Commissioner update; Trauma Strategy released: Stigma Project call for LLE working group EOI; Leading Reform 2024 registration launched; suicide prevention research grants announced; Mental Health & Wellbeing Grants closing soon; Suicide in Queensland annual report released; Queensland Mental Health Week update
It's been another busy month at the Commission. Firstly, I'd like to give a big thank you to Amelia Callaghan, who was Acting Chief Executive at the Commission while I took some brief time off to spend with family. For those who may not know, we've also recently welcomed Bretine Curtis as an Executive Director. Bretine will head up Mental Health and Wellbeing, Lived and Living Experience as well as
the Communications and Engagement teams, with Amelia leading the suicide prevention, AOD and Business Services teams. It's wonderful to have Bretine on deck to support the Commission deliver some of the important projects underway.
Trauma Strategy released
I'm very pleased to share that The Queensland Trauma Strategy 2024–2029 has been released by the Queensland Government. The strategy focuses on how trauma can be reduced and prevented across Queensland. Thank you to everyone who gave their time, including over 800 people we heard from during consultations. This active participation and input has been key to helping us shape a trauma-informed future for Queensland.
Support the Stigma Project
Expressions of interest are now open for people across the state to join our Stigma Project Lived-Living Experience Working Group. It’s important to us that lived-living experience voices and perspectives are central throughout the project, and this paid opportunity will support us to develop and deliver a range of activities to reduce stigma. Applications close Wednesday 9 October. More information is available on our website, and you can subscribe to receive email updates about the project and opportunities to participate. We are looking forward to working together on this critical work and I encourage you to get involved.
Leading Reform Summit 2024
Registrations are now open for the Leading Reform Summit 2024. We've compiled a great list of speakers and panelists for this year's Summit, held from 27–28 November. Bursary program applications also open this week. Summit places go quickly, so register ASAP.
Lifetime Achievement Awards
Nominations for the Commission's Lifetime Achievement Awardsare closing on 4 October. These awards, presented at the Leading Reform Summit, provide an important opportunity to acknowledge our colleagues across the sector for their extensive contribution, particularly as they are approaching retirement. If you know someone who might be suitable, please nominate them.
Queensland Mental Health Week
Queensland Mental Health Week starts this week. Running from 5–13 October, this year's theme is Connect for mental health. There are already 379 events scheduled across Queensland to support. You can find a full list of registered events here.
I'd like to take this chance to acknowledge Cindy Heddle, who has recently retired from the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum. As the carer representative for Queensland over the past three years, Cindy has made a huge contribution in her representation and advocacy for carers. Thank you Cindy.
Commission Charter workshops
The Commission recently held a series of workshops to ensure the perspectives and expertise of people with lived-living experience are included and embedded in the development of the Commission's charter for partnering with people with lived-living experience. Thank you to everyone who participated, we have received deep insights and valuable feedback that will inform a draft charter. If you're interested in our charter development process, you can watch a webinar recording here.
This initiative aimed to strengthen and grow the mental health and suicide prevention lived-living experience workforce by funding scholarships to undertake the Certificate IV Mental Health Peer Work. The Queensland Alliance for Mental Health has delivered all 178 scholarships on behalf of the Commission. This training has been a wonderful opportunity for people to join our growing peer workforce in Queensland and offers great peer connections and support.
The Commission is offering grants of up to $150,000 for initiatives that enhance mental health and wellbeing outcomes for Queensland communities. The grants aim to build on existing community strengths, abilities, and knowledge to fund innovative initiatives that meet local community needs. Interested? Apply by Thursday 10 October 2024.
Recently, the Commission provided a submission to the Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry. The Commission plays a role in building trauma awareness and promoting healing informed programs and approaches guided by First Nations communities. The Inquiry is an effective mechanism to begin healing which is an important step towards reconciliation.
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Roundtable
The Commission presented at the second Agriculture Mental Health and Wellbeing Roundtable earlier this month. The Roundtable seeks to improve resilience in the Queensland agriculture sector. Next steps are to establish a cross-agency working group, the Commission will contribute to this group and will work with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to support enhancing mental health and wellbeing in Queensland farming communities.
The IRG is a central collation point of industry intelligence, representative of the diversity of the community services industry sector. As a member, the Commission provides insights into workforce reform priorities to ensure industry directions, skills and training align with service needs. Hosted by CheckUP, the first meeting was held in August and covered aspects of the Queensland Skills Strategy 2024–2028 and the HumanAbility led review of Vocational Education and Training.
To mark International Overdose Awareness Day (31 August), the Commission co-hosted an event alongside QuIVAA and QuIHN. Almost 100 people gathered to honour those who have lost their lives to overdose, acknowledging the devastating impact this has on friends, families and communities. The Commission is committed to engaging with, supporting and listening to people with lived-living experience to create the changes needed to keep all Queenslanders safer.
Do you know how to respond to an overdose and administer naloxone? Watch this rapid training video that was presented at the event.
The Commission attended the two-day AOD conference and heard from prominent local and international speakers. This year's theme was 'different ways of doing', the speakers bought forward new perspectives on a range of intersectional issues and identified the need for system and structural changes to better meet the needs of the diverse communities of people who use drugs. The QNADA Outstanding Contribution Awards were also presented to acknowledge significant contribution of people working in the AOD and/or Community Controlled sectors across Queensland. We are proud to say our very own Tegan Nuckey was presented the Outstanding Achievement Award – Harm Reduction Worker!
Suicide prevention research grant recipients announced
Four Queensland universities will share over $630,000 in suicide prevention research funding to build the evidence on preventing suicide and strengthen Queensland's ability to deliver high quality suicide prevention initiatives. Read more about each research project.
Funding for Sisters Connecting suicide prevention program
The Commission is funding a two-year pilot aimed at preventing suicide of young mothers who have been in contact with the criminal justice system. Led by Sisters Inside, the program will prioritise supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers, focusing on providing appropriate supports in a culturally responsive way. The pilot will include two sites located in South East Queensland and Townsville.
On 10 September, the Commission hosted a breakfast to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. The aim of the theme, ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide’, was to raise awareness about how we talk and think about this complex issue. The breakfast acted as a forum to share information and facilitate collaboration and partnership between government, non-government and lived experience stakeholders in the suicide prevention sector. Thank you to everyone who made this event possible, those who gave their time to speak, and to all those who attended.
The Commission, Queensland Health and Roses in the Ocean are working together to strengthen lived experience of suicide-led support services in Queensland. Led by Roses in the Ocean, the $2.7 million investment will enable the design, delivery and evaluation of three Peer CARE Companion in Community services across Queensland.
The Suicide in Queensland Annual Report 2023 was released on World Suicide Prevention Day and provides a summary of data on suspected suicides in Queensland during the 2023 calendar year. Not only do we remember the lives lost to suicide, the report is used by those working in suicide prevention service planning, as well as the broader community to guide prevention efforts. It shows how important data is to inform our work. Please note, this report contains content that can be distressing.
The Commission is seekingan experienced contractor to conduct an evaluation of Shifting minds. The evaluation will be co-designed with people with lived-living experience and will give insights into the process, impact and outcomes of Shifting minds. A monitoring and evaluation framework has been developed and will be used as a basis for the evaluation. Applications close Tuesda, 8 October 2024. Find out more and apply, here.
Have your say - the draft Advice on the National Suicide Prevention Strategy is now open for public consultation. Developed by the National Suicide Prevention Office, it seeks to lay out a path that will deliver a reduction in the number of lives lost to suicide nationally. Provide your feedback here by Sunday 27 October 2024.
Australia's Annual Overdose Report 2024,was recently released by the Penington Institute. The key findings indicate an urgent need for each state and territory to develop an overdose prevention plan, and points to the need for initiatives like take-home naloxone and more harm reduction services to prevent and reduce the risk of overdose in Queensland. Read the report, here.
A new crisis stabilisation unitat the Prince Charles Hospital has been opened to provide short term mental health support for stays up to three days. This model of care means people can access support that better meets their needs, provided in a therapeutic environment by both clinicians and peer workers with similar lived experience. Find out more, here.
At What Cost?Arafmi's inaugural mental health carers report At What Cost? The experiences of unpaid mental health carers in Queensland 2023–2024 was recently released. The report collates and analyses feedback from carer consultations and identifies six areas for action to guide Arafmi's advocacy work over the next two years. Read the report, here.
Mark your calendars!Arafmi's 2024 Mental Health Carers Forum will take place on Wednesday 16 October. Learn more about using your lived-living experience as a mental health carer to advocate for policies and services that better support you and the person you care for. Learn more at arafmi.com.au.
New mental injury resources for employers are available to help better understand, manage and prevent work-related mental injuries. WorkCover Queensland are releasing videos and factsheets on important topics such as debunking myths about mental injuries and highlighting the crucial role employers play when a worker is injured or becomes ill at work. Find out more, here.
The Queensland Multicultural Action Plan was launched last month. The Action Plan sets out a vision for the Queensland Government to be a leader in cultural diversity and inclusion, by delivering culturally responsive services, driving diversity and inclusion across the public sector, strengthening our economy and promoting social cohesion. Read the action plan, here.
Sponsorship
We offer sponsorships up to $10,000 for sector events. The next round closes29 November 2024.
