Altering States november 2010

PUBLICATION OF THE PEAK BODY FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY SECTOR

Walk of
Deputy Premier Paul Lucas
shows his support of
Queensland’s Mental Health
Community Sector

Pride
Queensland Alliance, ARAFMI
CONTENTS
What’s Thriving in Canada
Workforce Summit
3
4

Queensland and RecLink joined together From the President 5

once again to organise Walk of Pride
2010 – held on World Mental Health
Day on 10 October. Consumers, carers,
workers and allies joined together in
the rain at Emma Miller Place to bring
community awareness to the journey of
mental health and address the stigma
associated with mental illness. The
Transformers choir hit off the day with
inspiring music, followed by a speech
from the Deputy Premier of Queensland
and Minister for Health, Hon. Paul Lucas.
The Minister spoke about the
importance of breaking down stigma
in the community and the importance
of the community sector in the area
of mental health. Our colourful
procession of about 100 then walked
to Roma Street Parklands to the
Queensland Health Mental Health
Launch event. It was a very loud,
colourful and successful day in which
not even terrible weather could stop
the commitment and passion of the
community and sector in walking
proudly in the inaugural Brisbane
Walk of Pride.
Alliance in the News 6
Mindframe Program 7
Worklink Luncheon 8
Queensland Voice Launched 9
D2DL Capacity Project Update 10
Speakers’ Bureau 11
An S.O.S. from Betty Day 12
Mental Health Week Launch and Awards 14
Peak Profile 16
Notice Board 18
Queensland
Alliance
Altering States welcomes contributions
from all our readers. Please submit
articles of up to 500 words to
admin@qldalliance.org.au
Queensland Alliance
07 3252 9411
www.qldalliance.org.au
PO BOX 696, Fortitude Valley Q 4006
Issue Number: 18363938
 1010 Year Plan
Year Plan
for Community Mental Health
The Hon Annastacia Palaszczuk, Minister
for Disability Services and Multicultural
Affairs will convene a Summit in December
to finalise consultations on the Ten Year
Plan for Community Mental Health. The
Summit is presented in partnership with
the Queensland Alliance.
This is a very exciting initiative which will
place the community mental health sector
in a great position in the lead up to next
year’s Queensland Budget. The Summit
will showcase good practice in the sector
and present the research evidence on the
outcomes we achieve. The Minister is very
keen to ensure clients of mental health
community services and their families
attend the Summit, so that the voices of
those meant to benefit from our services
are heard. Organisations invited to attend
will be required to bring at least one client
or former client with them, as well as
family or friends.
Members may recall that soon after
re-election of the Bligh Government
consultations took place on a proposed Ten
Year Plan for Community Mental Health.
These consultations occurred last year
with more than 300 sector representatives
attending in over nine locations around
Queensland. The Queensland Alliance has
been working with the Minister’s Office
and the Department of Communities to
progress the Plan since that time. The
Summit will be an opportunity to again
provide input before the Department
finalises the Plan.
2 3
Staff of the Queensland Alliance attended
all the consultation sessions around
Queensland and the themes we heard from
members include:
1. Recovery – as person-centred,
flexible service that fosters hope and
autonomy – must infuse all we do
2. Leadership by consumers and
a diverse range of supports to
consumers and families, is critical to
further development of community
mental health
3. Investing in early responses is
essential, especially for those who are
not comfortable accessing the public
mental health system without support
4. Program funding for recovery-oriented
support services must increase
significantly, and be sufficiently flexible
to enable services to meet diverse
client needs
5. Mental health community
organisations have a key role in
coordinating social services, especially
integrating support with housing,
employment, income support,
education, etc.
6. Sector development – focused on
integrating referral, developing
capacity, building evidence and
evaluation – is critical to support
the expanded role of community
organisations
CEO Jeff Cheverton
7. Workforce development will underpin
the progression of the community
sector, including employment of
professional staff and development of
minimum qualifications for recovery
support workers
8. Cultural diversity and the needs of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people needs greater investment to
ensure improved access and responses
from mental health community
organisations.
If we can generate a Community Mental
Health Plan in partnership with the
Queensland Government which addresses
all these areas, it will be the first of its kind
in Australia. As always, I remain interested
in your feedback and comments, and any
areas you think are missing.
Queensland is no longer the state where
social service developments follow
years behind. Working together we can
create a leading document, which will
guide Government investment to ensure
Queenslanders with mental illness lead
better lives.
queensland alliance
What’s Thriving
in Canada in 2010?
Jeff Cheverton was recently invited to speak at Thriving 2010, Canada’s national community mental health conference
held in London, Ontario. Jeff was a guest of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division, which followed
an exchange between CMHA Ontario and the Queensland Alliance in March 2009. Jeff was also invited by the Mental
Health Commission of Canada to present on social inclusion and anti-stigma campaigns in Ottawa, and discuss
approaches to mental health reform.
While we often believe those overseas in North America or the UK
may be ahead of Australia, it is clear mental health community
organisations in Canada are struggling with similar challenges to
us. The Canadian Mental Health Association – a national body with
strong divisions covering all provinces and territories – delivers
recovery oriented support and mental health promotion services.
These services are guided by their Framework of Support, an
excellent documentation of their philosophical approach, well
worth the read. You can download it here:
http://www.cmha.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-13-981
Canada spends less on mental health than Australia as a
percentage of total health spending, and does not have a significant
investment in health promotion, prevention and early intervention Military personnel were trained to provide peer support as an
alternative to medical diagnosis.
services – even less than Australia. One example of Canadian
health promotion is the internet-based youth service mind your This work then led to the launch of a second highly successful non
mind. This service is similar to our own Inspire Foundation and clinical mental health program within the Canadian Forces named
you can find many games, resources and a wealth of youth-focused the Mental Health & Operational Stress Injury Joint Speakers
material on their site www.mindyourmind.ca. Bureau. The Joint Speakers Bureau (JSB) has demonstrated that
Many other pockets of innovation exist in community mental it is one of the most significant prevention initiatives introduced
health across Canada, and there were many creative approaches in the Canadian Forces. The JSB is a key enabler fostering
organisational and attitudinal change regarding mental health
showcased at the Thriving in 2010 Conference, which you can
in the military workplace. He is sharing this experience with the
access at http://www.thrivingin2010.com/b2/presentations.html.
successful mental health workplace initiatives of the Canadian
The conference speakers and panelists were overwhelmingly
Mental Health Association. (http://www.mentalhealthworks.ca/)
people with direct experience of mental health problems.
I met Stéphane Grenier who has created a peer support program Stéphane is now employed by the Mental Health Commission
in the Canadian military. Military personnel are exposed to trauma of Canada to look at Peer Support across Canada, and you can
and stress, and many experience symptoms of mental illness, find more information at http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/
English/Pages/PeerProject.aspx.
including psychosis and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Receiving
such a mental illness label in the military can have negative career The Commission has also released a policy discussion paper for a
and social impacts. In 2001 Stéphane coined the term Operational national mental health strategy, which you can find at:
Stress Injury (OSI) and conceived, developed and implemented http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/
a national peer support program for the military (www.osiss.ca). boarddocs/15507_MHCC_EN_final.pdf.
altering states
Community
Mental Health
Workforce Summit
T
he Queensland Alliance and the Health and Communities
Workforce Council hosted over 50 leaders from the
Community Mental Health sector to a one-day Summit
to examine the current workforce environment and source the
sector’s capacity to direct workforce growth and development.
The Community Mental Health Workforce Summit was held at
the Victoria Park Golf Club on 24 September 2010. The Summit
was the primary consultation event of the Community Mental Health
Workforce Strategy, a joint initiative funded by the Department of
Education and Training to support future workforce growth and
development in the sector. It was chaired by esteemed mental health
spokesman and author of the ConNetica report, John Mendoza.
As a result of the Summit, the following sector-led outcomes
were identified (please note, this is only a small selection, see below
for how to access full set):
A code of Practice for the NGO Community Mental Health
Sector
n The Code would be developed as a statement of values
and attitudes that characterises the sector’s culture and
recovery philosophy
n The Code would not narrow the sector’s activities in
multidisciplinary service delivery by providing detailed
prescriptions or specific specialisations/disciplines
n The Code would harmonise and value-add to the natural
diversity that exists in the workforce
Career pathways
n Job roles matched to competencies and qualifications
(Skills, Expertise, Experience)
n Certificate IV in Mental Health is developed into an entry-
level qualification into the sector, that is mapped into
lifelong learning pathways
4 5
n A bridging program is developed that preares university
graduates entering the sector
n Sector-led review of the RPL assessment would strengthen the
integrity of qualifications
Promote a culture of professional development
n A ‘Communities of Practice’ approach that promotes
professional development across organisations (i.e. staff swaps,
shared training opportunities)
n Endorsed and resourced by organisations at the regional level
Research and skills development
n Establish partnerships with Universities and the academic
community
n Articulation agreements between VET and Higher Education
n Establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Community Mental
Health Research, Education and Practice (to help attract funding
for research and workforce development, and increase the
sustainability of the project’s efforts into the future)
Building from the success of the Summit, key stakeholders will be
invited to participate in a workshop to provide strategic advice on
implementation of the priority actions for the project. An Industry
Leaders Group will then be appointed to oversee development and
implementation of the Workforce Strategy through 2011/12.
A copy of the full Summit findings, as well as summaries from the
facilitated discussions are available by registering on the project’s
forum page via the Community Door Network Spaces
(http://networks.communitydoor.org.au/group/cmhws).
Project updates and future events will also be posted on the
forum  page. More information on the project can also be found
on the Workforce Council’s workforce initiatives page in
www.workforce.org.au.
queensland alliance
from the president
Cathy O’Toole, President, Queensland Alliance State Council
As the end of the year approaches, so does the Queensland
Alliance’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). The meeting on the
29th October included the election of State Council for 2011.
I am pleased to announce the re election to State Council of:
Kerry Staines – Graceville Centre
Clare Guilifoyle – GROW
Mary-Anne Bowyer – Southern Cross Care
Christian Grieves – Mackay Division of General Practice
Cathy O’Toole – Advance Employment Inc.
I also welcome the newly elected:
Bob Steele – Mental Illness Fellowship of Queensland
Gill Townsend – Mental Health Resource Service –
Centacare Cairns
altering states
The AGM was a great success again this year and we thank guest
speakers the Hon Annastacia Palaszczuk MP (Minister for Disability
Services and Multicultural Affairs) and Andrew Cripps MP (Shadow
Minister for Disability Services and Multicultural Affairs). Both
speakers strongly supported the work of the Queensland Alliance
and acknowledged the value of having such a strong peak body
to interact with in terms of keeping abreast regarding the needs of
the mental health community sector in order to accurately inform
policy and budgetary decisions.
Both speakers acknowledged the Queensland Governments
commitment to ensuring that people with a mental health
conditions living in our community get a fair go. Both speakers
are looking forward to the roll out of the Anti Stigma Campaign
funding that will work to counteract the debilitating issue of stigma
by providing much need mental health education within our
community.
This AGM also included a motion to change our name to
Queensland Alliance for Mental Health. The decision to change
the official Queensland Alliance name is linked to the formation of
the new strategic plan and we believe that the newly adopted name
is much more positive and relevant to our contemporary society.
At the meeting 26 members voted in favour of this motion.
The State Council looks forward to working with the membership
in the new year to further our lobbying activities with government
at all levels to ensure that we achieve a vision, of creating
communities that value differences, promote well being and create
a sense of belonging for everyone.
Alliance
in the
N EW S
With mental health featuring prominently in the media throughout
the year, the lead up to mental health week (10–16 October) was
no exception. A range of varied topics relating to mental health
have been discussed in the past few months. In August, Matthew
Newton’s experience of mental illness as reported by the media
was scrutinised for some weeks, following his parent’s interview
with A Current Affair. Queensland Alliance CEO Jeff Cheverton
was interviewed by Madonna King on the issue (31 August 2010).
The issues around women, mental health and discrimination were
raised by Radio 4ZZZ, with Speakers Bureau Coordinator Lana
Woolf sharing her personal experiences and also promoting the
upcoming Walk of Pride. The topic of anti stigma and the need for
a mental health anti stigma campaign continued to be of interest in
the lead up to this mental health week. Editorials were sought by the
Maryborough Herald and Hervey Bay Observer (6 October 2010)
from Jeff Cheverton, who completed a 2008 Churchill Fellowship
around the possibility of such a campaign in Australia.
World Mental Health Day, the Queensland Walk of Pride and official
Queensland Health launch of Mental Health Week all took place on
10 October 2010. In the lead up, Radio 2SM Sydney interviewed
Ben Pennings of RecLink on their co-hosting of the Walk of Pride
with Queensland Alliance and ARAFMI, along with RecLink’s
development of their Transformers choir, which performed at
both the Walk and the official launch events. The Community
Broadcasting Association (CBA) also took interest in the Walk of
Pride, as part of their national suicide prevention and mental health
awareness project. The CBA is made up of over 270 member radio
stations nationwide, and distributes their stories through their
network. Bundaberg News Mail and the Daily Mercury Mackay were
6 7
New Guide to
A new critical guide to adding the correct
suicide and mental illness helplines to
stories was issued to Australia’s media
on 9 September.
Australia print, radio and television
among media that also sought interviews from Queensland Alliance
news continues to lead the world on
during Mental Health Week.
appropriate reporting of such issues,
To draw journalists’ awareness to Mental Health Week, Queensland
according to health experts. However,
Alliance CEO Jeff Cheverton wrote to many of our Queensland
a recent report found that whilst the
Alliance contacts, across radio, television and print media; to share addition of helplines to stories had
information about accurate reporting of mental health issues. He increased overall, some media still
shared with them selected Mindframe resources which we hope will added the wrong help-seeking advice.
be put to good use in the coming year. Mindframe is an Australian
The Mindframe National Media Initiative
Government national media initiative which aims to provide
– which produces the national resources
accurate information about mental illness and suicide, and its
portrayal across a range of media. Find out more about Mindframe on appropriate reporting of mental
on page 7 of this publication. illness and suicide – has now produced
a new two-sided quick guide to support
Former New Zealand soldier Nick Williams who held police at
media professionals. Representatives
bay for 16 hours in Brisbane’s city centre on 26 October as he
from the media as well as the national
threatened to blow up his yacht has been charged at a bed side
mental health and suicide prevention
hearing. When the 54 year old set his yacht alight and stabbed
organisations have been involved in
himself in the stomach with a bayonet police sprayed him with non
its development. One side of the guide
lethal ammunition and rescued him from the water. Mental health
has ‘priority’ crisis contacts for suicide
advocacy organisation Queensland Alliance’s board member Jude
stories and the reverse has ‘priority’
Bugeja, has said that it is ‘fairly indicative that people don’t know
support helplines for mental illness
where to go.’
stories. Each side also includes quick
tips on how to use them correctly.
The Australian Media is recognised
Stay up to date with what’s being talked about in internationally as leading the way when
the media around mental health. it comes to reporting suicide and mental
illness. This was supported by the Media
Visit – www.qldalliance.org.au
Monitoring Study, released earlier this
year by Mindframe, that found Australian
queensland alliance altering states
HELPLINES
reporting of both issues had increased
in volume as well as quality.
Mindframe Program Manager Jaelea
Skehan says people are more likely
to seek help and advice when the
appropriate services are included in
stories. “News rooms are busy places
and it can be challenging to identify and
provide the most appropriate help-
seeking information,” she said. “The
new reference card supports media
professionals, ensuring they have quick
easy access to the right contacts that
match their stories.”
Mindframe has worked with all the
mental health and suicide prevention
organisations that run the crisis
counselling services and helplines such
as Queensland Alliance, beyondblue,
Lifeline, Kids Helpline, Crisis
Support Services, SANE
Australia and many others, to
ensure the recommendations
matched up with their
expectations.
Lifeline Chief Executive Officer
Dawn O’Neil said: “Media
stories about mental health
and suicide do have an impact
on people at risk. That’s
why it is so important to
provide people with help-
seeking pathways, as well as
avoiding more
risky reportage.
“We do want the media to
report on these matters.
However, we call on them to do it safely.
A helpline like Lifeline’s 13 11 14 at the
end or in the body of a story can be
literally life saving.”
Queensland Alliance wrote to journalists
and media outlets throughout the state
during mental health week to make
them aware of the Mindframe resources,
including the new helpline guide.
Copies of the new helpline guide and the
media resources, can be downloaded
from www.mindframe-media.Info
 Worklink’s
la u n c he d
National Stress Less Day
Luncheon
As part of the Mental Queensland Voice for Mental Health was launched as an and is an independent, incorporated association. It receives
Health Week activities, independent organisation on 2 September at their new funding directly from Queensland Health and an MOU has
Worklink hosted the premises in Bowen Hills. been developed between the Queensland Alliance and
Annual National Stress The Consumer Voice Project began in early 2007. The Queensland Voice for Mental Health.
Less Day Luncheon on objective of the project was to create an independent Queensland Voice for Mental Health’s Mandate is to
Wednesday 13 October. mechanism for consumers and carers to provide advice implement a sustainable mechanism that enables ongoing
With guest speaker, to the Queensland Government on mental health policy, meangingful participation by consumers and carers in
Garry McDonald, best exclusively from a consumer and carer perspective. health services planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation
known for his character processes at national, state and local level.
Norman Gunston and Queensland Voice has developed to become a united voice
the dour Arthur Beare of for consumers and carers to actively promote the health You can contact the Queensland Voice for Mental Health
Mother and Son, the day and well-being of all Queenslanders through advocacy, today by phoning 07 3252 3999 or emailing
was a great success. participation, co-operation and education. Queensland info@qldvoice.org.au. Their new office premises are located
Garry McDonald is one Voice is now no longer auspiced by the Queensland Alliance at 7 Mallon Street, Bowen Hills.
of Australia’s most
successful actors.
Garry is also a director
and ambassador for
Beyond Blue and has
been a past patron of
the Anxiety Disorders
Foundation, New South With over 450
Wales Branch. participants, ranging from
staff to consumers to
corporate, the event was
very well attended. The
feedback from the event
indicates the majority of
participants were very
happy and enjoyed the
luncheon. After the lunch
Garry McDonald came
back to the Worklink
Offices for an afternoon
tea for the consumers.

8 9
queensland alliance altering states
 What’s new and good
with the

Day to Day Living (D2DL) Speakers’ Bureau?

Capacity Project Update
The Queensland Alliance’s Speakers Bureau has been 2010, five speakers from the Bureau presented at the forum each on
busy creating and facilitating educational forums with a a different aspect of their recovery journey.
variety of organisations. The audience was overwhelmingly made up of service providers
Last month we had two events that were very successful. The first and the feedback was fantastic. When specifically evaluating the
Community Mental Health Australia Responses so far indicate a strong was with the Royal Brisbane Hospital’s Recovery Unpacked: Tips speakers, 42.4% of the audience was very satisfied and 57.6%
(CMHA) has initiated a two year national willingness to participate and Tricks on the Recovery Journey Forum. On Monday 18 October thought the speakers were excellent. The comments included:
project that will facilitate the identification in forums and connect with
and dissemination of good practice other D2DL service providers.
among D2DL Program providers. CMHA Importantly respondents so
is the national body formed by the state far expect the project to have
community mental health peak bodies a positive impact on service
across Australia. delivery to consumers.
“Speakers
“Speakers were
were
fantastic,
fantastic, informative
informative
Project Administrator Danielle Flanagan Forums will be held in all
commenced 1 November. Danielle’s role states February/March 2011.
includes assisting service providers to use
the web based platform once developed.
Project Manager Melody Edwardson is
Date claimers will be sent to all
D2DL providers by the end of
this year.
and
and easy
easy to
to relate
relate to.”
to.”
conducting telephone surveys with all
D2DL service providers to aid in planning
For further information
call 07 3252 9411 or email “Speakers
“Speakers –– Brilliant,
Brilliant, WOW!”
WOW!”
forums and establishing a web based
platform.
medwardson@cmha.org.au or
admin@cmha.org.au “Thankyou.
“Thankyou. Thankyou.
Thankyou.
An
An incredible
incredible day with incredible people/speakers:
incredible people/speakers:
empowering,
empowering, affirming,
affirming, sharing,
sharing, caring.
caring.
AA time
time to
to be
be real
real and engage
engage and share together.”
share together.”
New National Cultural Competency Tool
This package has been specifically designed for use by mental health services working with people
from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. The development of this NCCT for
mental health services is an exciting and significant step towards enhancing the capacity of the The second forum was with All About Living – The RESP-EECT and acknowledging a greater understanding of mental health issues
mental health workforce in working transculturally with an increasingly multicultural population. as a result.
Program. The event was ‘Orientation to Mental Health Pacific
Copies can be ordered through Multicultural Mental Health Australia. Islander Pastoral Care’, held in Deception Bay on Friday 22 Our next forum is a non government services providers conference
For more information and to download PDF copy, please click on the link below: October 2010. We had one speaker present on how pastoral carers ‘A Healthy Headspace: Wellbeing in our Community’ on the 10
http://www.dhi.gov.au/Multicultural-Mental-Health-Australia/default.aspx can provide an important role in supporting people experiencing November 2010. The speakers Bureau will be facilitating a session
emotional distress. The day was also hailed a success with different entitled ‘Beyond Labels: social inclusion and de-stigmatisation in
organisations showing an interest in hearing more people’s stories our community’.

10 11
queensland alliance altering states
An
S.O.S. from
There are at least 110,000 people with
a Long Term Persistent Mental Illness
(LTPMI) on record, in Queensland
alone, and growing at an alarming rate,
because the level of treatment that these
people desperately need is virtually
impossible to find. In general, there is
no effective treatment offered to these
people apart from medication – often
wrongly, or over prescribed. I have
linked in with hundreds of these people,
and a huge percentage of them tell me
that they are given so much medication
that they feel like zombies. More than
medication alone is vitally needed.
I want to highlight two aspects of the
experience of Long Term Persistent
Mental Illness (LTPMI):
1. The lack of psychotherapy in
Queensland’s public health system,
which would enable many sufferers
to reduce their medication intake,
improving their health and quality
of life.
2. The lack of practical services in
Queensland’s public health system
for substance abuse Dual Diagnosis
(DD), which my son experiences.
What is psychotherapy?
Individualised psychotherapy is
essential to those who experience
LTPMI. Psychotherapy is barely
12
110 000 people in Queensland:
Changes to mental health
services needed
This is an excerpt from a letter
by Betty Day. Following its
distribution, Madonna King
wrote about Betty (The Courier
Mail, Minds Put on the Line, 2
August 2010) and commented,
“To take mental illness
seriously, our politicians have
to learn that this one issue is
having an enormous impact, not
only on family life, but on social
policy, law and order, and our
public hospital system.”
provided in the public system, and
involves counseling with a therapist
to improve wellbeing. Access to
therapeutic counseling is an unmet need
in our public health system.
What is it like to
experience LTPMI?
When people with Long Term Persistent
Mental Illness are feeling unwell, the
pain is daily and unrelenting and the
person loses their self esteem and
pleasure in life. Suffering is continual,
and for many of these sufferers, the
only way they can see to get relief, is
to take their own lives, which sadly, all
too many of them have done. Evidence
suggests that people with a LTPMI also
develop more physical illnesses than
the general public do. These illnesses
include cardiac problems, liver disease,
diabetes, infectious diseases, cancer,
nutritional deficiencies, Parkinson’s
Disease, oral and optical problems.
In most of these cases the illnesses
are attributed as being side effects
of medication needed to treat the
mental illness. With better access to
psychotherapy, many sufferers would
be able to reduce their medication and
in doing so, reduce their chances of
developing the associated psychical
illnesses.
My story as a carer
I am mother and carer of a 48 year old
son, who has had a persistent (and
complex) mental illness for over 18
years now. He is getting progressively
worse, because we have not been able
to find any form of effective treatment for
him to assist in improving his condition.
My son has not been able to find the
level of therapeutic counseling that he
so desperately needs. We have had to
learn all we possibly can, in our efforts
to get help.
In February 2002, we learned from a
book what the main part of my son's
mental illness is. It is called “Substance
Abuse Dual Diagnosis” (DD) and we
now know that it affects more than half
of the LTPMI sufferers. DD is a complex
combination of a chronic mental illness,
and reliance on substances – alcohol,
queensland alliance
Community
Door
Launches
New Resource
tobacco, and other drugs, even caffeine. for Working
with Clients
In Queensland’s health system, drugs and or
alcohol issues are only dealt with by “Alcohol,
Tobacco and Other Drugs Services” (ATODS),
and although both ATODS and Mental Health
Services come under the mantle of Queensland
Health, neither service offers help for the
combined condition. That is why there is
such a desperate need for specifically trained
clinicians to treat DD in an integrated way.
Once I knew that my son had DD, I felt then
that help would be readily available. How
wrong I was. In spite of being told in 2002 that
clinicians were being trained to treat DD, we
cannot find evidence of this. DD researchers
have been pleading since 1993 to urgently train
specialised DD clinicians.
Since 2002 I have, with help, sent out over
7,000 letters/emails, plus made thousands
of phone calls in efforts to get help for DD
sufferers. I now feel that I know most of the Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) has recently
major shortfalls in treatment for DD, and how produced a Planned Support Guide: an approach to case
to correct many of them in a cost effective management for people working in a wide range of community
way. For long term DD sufferers, specialised services. If you are a front line worker, supervisor or manger
residential programs, as run overseas – and this guide is for you.
I know exactly how these programs are run, The guide assists in the development of a shared
claim to have up to 90% success rates in understanding of good case management practice across the
getting people well. community services sector. Increasing the use of proven case
management practice ensures better outcomes for clients.
I know dozens of people with similar stories to
ours relating to the experience of a Long Term Planned support is an approach to case management
Persistent Mental Illness (LTPMI). that emphasises four key concepts: support, planning,
Please feel free to contact me at collaboration and relationships.
mardygrub@gmail.com if you would like To view the guide or download a copy visit Community Door
further information. at www.communitydoor.org.au/planned-support-guide
13
altering states
 mental health week
launch&awards
Mental Health Week 2010
was officially launched by
The Hon. Paul Lucas, Deputy
Premier and Minister for Health,
Queensland on Sunday 10.10.10.
The launch was the beginning off
various events held in locations across
Queensland. Despite heavy rains the week
before and on the day itself, many braved the wet weather
to enjoy the Walk of Pride followed by a popular “Juice Off”
sponsored by Boost Juice.
Celebrities and sporting personalities, joined forces with
professionals from the community Mental Health sector,
including our own Melody Edwardson to create some
interesting creations.
The winner of the $500 prize from Boost Juice was the Orange
team with Beryl Garrard representing the Aboriginal and
Islander Community Health Service. Overall the launch was a
great success despite the weather.
The third annual Mental Health Week Achievement Awards,
in partnership with Open Minds, Queensland Health, through
the Mental Health Directorate, was held on Friday 15 October
2010. The Awards recognise the achievement of individuals and
organisations who work determinedly to increase understanding
of mental health issues, enhance service provision and improve
the mental health of Queenslanders.
14
Queensland Alliance extends our sincere congratulations to the
following winners for 2010:
Non-Government/Community Organisation
Category:
Richmond Fellowship QLD – Transition Support Service
Government Service/Program Category:
Prof. David Kavanagh, QUT for OnTrack information website
Carer/Carer Organisation Category:
Lynn Forster – Volunteer, Mental Health Unit at Cairns Base
Hospital
Consumer/Consumer Organisation Category:
Michael Burge
Individual Category:
Nadia Beer – OAM, Advocate at The Park – Centre for Mental
Health
Media Category:
Lexy Hamilton-Smith, Channel 10 News – ‘MATES in
Construction Program’
Earle Duus Award:
Nadia Beer – OAM, Advocate at The Park – Centre for Mental
Health
Highly Commended:
‘MATES in Construction Program’, OzHelp QLD
Congratulations to all nominees and winners.
queensland alliance
Mentally
Update
Healthy QLD
The Queensland Alliance and Mental
Health Association QLD (MHAQ) were
very pleased to play host to Professor Rob
Donovan on Thursday 16 September 2010.
Rob very kindly flew across to Brisbane
from Perth especially for this event, and
provided an overview of how the Act-
Belong-Commit campaign has developed
in Western Australia.
Thank you to everyone who attended this
first official Community Forum for the
Act-Belong-Commit campaign in QLD.
Supported by Ivan Frkovic - Department of
Communities, Geoff Riddell – MHAQ, and
Dr Dennis Young – Drug ARM Australasia,
the positive spirit of the proceedings,
and the packed house offered important
reassurance that the sector is indeed on
board with this campaign.
altering states
We have received many expressions of
interest to not only sign up, but to join the
steering committee, and to volunteer. Both
MHAQ and the Queensland Alliance have
The forum generated a huge amount of been delighted to see this kind of support
interest for the campaign, with many generated so quickly.
organisations ready to sign up already.
We are currently meeting with
For those of you who were unable to attend
organisations to explain how the campaign
the Community Forum in Brisbane on the
can work for them. There are many
16th September, and those of you who
attended, but would like to share it with different ways you can be involved...it is
your colleagues, why not set a ‘date’ to sit only limited by your imagination!
around the lunch table and watch the 40
Solid foundations are being laid in
minute video (uploaded in 3 parts on the
Queensland to enable this campaign
MHAQ Website under ‘News & Events’). to really take off in 2011! If you haven’t
There is a lot of work going on behind the already, be sure to express your interest by
scenes to ensure we make a big splash in calling 1300 836 393 or emailing
early 2011 with the Act-Belong-Commit abc@mentallyhealthyqld.org.au
message. To further this cause, we are
in the process of establishing the QLD
Hub for the campaign – ‘Mentally Healthy
QLD’. The role of the hub is to manage
the campaign delivery in QLD, and source
further campaign funding to spread
the word!
15

Peak Profile
Carers provide unpaid care and support to family members
and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic
condition, terminal illness or who are frail. More than one
in eight Australians provide care of this kind. The purpose of
Carers Queensland is to improve the lives of carers. They
provide services like counselling, advice, advocacy, education
and training. Carers also promotes the recognition of carers to
governments, businesses and the public.
Carers Queensland provides a variety of services to support
carers in their caring role along with a number of programs
which represent carers' issues to service providers,
governments of all levels - Local, State and Federal - and the
community. They provide information and support to carers
through:
The Carer Advisory Service
The National Carer Counselling Program
A Regional Office Network
Carer Support Groups
Education and Training
Family Support and Advocacy
Momentum: Back to Work Program for carers
Carers Queensland Library
Young Carers Program
Family Support Collective Project
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) program
16
CARERS
QUEENSLAND
Carers Queensland actively promotes the No Interest Loan
Scheme (NILS), through which they provide interest-free loans
for carers on low incomes. It is a community-based program
that enables carers access fair, safe and equitable credit for the
purchase of essential goods and services such as a fridge, a
washing machine or dryer. A NILS loan may also be provided
for such things as health aids. Clubhouse members of the
Queensland Alliance have also successfully undertaken this
scheme.
To contact Carers Queensland, you can call (07) 3900 8100
or toll free 1800 242 636 or visit their website
www.qld.carersaustralia.com.au
queensland alliance
Defending the families that defend us
Families After Trauma Foundation
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is
common in military families, and can be
inherited. Recent evidence suggests a wide
range of emotional management conditions
such as ADHD, Autism, Bipolar, Conduct
Disorders and Depressive and Anxiety
disorders can have their origins in significant
stress generations before. The Families After Trauma Foundation
provides life-saving consumer-operated-services to families
living with the intergenerational impacts of military service.
In 2007 the Children & Grandchildren of Vietnam Veterans
Network was formed. Word rapidly spread about the effectiveness
of the Network and families affected by other military situations
enquired about our specialised support who reported highly
similar problematic symptoms plaguing their family for several
generations. We found the ability for this Network to be heard
altering states
in the right places was severely restricted
due to its structure, scope and vision.
Thus the Families After Trauma Foundation
was formed.
Now, a charitable, not-for-profit research,
training and support organisation, the
Foundation is run by volunteers and
families affected by psychological trauma caused by military
experiences. As a true Consumer Operated Service, our primary
goal is to assist and re-empower other families experiencing the
destabilising effects of military trauma, especially the inherited
aspects of this social and personal issue.
You can read a full description of our work at our website at:
www.familiesaftertrauma.org. This site is frequently updated, so
make sure you check it regularly.
17
 d A l l i a n c e
Q u e e n s l a n
Queensland Alliance has moved premises.
Change of contact details are as follows:
(there will be a period during which our old details will
be redirected)
Telephone: 07 3252 9411
Street Address: Level 2, 266 Brunswick Street
Fortitude Valley Q 4006
Postal Address: PO Box 696, Fortitude Valley Q 4006
Court Liaison
Service (CLS)
The Court Liaison Service (CLS) is a consultation
and liaison clinical service that provides mental
health advice, assessments, referral and diversion
for people with identified mental health needs
who are involved in the criminal justice system
(courts and watch house settings). The CLS aims
to build strong working collaborative partnerships
with organisations and departments who provide
services to people with mental health needs both
within the criminal justice system and within the
general community.
For more information visit our website
www.qldalliance.org.au
or contact the Service directly on
07 3139 7200
18
notice board
! Social and Professional
h a s m o v e d
Please join the Hon
Annastacia Palaszczuk MP,
State Council and staff for an
Official Office Opening
Date: Thursday 25 November 2010
4 – 6pm
RSVP by 22 November:
lstokes@qldalliance.org.au
Leading the Change
Conference
On the 17th and 18th February 2011 MHCC ACT
will be holding its first ever conference!
This conference is an opportunity to create a
vision of the mental health sector we would like
to see and discuss how we can shape the sector
both locally and nationally.
For more information see http://www.qldalliance.
org.au/mhcc-act-conference-leading-change
queensland alliance
Peer Worker
Network Queensland
For Peer Workers in the mental health sector, paid or
volunteer or seeking employment. Jump online and find out
more about job, networking and other opportunities along Interested in Indigenous mental health research?
with good practices at www.peerworkernetwork.ning.com This website provides a peer reviewed electronic
journal from the Australian Indigenous
HealthInfoNet. It also contains presentations and
outcomes from the ‘Start stronger, live longer
national Aboriginal Health Worker symposium’
which took place in WA in June this year.
See http://healthbulletin.org.au/
Helping you to help others –
because we care too.
When you need low prices, a fast quote and someone who understands
the not-for-profit sector, we’re here to help. Our services include: Improving
• design and artwork
• printing
• display material
• merchandise online
• website development • photography
By registering on our website nfpdesign.com.au you will be able to:
information
• receive discounts off your promotional material for people
• buy credit for any of our services to use over a 12 month period
• obtain instant quotes to assist you with your budgeting.
with disability
If you need a more specific quote we guarantee to provide you with this The Department of Communities (Disability and
within 48 hours. Community Care Services) are in the process of
We will not compromise on quality just to get a cheaper price. Our improving and streamlining online information
suppliers are the ones we’ve developed good relationships with over
to make it easier for people with a disability, their
many years. You’ll be receiving the highest quality at an extremely
families and carers, to find information about
special rate.
government services.
To have your say or find out more, visit
for a free quote visit: www.nfpdesign.com.au www.disability.qld.gov.au/key-projects/improving-
or call 1300 693 314
.........................
online-information
19
altering states
 AGM
2010

Printed on Impact Fine Paper, made with FSC certified 100% recycled pulp

Queensland Alliance
PO Box 696 Fortitude Valley QLD 4006 Phone 07 3252 9411 Fax 07 3832 2622 Email admin@qldalliance.org.au