NT Lived Experience Network
Empowering Youth Program
The Empowering Youth Program is for young people aged 12 to 17 who have diverse abilities. We have chosen to use the phrase ‘diverse abilities’ instead of ‘disabilities’ because our aim is to celebrate and empower young people who have a different way of seeing, being and interacting in the world.
The Empowering Youth Program is a fun and interactive program designed to inform and empower young people to feel proud of their diversity, that their unique abilities are valuable and that they are an important part of a broader community of people in the NT who also have diverse abilities.
The program has been developed by members of the NT lived experience community and peer workforce. Program developers include young adults with their own diverse abilities who are employed to support the delivery of programs.
Dates have been set for the Darwin and Palmerston programs, but we are also interested to share the word to Alice Springs and Katherine to start generating interest and partnerships in these regions ahead of scheduling programs.
The Empowering YOUTH Programs have been fully funded under a NDIS Information, Linkages and Capacity Building grant. Therefore young people do not need to have an NDIS plan to participate and programs are FREE to attend.
However, places are limited for each program, and we encourage people to register their interest early.
Significantly more information is available on our website, but please don’t hesitate to also get in touch by phone or email.
M: 0438 022 032
E: contact@livedexperiencent.net
W: www.livedexperiencent.net/2022/02/27/empowering-youth-program/
More information can be found here
Mental Health Association of Central Australia
The MHACA Group Activities program is a community based program which aims to improve the quality of life for individuals with mental illness by offering structured and socially based activities. Group activities also provide an opportunity for participants to develop personally and professionally as Peers.
Download the March Group Activities Calendar here
To participate in MHACA group activities you must have a diagnosed mental health condition.
Call 08 89504600 or email info@mhaca.org.au to inquire about group activities or an intake interview, or access the referral form here
In addition to structured activities, a Drop-in Centre is open Monday 8.30am – 1.30pm, Tuesday – Friday from 8.30am to 3.00pm.
Drop-in includes a welcoming space where people can come and work on their recovery in a variety of ways. The program provides a comfy lounge area, kitchen facilities, and computers with internet access, an assortment of activities such as board games, library, DVD’s and music, art/craft and physical activities, as well as laundry and bathroom facilities.
TEMCHO
Top End Mental Health Consumers Organisation Inc (TEMHCO) is a not-for-profit and charity organisation in Palmerston.
Their drop-in centre gives people living with a mental illness a place to feel safe, build friendships and get the help and support they need. They work with other organisations to make sure consumers and their families get the best possible service.
Their calendar of events for March can be found here.
Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia NT
Respite
Caring for someone with a mental illness can be stressful and tiring with often a limited opportunity for a break. Here at MIFA(NT) we recognise that carers need to have a break in order to recharge the batteries and be able to effectively look after someone with a mental illness. Our Carer Support Coordinators will talk with you about the best options for a break to suit your needs.
Karama Cottage - Darwin
Karama Cottage offers respite accommodation for carers of people with mental illness and the people they care for. This elevated style house is located in Karama on a quiet street, offering a warm and welcoming guesthouse-like atmosphere designed to help guests relax. The house is close to shops, bus routes, bike tracks, Holmes Jungle Park and Crocodylus Park.
Accommodation options vary according to the needs of the people requesting to stay at the house. Options include weekend breaks, overnight stays or longer breaks, and can also be regular planned stays or one offs. The options are as best tailored to the needs of the family as possible (however, options do not include crisis accommodation).
Staying at Karama Cottage is a low-cost option.
Please speak to our Carer Support Coordinator’s in Darwin or Alice Springs
to discuss your needs.
Anglicare NT
Youth Homelessness Matters
Celebrating 10 years of Couch Surfing – Calling for more action on youth homelessness.
Held on National Youth Homelessness Matters Day, the annual Couch Surfing event raises awareness of young people affected by homelessness.
This year we celebrate 10 years of Couch Surfing and advocating for more action on youth homelessness.
Come down and cheer on teams of young people as they race decorated couches in a series of action-packed heats. Enjoy free entertainment, food and info stalls whilst learning about what young people can do if they find themselves or a friend homeless.
Presented by Anglicare NT and City of Darwin.
Check out some footage from the 2019 event on YouTube.
For information on entering a team, holding a stall, or sponsoring the event, please contact Morgan on mfaulkner@anglicare-nt.org.au or call 8946 4800
TeamHEALTH
Two Ways Mentoring Program
The Two Ways Mentoring Program is peer lead and aims to increase the economic and community participation of individuals living with mental health concerns, by providing:
Peer mentoring to individuals with psychosocial disability who wish to be employed and who are facing barriers to accessing existing career and work placement pathways.
Group workshops which provide relevant capacity building and job preparation skills including but not limited to mock interviewing, transport safety, social skills, confidence building, emotional self-regulation tools (e.g., meditation), workers’ rights, and wellbeing activities such as art and music.
Training to employers & community organisations to assist them to best attract and support individuals with a psychosocial disability, with a focus on destigmatising mental illness within the workforce.
Mentoring to employers connected to program participants to provide additional support and advocacy as needed/desired by the participant.
Two Ways Mentoring Program accepts referrals from those who are legally allowed to work in Australia, who are experiencing a mental health concern and wish to be employed of their own volition but are facing barriers to employment.
For further information, please contact twoways@teamhealth.asn.au or call 1300 780 081
Mental Health Australia
Submission to Consultation on New Disability Employment Support Model
Design of the future disability employment support model is an opportunity to address shortcomings of the current DES model and fundamentally improve the employment rate and career outcomes for Australians with disability.
Through this submission, Mental Health Australia offers recommendations to the Department of Social Services’ consultation on the new disability employment support model(link is external), to better support people with psychosocial disability into sustained and meaningful employment. In designing the new disability employment support model, Mental Health Australia calls on the Australia Government to:
develop a funding and performance framework that supports person-centred supports and recognises differences in support required for participants with complex needs systemically facilitate the integration of employment and mental health services incentivise career development support, not just job placement
proactively work to address stigma and discrimination.
All Australians with psychosocial disability should have access to effective employment support. Read more here
National Mental Health Commission
National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy
The Australian Government’s commitment to a national approach to mental health and suicide prevention could not be achieved without ensuring the mental health and wellbeing needs of our children.
In Australia, half of all adult mental health challenges emerge before the age of 14 and more than 50% of children experiencing mental health challenges are not receiving professional help.
Every child deserves the right to be supported and grow in a safe and healthy environment. To achieve this, Australia requires a nationally consistent mental health and wellbeing system that supports all children, and their communities, to thrive.
Read more here
Lived Experience Australia
Free Training - For Consumers, Families and Carers
Lived Experience Australia have a range of online training modules and recorded webinars for consumers, families, and carers to build your advocacy skills, look after yourself, get your message heard and more. Login to our on
This free webinar series has been created specifically for Consumers and Carers who want to take the next step into advocacy.
We have five subject matter experts as a guest speakers, as well as our own lived experience facilitator, to help you further develop the skills that are beneficial as an advocate.
If you are looking to contribute to improvements to mental health services, these webinars will cover these 5 key topics:
- Looking after yourself
- How to be heard
- Briefing & debriefing
- Keeping the enthusiasm going
- Self-reflection/self-evaluation
More information can be found here
Northern Territory PHN News
Darwin Head to Health officially open
Darwin’s Adult Mental Health Centre, known as Darwin Head to Health, is now open.
The centre, commissioned by Northern Territory Primary Health Network (NT PHN), and run by Neami National in partnership with Larrakia Nation, has fully opened to the public, offering social and emotional wellbeing and mental health support to adult Territorians. This follows a staged opening from early December.
Northern Territory Primary Health Network CEO Gill Yearsley said, “We are very excited to see Darwin Head to Health open. It will provide immediate support for people experiencing distress or crisis as well as ongoing support and assistance so that people can better navigate the mental health care system.”
The centre, located at 16 Scaturchio Street in Casuarina, is funded through an Australian Government national program. Read more here
Lowitja Foundation
Seeding Grants 2022 - Closes 7 March 2022
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Community-Led Research Opportunities
Putting research back into community hands for greater health and wellbeing outcomes. The Lowitja Institute opens the door for the second time to support innovative community-led research into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing.
The Seeding Grants program is open to support innovative community-led research into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing. The grants provide an opportunity for organisations to transform their ideas by putting research back into community hands.
The Lowitja Institute Seeding Grants program is offering grants of up to $35,000 to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and businesses.
The Lowitja Institute team is available to answer your questions before you submit an application. Whether it’s a question about how to complete the application form or about your project idea, we’re here to help.
To download an application form and book an appointment, go to: www.lowitja.org.au/seedinggrants2022
For more information, please contact research@lowitja.org.au
OzHelp Foundation (OzHelp)
National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program
OzHelp is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health under the National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program. Broadly, the program supports the Australian Government’s approach to suicide prevention by funding a range of national projects designed to reduce deaths by suicide across the Australian population, and among at risk groups and to reduce suicidal behaviour.
The program objectives are to:
facilitate leadership, strategic partnerships, and collaboration in the suicide prevention sector
reduce the prevalence of suicide and suicidal behaviours in Australia and the impact on individuals, their families, and communities
build the evidence-base to enable continued improvements in suicide prevention and ensure the evidence base is shared and translated into best practice across the sector
reduce the prevalence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide and the impact on individuals, their families, and communities
reduce the stigma around suicide and raise awareness of suicide prevention
provide support and care to individuals at heightened risk of suicide.
Under the program OzHelp delivers programs to hard-to-reach individuals working in high risk industries, including building and construction, transport, and agricultural and farming industries. It provides support where individuals are open to participating, including workplaces, social activities and ‘safe’ peer groups, and community settings. Read more here
St Vincent de Paul Society NT
Vinnies CEO Sleepout returns 23rd of June 2022 at Fannie Bay Gaol
The St Vincent de Paul Society NT CEO Sleep Out is back to support our Territory community! The Northern Territory has 12 x the national average of homelessness and the demand for Vinnies’s welfare assistance continues to rise. Territorians are reaching out and relying more on their services and dedicated volunteers to survive.
This year Vinnies NT is hoping to raise $100,000 and all funds will go directly into helping the poor and disadvantaged in the Territory community.
Vinnies provides homeless support services from Ozanam House Day Centre, Transitional Housing Facilities in Darwin and Katherine, Emergency Relief in Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs and their volunteers venture to the outback to help those in need in our Territory Aboriginal Communities.
Register to sleep out, or sponsor a CEO, here: https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/event/nt
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