I’m very pleased to share Phase Two of Every life: The Queensland Suicide Prevention Plan 2019-2029, launched by the Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women, the Honourable Shannon Fentiman MP at the recent Queensland Suicide Prevention Network for World Suicide Prevention Day 2023.
This plan recognises the strong desire for collective action across all sectors and communities, as well as the integral role of lived experience leadership and perspectives in system reform. Central to reform efforts under this plan is an ongoing drive towards a community-based support system that meets people where they are, and supporting groups disproportionately affected by suicide.
Building on the last several years of reform in Queensland, the plan focuses on four action areas: building resilience, reducing vulnerability, enhancing responsiveness, and enabling reform.
My sincerest thanks to everyone who participated in a consultation session with us or provided other input. I look forward to continuing our work together as a sector, including government and non-government organisations, communities, and all Queenslanders to implement Every life Phase Two over the next three years and beyond. Read Every life Phase Two and the accompanying consultation report.
Queensland Suicide Prevention Network
On Friday 8 September we held a special Queensland Suicide Prevention Network event to mark World Suicide Prevention Day and launch Every life Phase Two. The network event brought together people from across the suicide prevention sector to re-fresh our drive to prevent and reduce suicide in Queensland.
The event included information from New South Wales on a whole-of-government strategic suicide prevention framework, monitoring and evaluation plan; the work of first responders to enhance responses to suicidal distress and crisis; social and emotional wellbeing responses to reduce suicide in First Nations communities; social prescribing and responses to social isolation and loneliness in Queensland; and regional suicide prevention coordination and funding. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this important event and for your work in suicide prevention.
The Voice referendum
The Commission supports the Voice to Parliament. The evidence shows us that better outcomes are achieved when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are involved in shaping and informing future decisions that impact their lives, families and communities. The Voice proposition is a simple one. It will provide a legislative framework to allow First Nations peoples to provide independent advice to government on the matters that affect them.
The Commission believes that supporting the Voice to Parliament and Queensland’s Path to Treaty is essential to moving forward as a fair and just nation. The time is right to build a future for all our children that recognises the past, but equally builds a nation that embraces First Nations peoples as integral to the fabric and future of our nation. Read our statement of support.
Workforce Forum consultation report
The consultation report for the Workforce Forum held in November last year has been published. It details the sector’s thoughts on building workforce supply; building skills, knowledge and capability; supporting the wellbeing and retention of the workforce; creating a sustainable rural and remote workforce; and strengthening system enablers.
Leading Reform Summit 2023 - latest update!
Registrations to our 2023 Leading Reform Summit are now open! Our 2023 Summit takes place from 22-23 November at the Sofitel Brisbane Central, with a great program of nationally and internationally recognised speakers. We will be progressively releasing information on the program and speakers. Register now – more than 50% of tickets are already allocated. The Summit website has registration details and other information.
$40 million for eating disorder services
The Queensland Government hasannounced $40 millionwill be invested in community-based eating disorder services. Two new eating disorder specialist services will be delivered, and existing services across Queensland will be expanded, with 34 additional staff to be hired across Queensland.
The Commonwealth along with state and territory governments established the Psychosocial Project Group to analyse the unmet need for psychosocial supports outside the National Disability Insurance Scheme. A new webpage has been developed providing key information about the project.
The Queensland Parliament’s Health and Environment Committee recently tabled its report into Vaping: An inquiry into reducing rates of e-cigarette use in Queensland. The Committee received 78 submissions to its inquiry and made 14 recommendations in its report to reduce rates of harmful e-cigarette use, particularly among children and young people.
The first look at prototype rooms for the new 40-bed, 24-hour Secure Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit at the Gold Coast have been released. The new facility will provide a recovery-orientated, compassionate and person-centred care in home-like environment for people experiencing severe and complex mental health disorders.
In a joint initiative, Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership and the Queensland Brain Institute recently launched the Thriving Kids Brain Builders Initiative (TKBBI). TKBBI is designed to generate, translate, and apply knowledge from neurosciences and related child and adolescent sciences for the benefit of Queensland children, young people, and their families and communities.
A new Distress Brief Support trial will be established in the Tablelands. The service offers an immediate compassionate response for any person experiencing psychological distress, and who may be at heightened risk of suicide. The service is a partnership between Northern Queensland Primary Health Network and Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service.
Seven organisations, including the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health, are sharing more than $1 million in funding to boost health and community services workforces across the state. Funded by the Queensland Care Consortium, the projects focus on supporting First Nations people, young people and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to find work across the sector.
The Queensland Government is providing $500,000 to help deliver baby bundles to new mothers experiencing higher levels of disadvantage including those at risk of homelessness and housing stress, domestic and family violence, trauma, relationship breakdowns, and unplanned pregnancy. The bundles will include essential baby items and information to connect to vital support services.
An evaluation of the Maranoa Place-based Suicide Prevention Project trial (delivered by the Commission in partnership with Western Queensland PHN) has identified key considerations and success factors for local prevention initiatives in regional and rural Queensland communities.
Black Dog Institute has released a new toolkit, Suicide Prevention for Veterans: A Toolkit for Primary Health Networks, to enhance suicide prevention efforts for current and former members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) through improved primary care. The toolkit aims to deliver more targeted and responsive services to veterans.
The Commission recently provided a submission on the development of a new Queensland Vocational and Education Training (VET) Strategy. The Strategy will help ensure the VET sector is focused on providing priority skills in traditional and emerging industries and supporting all Queenslanders into good jobs.
The Queensland Government has announced $56 million to expand programs and provide new and upgraded PCYC facilities across the State. Upgraded facilities will help deliver enhanced intervention programs for at-risk youth and help support a ‘back to basics’ initiative to deliver programs like after-dark basketball in areas of high need.
Planning is underway for a new supportive housing development in Southport called the West Tower. The new housing precinct will have up to 150 homes. Occupants will have access to on-site health and employment services and support to transition from social-assisted living to independent living.
The Queensland Family and Child Commission has released its First Nations Children’s Report. The report provides a snapshot of structural racism and the impacts of colonisation on First Nations children and young people. It also focuses on stories where First Nations children are thriving.
The Queensland Government will establish a Parliamentary Inquiry into the provision and regulation of supported accommodation in Queensland. The Inquiry comes following the release of the Safe, Secure and Affordable report by the Public Advocate. The Inquiry will help inform a review of the Residential Services (Accreditation) Act and examine ways the system needs to improve.
The Human Rights Commission has released a new educational toolkit to encourage the public to consider the Voice referendum through a human rights lens.
The resources include information on the history of First Nations advocacy, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, self-determination, harm minimisation, substantive reform, and more.
Finalists for the 2023 Queensland Mental Health Week Achievement Awards have been announced. Hosted by Open Minds for 27 years, the Awards recognise and celebrate individuals, groups and organisations working to reduce stigma and support and empower those living with mental illness. Read about the finalists.
A new vaping campaign to target young Queenslandershas been launched by the Queensland Government. The $1.3 million There’s Nothing Sweet About Vapes public health campaign will target young Queenslanders aged 12-17 years old through social media, apps and websites about the harm of vapes and e-cigarettes. Find out about the campaign.
Nominations for the 2023 Queensland Mental Health Commission Lifetime Achievement Awardsclose 2 October! If you know a person who has spent a lifetime dedicated to achieving reform in the mental health and wellbeing, mental ill-health, alcohol and other drugs, suicide prevention and lived experience sector, nominate today. Winners will be announced at the Leading Reform Summit in November.
The Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy is developing a framework for embedding more value into Australia’s mental healthcare funding and investment environment. You are invited to share your views at one of the upcoming online stakeholder workshop on 11 October 2023. Register here.
Sponsorships
We offer sponsorships up to $10,000 for sector events. Next round closes 30 November.
