Indigenous Workforce Grant program is now open. Queensland’s Indigenous organisations are invited to apply for a grant to develop projects that address training and skills challenges or create job opportunities for Indigenous peoples in their communities. Get more information.

Seniors Month grants available. The 2023 Seniors Month grants program is now open. The program provides a funding pool of $100,000 for individual grants up to $2000 to support community events during Queensland Seniors Month in October. Apply now.

Join over 300+ delegates at the Australian Psychosis Conference, featuring keynote speakers presenting breakthrough research. The Conference is in Sydney from 11-13 September 2023. Register here.

Save the date! The First 2000 Days Conference is in Brisbane on 12 June 2023. This uniquely lived experience-informed conference aims to foster a better understanding of perinatal and infant mental healthcare and early parenting support. Register to find out more.

Have your say about the NDIS! The Federal Government has announced a major review of the NDIS and is currently seeking feedback on people’s experience with the NDIS. Submissions are now open, and there are a couple of options that you can choose to provide your feedback. Find out more. 

Sponsorships

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

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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