Category Archives: Education

Turning Point

Mapping the ecosystem of addiction report launch.With the Australian Institute of Health Innovation at Macquarie University, we have developed a map of the ecosystem of addiction.

Alcohol and other drug services in Australia are wide-ranging and serve many different needs. They often overlap with other areas like mental health, hospitals, housing, justice, and community support, which can make the system confusing and hard to navigate. Without a clear understanding of how it all fits together, efforts to improve the system may not work well.Based on the concept of health care as a Complex Adaptive System, this seminar presents a graphic that provides a holistic view of AOD services.The graphic provides a detailed map of issues, influences, interdependencies, workarounds, disconnects, and facilitators.

When: Wednesday 3rd December 2025
Time: 12pm to 1pm
Location: online
Cost: Free

 

Turning Point Webinar 18November 2025

Connect & Learn
online from 1pm to 1:45pm AEDT

The role of dual diagnosis in AOD rehabilitation
presented by Dr Lea Foo & David Hill

click here to register

The presentation will aim to improve knowledge about the prevalence of comorbid mental health and substance use disorders, their relationship and impact on recovery. Dr Lea Foo and David Hill will provide tools and strategies to support addressing comorbid mental health conditions in the AOD space.

Dr Lea Foo is an Addiction Psychiatrist at Western Health Drug Health Services. She works with people who use drugs (PWUD) and supports other clinicians working with PWUD through the Hamilton Centre Victoria Statewide service for people living with mental illness and substance use or addiction, and in general hospital settings through the Addiction Medicine consultation service.  Lea also coordinates the training program for doctors specialising in Addiction Medicine and Addiction Psychiatry at Western Health.

David Hill is an AOD Peer Support Worker with the MHAOD Connect team that works out of the Sunshine Hospital Emergency Department. He also works at Westside Lodge, which is a dual diagnosis residential rehabilitation program.

Connect & Learn webinar series address a wide range of practice-relevant topics presented by local expert clinicians. The webinars aim to enhance the capabilities of Victorian AOD and MH workers in responding to substance use and addiction issues among their clients and consumers.

Note: Connect & Learn webinars are funded by the Victorian Department of Health and only available for Victorians to register, thank you.

Date: Tuesday 18th November 2025,
time:1pm to 1:45pm AEDT
Venue: online
Register: click here

Mental Health Australia Weekly Update 16 October 2025

 

  • Media release: Funding boost to improve headspace services The Albanese Labor Government is investing an extra $72.7 million to boost headspace services across the nation, giving young Australians quicker access to the free mental health support they need. This investment will support initiatives to reduce wait times and improve access to free mental health care for young people across 85 headspace services, including additional staff to meet high demand for services, and activities to provide more inclusive support for young people from First Nations communities, LGBTIQA+ individuals, and those from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds.

  • Media release: Data shows more private mental health hospital beds are being added to the system Data on private hospital licenses and expansions shows Australia’s private mental health sector is continuing to expand. The publicly available data shows more mental health beds have opened in new private mental health hospitals over the past five years than were lost in standalone mental health hospital closures. Several hospitals have also been redeveloped to include extra private mental health beds, and two new mental health hospitals are currently under construction.

  • Media release: New YouTube mental health and wellbeing tools – built just for teens For more than a decade, YouTube has built specific age-appropriate experiences for younger users. Today, we are announcing our newest offering which will start rolling out for teens in Australia in the coming weeks: mental health and wellbeing content in a dedicated surface built just for teens. We are proud to partner with leading mental health organisations Black Dog Institute and ReachOut, to provide this local, teen-centric content.

Inner South Family and Friends Monthly Support Group Meeting

ISFAF MONTHLY MEETING  7pm for 7.30pm TUESDAY 14 OCTOBER 2025

VENUE      LEVEL 1, 607 ST KILDA ROAD, MELBOURNE

  • a little to the St Kilda side of Wesley College. Lots of free parking in the centre lanes of St Kilda Road, with many trams stopping at the door. If you are having trouble with transport, seek further information or just need a chat, about ISFAF, the ‘mental health world’ and/or issues you are facing please phone Judi on 0425 723 746 or Eleni on 0412 018 722

Please come early to chat and to enjoy delicious snacks which will be available from 7.05 pm

For security, we are required to pay a concierge at the door of the building. Latecomers may not be able to enter.

GUEST SPEAKERS    Moses Abbatangelo, the Head of Residential Services at Windana

TOPIC   Windana’s Approach to Wellbeing and Recovery

 We are very fortunate that the Head of Residential Services has accepted our invitation. As the website shows, Windana provided many services, including Residential and Home based Recovery Programmes.

There will be something of interest for all of us at our meeting on the 14 October 

https://windana.org.au/services-category/aod/

 

Consumers Can Ask (ConCA)

APSU Logo

AVAILABLE NOW
Consumers Can Ask (ConCA) new edition

Empowering consumers to navigate alcohol, drug, and mental health services with confidence.
ConCa booklet in a pile
The booklet helps you to:

  • Navigate services more effectively
  • Ask informed questions at every stage of care
  • Make confident decisions about your treatment
  • Access practical tools and resources
Early Feedback: People discovering ConCA through the consultation wish they had known about the resource earlier.
Download Consumers Can Ask
There is also a companion resource – Carers Can Ask, available here 

We welcome your feedback to help us continue improving this valuable community resource. Send any comments you’d like to share to apsu@sharc.org.au

Inner South Family and Friends Meetings and Social Events September-December 2025

ISFAF MONTHLY MEETING 7pm for 7.30 pm TUESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2025 

VENUE: LEVEL 1, 607 ST KILDA ROAD, MELBOURNE 

The building is a little to the St Kilda side of Wesley College. Lots of free parking in the centre lanes of St Kilda Road, with many trams stopping at the door. If you are having trouble with transport, seek further information or just need a chat, about ISFAF, the ‘mental health world’ and/or issues you are facing please phone: Judi M: 0425 723 746 or Eleni M: 0412 018 722 

Please come early to chat and to enjoy delicious snacks which will be available from 7.05pm 

For security, we are required to pay a concierge at the door of the building. Latecomers may not be able to enter. 

GUEST SPEAKER: Hayden Fricke, psychologist, writer https://haydenfricke.com/ 

TOPIC: The Journey – Love, Loss and Understanding Mental Illness 

Hayden, son of one of our founders, Judy Carroll and step-son of our member Frank has written a book ‘Compassion’ – a journey of love, loss and understanding of mental illness. It is a very personal book about the four men in Hayden’s life that have suffered from mental illness. As a psychologist, Hayden shares his thoughts on how far society has come in the last 40 years and what we can still do to reduce the stigma, improve conversations about mental illness and to improve the mental system. 

The book is a wonderful read. It makes an excellent gift which may lead those around us to gaining greater understanding of the trials and tribulations that individuals with serious mental illness and their carers face. 

Hayden will bring some copies for sale, or if you already have a copy he will sign it for you. To buy at the meeting, please bring $25 exact change. (On Amazon, the book is on special with the price reduced from $39 to $33) 

A TRUE TREAT – TREAT SESSION WITH JO GIBBS – TUESDAY 16 SEPTEMBER
THERAPEUTIC RELAXATION AND HEALTH AWARENESS SESSION 

Catered Buffet Dinner, 5.30pm Treat Session commences 6.30pm 

Level 1, 607 St Kilda Road Melbourne 

https://www.treathealthcare.com.au/ 

The session held last year was so greatly appreciated that members have asked for another. Jo’s well researched TREAT sessions provide the self-care and therapeutic relaxation that we all need to be able to function. 

BOOKING BY NOON WEDNESDAY 10 SEPTEMBER ARE ESSENTIAL 

1. deposit donation ($8 / $16 ) to Westpac ISFAF Community One A/C BSB 033-169 A/c No: 258307, 

2. make sure your booking shows your name and the names of others in your booking 

3. email judi.burstyner@gmail.com and isfaf@alfred.org.au with proof of booking. Please do not send proof to phone or text or other form of communication. Simply follow the directions to email as requested to both the following email addresses: judi.burstyner@gmail.com and isfaf@alfred.org.au. 

4. Please double check that your email shows: the names of those for whom you have booked, 

  • any special dietary needs. We will try our best to cater to these. However we are not responsible for the contents of food provided and cannot guarantee that catering to all special needs is possible.
  • As always, we take no responsibility for the ingredients and it is up to individuals to ensure their own safety.

Confirmatory email will be sent by 5pm Saturday 13 September. If you do not receive the confirmatory email but have paid, email judi.burstyner@gmail.com urgently and by 5pm Sunday 14 September. 

If you have questions regarding the bookings, please do not hesitate to contact Judi directly on mobile 0425 723 746 or judi.burstyner@gmail.com 

ELWOOD BEACH WALK ‘N CHAT 

ON THE 1ST, 3RD AND 5th (WHERE APPLICABLE) TUESDAY OF THE MONTH 

PLEASE NOTE that by demand – it has been decided that Walk n Chats are so valuable that the 5th (and sometimes other) Tuesdays are included. Family members, including canines are very welcome. Walkers generally meet at 1pm, with non-walkers joining us at 2.15pm for a drink provided by ISFAF. Please book on the day prior to walk or by 10am on the day of the walk: Ph: Alexis 0423 939 949 

Meeting place will be advised when you book. Bookings essential – times and starting points may vary, 

Some 2025 Tuesday Walk ‘n Chat dates to diarise: September 16, 30 October 7, 21, 28 If you need help with transport or have other questions, please do not hesitate to contact Judi at judi.burstyner@gmail.com or phone 0425 723 746 

ISFAF Monthly Meetings October-December

Tuesday 14 October: Team members of Windana, an adult residential detox unit in St Kilda. https://windana.org.au/services/adult-detox-at-windana/ 

Tuesday 11 November: Dr. Simon Stafrace, Programme Director Alfred Mental and Addiction Health.  Dr Stafrace’s annual end-of-year talks are always of interest, updating us of innovations locally and generally in the world of mental health and wellbeing. 

Tuesday 9 December: End of Year Dinner 

https://ispaf.org/ 

Alfred Health Carer Services October-December 2025 Carer Events

Did you miss out on our events?

Have you missed out on a place for our events because you haven’t had a Carers Star conversation with us in the last 12 months?

REMEMBER:

  • You MUST be registered with us and have had a Carer Star conversation within the last 12 months to be able to attend our events.
  • Have you received an email advising you that you need to have a Carer Star conversation?
  • Please make sure to follow the instructions in the email to attend our events.

Key Contacts

Carer Gateway:

Alfred Health Carer Services:

  • Call us on 1800 51 21 21
  • Call our Carer Engagement Team on 03 9076 6644

Click on the link below to see the October-December carer events program
CarereventsOctober-December2025