Northern Territory Mental Health Coalition e-bulletin

Latest News from the Coalition

This e-bulletin is being sent earlier than the end of month as the office will be closed.

Christmas Closure
The office will be closed from 12pm on Thursday 20th of December 2018 and will reopen on Monday 7th of January 2019.

Thank you to all our members and supporters for a wonderful 2018, Merry Christmas and I look forward to working with you all again in 2019.

AGM Appointments 22 November 2018.
The Coalition held a successful AGM withe the following members being reinstated to the Board:

Chairperson - Judy Davis (Catholic Care NT)

Lorraine Davies - Vice Chair (Mental Health Fellowship of Australia)

Merrilee Cox - Treasurer (Mental health Association of Central Australia)

Vacant - Secretariat

Jade Gooding - Ordinary Board Member (Anglicare NT)

Andrew Kenyon - Ordinary Board Member (Red Cross NT)

Michael Soler - Ordinary Board Member (Mission Australia NT)

Congratulations everyone and I look forward to another productive 2019 year.

$400m NDIS Support for ‘Second Tier' Disabled.
Almost $400 million will be handed out to non-government organisations over three years to help disabled Australians not eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Read the media release.

NDIS Employment Taskforce.
The NDIS announced a Taskforce which will look at how participants in the NDIS are best supported to seek employment, through the NDIS and through existing mainstream services such as Disability Employment Services, making sure employment is prioritised in the NDIS planning and plan review process. The Taskforce will aim to improve employment supports in participant plans, including greater use of existing employment services. To view the media release.

Results Released from First Major Study into Mental Health and Wellbeing of Australian Media, Marketing and Creative Industries.
Results of the first major Australian study into the mental health and wellbeing of the media, marketing and creative industries have been released. The Mentally Healthy research, conducted by Everymind in partnership with Never Not Creative and UnLtd, aims to bring transparency to the mental health issues affecting individuals in these industries and to better understand their attitudes towards mental health. To view the survey results.

Monitoring Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Reform: National Report 2018.
The National Mental Health Commission has released its 2018 report card on mental health & suicide prevention. The 2018 report shows progress and outcomes of key national reforms in mental health, including reporting on the Primary Health Networks, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Suicide Prevention initiatives and the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan. Learn more.

The Commonwealth Government funding toward psychosocial programs for people with mental illness is undergoing significant reform as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) reaches the final stages of roll out.
The Commonwealth Government funding toward psychosocial programs for people with mental illness is undergoing significant reform as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) reaches the final stages of roll out. Background.

Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA)

Community Mental Health Australia, promoting the importance and benefits of community mental health and recovery services across Australia. Visit the website here.

CMHA is a coalition of eight state and territory peak community mental health organisations with direct links and contact with community mental health organisations delivering services to the community.

The NT Mental Health Coalition is a founding member of the CMHA.

Department of Health Mental Health and Aged Care Working Group.

CMHA's representative on the recently formed Department of Health Mental Health and Aged Care Working Group, is Angus Clelland, CEO Mental Health Victoria. A workshop was held in July to discuss the “Improved Access to Psychological Services in Residential Care” initiative, which was announced as part of the 2018-19 “More Choices for a Longer Life” Federal Government Budget Package. The initiative intends to address the lack of access to psychological therapies by residents living in a Residential Aged Care Facilities. The Federal Department of Health has circulated a communique from the workshop outlining a summary of the measure and key outcomes from the working group discussions.

National Disability Service Providers Benchmarking Survey Expert Advisory Group.

AbleInsight has been appointed by the National Disability Insurance Agency to independently manage the National Disability Service Providers Benchmarking Survey (the ‘Survey’). The Survey is supported by the NDIA, National Disability Services and Mental Health Australia are keen to engage with, and involve, more psychosocial providers. Therese Flood, Associated Director, AbleInsight is managing the survey. To participate and link to the survey.

NDIS News

Latest NT NDIS Updates here.

NDIA announce the launch of the Independent Assessment Pilot. To learn more.

NDIA Announces Further Enhancements to Pricing Arrangements Under the NDIS.
The National Disability Insurance Agency will implement a range of new pricing arrangements that will assist providers deliver high quality, innovative supports to National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants. Read more here.

Mental Health Australia Psychosocial Disability Pathway.
This report produced by Mental Health Australia provides 29 recommendations to improve NDIA engagement and the NDIS pathway for people with psychosocial disability, based on extensive consultations with a range of appropriate stakeholders.Learn more.

National Disability Practitioners (NDP) resources update: Sole Traders and Student Placements.
The NDP has developed the NDIS and Sole Trader Hub, bringing together information for sole traders in one place this includes supervisors, managers and students, the Student Placement Hub lets you do the necessary preparation, planning, communication and evaluation to have a successful student placement. For more information please visit the links NDP NDIS and Sole Trader Hub and NDP Student Placement Hub.

Self- Management Webinar Video is Still Available.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) recently hosted a panel style webinar to talk about self-management. The video and transcript of the event are available online. The webinar provides the opportunity to hear about self-management, how it works and the benefits from families and people who are self-managing their NDIS plan. A new self-management guide is also available for participants looking to learn more about self-management.

Improved Search Functionality and Ability to Edit Service Bookings.
The NDIA has made changes to the participant search function in the provider portal. The addition of new and refined search criteria, will ensure providers can identify participants correctly. This information is required when providers are searching for participants in the portal. The change does not impact existing service bookings, or alter the process for making a service booking.

All new myplace portal functionality is listed on the NDIS website under 'What can I do on the myplace portal?' Guidance for the portal is updated regularly and step-by-step guides are available on the Provider Toolkit - Help and Support.

Understanding Participant Choice in the NDIS - Survey.
National Disability Services (NDS) is partnering with the Institute for Choice at the University of South Australia to conduct a survey on how current and prospective NDIS participants make choices about service providers, what they value and don't value in a service provider.

The online survey also gives people an opportunity to comment on associated issues, like the quality of planning, access to advocacy, and the availability of services and supports. National Disability Service (NDS) has developed resources to support people to participate in the study, available here. To access the survey click here.

Other News

Letter to Minister Fyles - Prioritising Housing for Young People with a Mental Illness.
Frank Quinlan, CEO of Mental Health Australia has recently written a letter to the Northern Territory Minister for Health, Natasha Fyles on the latest economic modelling on intensive homelessness interventions, such as the Housing First model for young people aged 15 to 24 with a mental illness at risk of homelessness. Click for the letter and the information flyer.

Beyondblue's Landmark Survey of Mental Health in Police and Emergency Services.
Beyond Blue has released ground-breaking research into the mental health and well-being of police and emergency services personnel across 33 agencies in every state and territory. Click here.

Commonwealth Government offers $10m in grants to boost NDIS Jobs and Market.
The Hon Paul Fletcher MP and The Hon Sarah Henderson MP announced the first round of the Jobs and Market Fund (JMF) grants.

Organisations with innovative ideas to improve the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) workforce are being invited to apply for a share of $10 million in funding to expand the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) workforce and services. To learn more.

Productivity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health - Terms of Reference Released.
The Federal Government has released the terms of reference for the newly established Productivity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health. The inquiry will be wide-ranging, and will aim to quantify the effect of mental health on economic and social participation, and the economy more broadly.
media release on the terms of reference.

Medicare Reform for Eating Disorders.
Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, and Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, have announced life changing amendments to the Medicare Benefits Scheme to improve access and affordability of eating disorder treatments. A media release with information about these amendments is available here.

Mental Health #1 Issue for Youth - Mission Australia's Annual Youth Survey.
Mental health was again identified as the number one issue affecting youth in the The Mission Australia 2018 Youth Survey. Mental Health has been identified in the top three issues affecting youth for the last 3 years and was identified in 2018 as the number one issue across all states and territories. The Mission Australia Youth Survey is the largest annual survey of youth of its kind in the country. More.

National Communications Charter for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.
Life in Mind was launched by the National Communication Charter. The Charter was developed to provide a guide on how to talk about mental health and suicide, as well as improve how workplaces, governments and the community respond to mental health and suicide.

Organisations and individuals are encouraged to become signatories to the Charter to show their support to its principles and key messages. You can find out more about the Charter and what it means to become a signatory to the document.

Peer Work in Australia - a new future for mental health.
A book created by two of the Australia's leading community mental health support agencies Mind Australia Limited and Flourish Australia.To order a copy.

Events, Conferences, & Training

National Disability Conference Initiative 2018-19.

The Australian Government is inviting applications through an open process to apply for the Disability, Mental Health and Carers Program – Disability and Carer Support - National Disability Conference Initiative. The initiative provides funding of up to $10,000 for disability-related conferences with a national focus planned for the 2018-19 year. For more information.

3nd National Social & Emotional Wellbeing Forum, 13-15 March - Cairns.
The forum has been developed together with community and industry leaders to provide attendees with the tools on how to better support Indigenous children and youth at risk and how create communities that allows Indigenous children and youths to thrive. For more information.

Engaging Parents - An Introduction.
This course introduces you to ways that you can actively and effectively engage with parents about their children’s social and emotional wellbeing. For more information.

TeamHEALTH Youth Mental Health First Aid Training and Refreshers.
In January and February 2019 TeamHEALTH are running Youth Mental Health First Aid Courses. For more information on these courses.

NTCOSS Training.
NTCOSS have two training sessions scheduled for next year; The Accidental Counsellor Workshop and a session in Trauma-Informed Care and Practice in Domestic and Family Violence Services. For more information.

Mental Health Services Summer Forum 2019.
TheMHS Summer forum is is an annual two-day educational program that highlights a contemporary topic in mental health. The aim of the forum is to promote positive attitudes about mental health and mental illnesses through the exchange of ideas, focused discussions on workforce development, and networking and debate among professionals, consumers, families and carers, managers, researchers, and policy-makers. Early bird registration closes on the 20th of December. For more information.

Employment

Anglicare NT offers a range of career opportunities in the community and social services sector in a diverse range of fields such as children and youth, family relationships and counselling, out of home care, refugee and migrant, corporate services, financial counselling, mental health, disability and home care, social enterprises and specialist homelessness services. There are several positions available, for more information.

CatholicCare NT provides unique career and personal opportunities that include travel and the experience of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in both local and remote community settings. They are currently hiring a Coordinator of Children's Contact Services in Alice Springs. For more information on this position click here.