Northern Territory Mental Health Coalition e-bulletin

Latest News from the Coalition

In early February Jude Ellen, Project Officer started with the Coalition working on the mental health peer support workforce needs assessment, funded by Northern Territory Primary Health Network (NT PHN).

The project’s purpose is to “develop pathways for people into the mental health peer support workforce in the NT, ensuring people are appropriately skilled and qualified in line with national mental health standards and practices”.

It’s a short sharp project reporting by early June, indicators include identifying:

skills gaps of the current workforce.
training and accreditation opportunities within the Northern Territory.
career pathways for Mental Health Peer Support Workers across the Northern Territory.

The Territory is one of the last jurisdictions in Australia to examine how the mental health peer support workforce could be developed in our own unique Territory context.

If you have mental health peer support workers as part of your paid or volunteer workforce please feel free to contact Jude T: 08 8948 2246 / M: 0407 810 881 E: projects@ntmhc.org.au

Samara Erlandson recently commenced as the Administration Officer here at the Coalition.

Mental Health Week working committee for 2019.

The Coalition is keen to establish a Mental Health Week working committee for this years Mental Health Week 6 - 12 October 2019. The committee will develop a theme and plan activities and events for the week. If your organisation is interested in joining the working committee, please contact Samara on (08) 8948 2246 or email: admin@ntmhc.og.au.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

AIHW has recently released the Mental Health Services In Brief 2018 click here.

National Disability Insurance Scheme NT Changes.

Changes to the Critical Incident Reporting Guidelines take effect from Monday 4 March 2019.
The Guidelines and the new reporting form, reflects these amendments, is now available online here.

BE engaged. Have your say! Community consultations - NT Mental Health Strategic Plan Review.

The Northern Territory Government is seeking input into the Northern Territory Mental Health Strategic Plan 2019-2025 with the aim to align with the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan. This is your opportunity to provide feedback to the proposed vision, principals and priority areas underpinning the strategic plan. Most of the community consultations are now completed, Nhulunbuy's consultation is schedule for the 6th March, venue Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation. To have your say attend a community consultation in your area, view sessions times and register your attendance here.

The Productivity Commission has released an Issues Paper. The Social and Economic Benefits of Improving Mental Health.

An interesting read on Why this landmark inquiry into mental health will be different.
The Commission released an issues paper to assist individuals and organisations to prepare submissions. The Issues Paper contains and outlines:
- the scope of the inquiry
- the Commission's procedures
- matters about which the Commission is seeking comment and information
- how to make a submission

Submissions and brief comments can be lodged online here no later than 5 April 2019. The Coalition will be developing a submission on behalf of its members.

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.

newparadigm Summer 2018-19 edition now available.

The latest edition of newparadigm “Integration and Collaboration: Best practice and lessons learned” gathers together various examples of mental health policy and practice from along the collaboration continuum, from individual care coordination to the co-location services to integrated governance and policy initiatives. The government and non-government organisations from across Australia who have contributed to this addition offer invaluable insights that will improve the prospects of future attempts at collaboration and integration. Available here. Along with previous editions of the journal.

Interim Executive Officer of CMHA.

The CMHA Board have appointed an interim Executive Officer, Bill Gye for three months. The NT Mental Health Coalition welcomes Bill and we look forward to working with him and raising issues affecting the Northern Territory.

Commonwealth Mental Health Programs Monitoring Project.

A national project reporting on transition rates for Partners in Recovery, Personal Helpers and Mentors and Day to Day Living clients into the NDIS has released its first interim update. A joint partnership between Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA) members and the University of Sydney, collated national data on transition rates of clients across the three programs to show rates of eligibility for the NDIS, the number of clients not applying for the NDIS and the reasons why individuals are deciding not to apply. The Commonwealth Mental Health Programs Monitoring Project: Tracking transitions from PIR, PHaMs and D2DL into NDIS Interim Report, Phase 1 December 2018 is now available. This is an important project that will help to ensure real and accurate data about the transition to the NDIS.

NDIS News

How to Apply for NDIS.
To find out how to apply for NDIS in the NT, contact the National Disability insurance Agency. Details are available here.

Independent Assessment Pilot extended until April 2019 includes participants approaching scheduled plan reviews. The Independent Assessment Pilot, which was launched in November 2018 to better understand the impact of disability for people seeking access to the NDIS, has been extended until April 2019.

Important deadlines for Northern Territory providers.
The Northern Territory (NT) Government has advised they will not be able to progress any new registration requests from 1 April 2019. To view the registration groups (categorised as full assessment groups).

The NT Government has also advised they will not be able to progress any new registration requests from 1 May 2019 for the following registration groups (categorised as streamlined assessment groups).

Providers in NT wishing to apply for these registration groups must begin the process with the NT Government before 1 April 2019 for full registration groups, and 1 May 2019 for streamlined registration groups. Further information about how to contact your state or territory government.

NDIS Events in the Northern Territory.
To find NDIS events happening in the NT, check the latest events page here.

NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission will roll out across VIC, QLD, Tas, ACT and the NT from 1 July 2019.
The Commission is an independent agency established to improve the quality and safety of NDIS supports and services. The commission began operating in NSW and SA on 1 July 2018, with WA transitioning from 1 July 2020.

This will ensure a nationally consistent approach to NDIS quality and safeguards. This will help participants access services and supports that promote choice, control and dignity. To find out more click here.

Grant Round Open - Information Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) - Economic Participation of People with a Disability.
The new grant round under the Information Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) arm of the NDIS is still open. Applications close 2pm on 13 March 2019. To find out more click here.

Other News

International Women's Day starts 2nd March. To view the events. across the Northern Territory.

What's on @ TEMCO. Top End Mental Health Consumer Organisation. Check out the March calendar.

Australian Institute of Applied Mindfulness.
Experience how mindfulness can transform your life. A three day experiential Mindfulness Training, Darwin, 3-5 April 2019. To find out more and register.

National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health.
The National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health has just launched their online course for Supporting Children’s Resilience in General Practice.
A free online course targeted at GP's. To find out more and register.

Mental Health in Australia: A Quick Guide. Lauren Cook, Parliamentary Library (Australia).
Produced by the Parliamentary Library of Australia, this quick guide provides an overview of mental health in Australia, including the prevalence of mental health conditions, the cost of mental illness, government responsibilities, and mental health services available in Australia.

Carers of People from LGBTQ Community interactions with mental health service providers: Conflict and safety.
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing.

Authors: Jennifer Marin PhD, Meredith Butler BSocSC, Anne Muldowney Master of Social Policy and Gabriel Aleksandrs MSW. First published 18 February 2019.
This exploratory study examines the experiences of informal/family carers of people from LGBTQ communities living with mental illness, or experiencing a mental health crisis, in relation to conflict and safety in their interactions with mental health service providers. Abstract.

Disability Done Different: Candid Conversations.
Join Roland and Evie Naufal as they have the kind of conversations that come about when passionate people aren’t afraid to speak their mind and would rather start a fire than put it out. Listen to a podcast.

2019 International Women's Day stated on the 2nd March. To view the events. across the Northern Territory.

National Mental Health Commission.
The National Mental Health Commission has published two Position Statements:
Statement on the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers

Statement on the development of a responsive system of care for those affected by child sexual abuse

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
Published in the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, new clinical practice guidelines have been developed and are a culmination of a comprehensive four-year process of consultation and development. You can read them here Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of adults with panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and generalised anxiety disorder.

Events, Conferences, & Training

3rd National Social & Emotional Wellbeing Forum, Cairns 13 - 15 March.
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. To find out more and register.

TeamHEALTH Youth Mental Health First Aid Course, Katherine 14 - 15 March.

TeamHEALTH has a Youth Mental Health First Aid Course suitable for educators, parents, youth workers, sports coaches and employers/HR managers who manage a young workforce's. The course curriculum is evidence-based, as informed by the Mental Health First Aid Guidelines. To find out more or to register.

NDIS Community Day, Alice Springs 5 April. Town Council Lawns, 93 Todd Street.
NT Primary Health Network (NT PHN) in partnership with the Mental Health Association of Central Australia (MHACA) are holding an NDIS Community Day. To register.

Suicide Prevention Summit 12 - 14 April.
The purpose of the Summit is to equip practising mental health professionals in Australia with the most up-to-date, advanced knowledge and treatment options for suicide prevention. To find out more or register.

Postponement of the 2019 Mental Health in the Community State Conference.
The Queensland Alliance for Mental Health has announced that the upcoming conference, Mental Health in the Community State Conference (28 - 29 May 2019) has been postponed due to the floods.

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. To view current vacancies.

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. To view current vacancies.

Mental Health Association of Central Australia (MHACA) is a leading Northern Territory community based, non-profit organisation in Alice Springs. Offering psychosocial support services and educational programs aimed at enhancing the mental health and well being of people living in Central Australia and a registered NDIS Provider. To view the vacancy.