Category Archives: Events

Alfred Health Carer Services eNews November 2025

Welcome to our November edition of eNews

This month you will find lots of useful information and activities available for carers.

Click on the headings below to jump to a section:

Alfred Health Carer Services News
Our Upcoming Events
Male Carers
Carer Stories
Around Our Region: Services & Programs
Library Spotlight
Carer Support Group Spotlight
Podcasts
Taking Care Of Yourself
Staff Q&A

Inner South Family and Friends Meetings and Events for 2026

Dates to Diarise for 2026

We are in the throes of planning our 2026 programme.

Monthly Meetings, second Tuesday of the month, commencing in February:

10 February

10 March

14 April

12 May

9 June

14 July

11 August

15 September

13 October

10 November

Social functions being considered are:

  • a day at Peninsula Hot Springs
  • lunches,
  • cinema,
  • day outing / special walk / regional gallery visit

PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS – email isfaf@alfred.org.au

Inner South Family and Friends Walk n Chat

BEACH WALK N CHAT ON THE FIRST, THIRD AND FIFTH  TUESDAY OF THE  MONTH

Walkers generally meet at 1pm, with non-walkers joining us at 2.15pm, for a drink provided by ISFAF.   Family members, including canines are very welcome.  Bookings by phone / text to Alexis on 0423 939 949 are essential, or by 10am on the day of the walk.  Please state your name when you book and ensure that you have provided a return phone number, that is, if your number does not show up when you call, please include it and your name in the message. Times and starting points may vary, as may the availability over the holiday season.

2024 Tuesday Walk n Chat dates to diarise:  December 2, 16 and 30,   January 6 and 20

Advance Notice for 2026 – Commencing in 2025, Penny has offered to organise a second regular walking group in the South Melbourne/Port Melbourne/Albert Park area. This will be in addition to our regular Elwood Walk n Chat. If you are interested, and to assist with planning, please advise Penny of your preferred choice of days by calling or messaging her on  0400 979 976 or sending an email either to pmal@catullus.com.au or to  isfaf@alfred.org.au.  The suggested venue is Albert Park starting and finishing at the coffee shop on the light rail at Armstrong Street Station. There is a car park alongside the café directly opposite the Middle Park Bowling Club. If leaving a message, please be sure to clearly leave your name and contact details.                                                                             

Inner South Family and Friends End of Year Christmas Dinner

2025  END-OF-YEAR CHRISTMAS DINNER 6PM TUESDAY 9 DECEMBER AT CUSINA 130 ERSKINE STREET MIDDLE PARK

Bookings close 5pm Wednesday 3 December

Free parking is available in Erskine Street

TO BOOK

  1. Deposit $5 for pensioners or $10 for non-pensioners to ISFAF Community Account,  BSB 033169   A/c No:  258307  to reach ISFAF account by Wednesday 3 December

Please ensure that your deposit shows your name and names of any others in your booking.

  1. Email confirmation to Penny Lewisohn pmal@catullus.com.au or isfaf@alfred.org.au

      In your email, include

  • Name, phone number and email of each individual attending (preferably mobile phone number)
  • Choice of main course for each person and their special dietary needs if any

Cusina is a gourmet restaurant with a highly regarded chef. We have held our end of year dinner here for the previous two years as members seem to enjoy the outdoor ambience, let’s hope it is fine! Food will be cooked specifically for us on the night. We are a big group. To assist the chef, we must advise the restaurant of our main courses by the previous Wednesday night. PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE YOUR MIND ON THE NIGHT It causes chaos for everyone!

Accordingly, please let us know in your email which ONE of the following main courses you wish to have:

 – any ONE pizza shown on the menu. The list of pizzas is on on the Cusina website:  https://www.opentable.com.au/r/cusina-middle-park

 – or one of the following pasta dishes:

  • beef ragu pappardelle (pappardelle pasta with slow cooked beef brisket in red wine and paprika sauce)
  • spaghetti with prawns in lobster bisque
  • gnocchi with pumpkin and gorgonzola
  • or chicken cacciatore : boned chicken thighs with roasted capsicum olives and onion with a touch of Napoli sauce served w roasted potatoes  (GF)
  • or fish of the day: wild caught barramundi fillet roasted tomatoes ,potatoes ,olives and caramelised red onion (GF)

If anyone in your booking has special dietary needs you MUST let us know the specific needs in your email.

All of the above pastas and pizzas can be made GF if you advise ahead.

Please note that the meal is highly subsidised by AMAH.  Drinks other than tap water are not included in the above cost. Any drinks other than tap water are to be ordered and paid for individually at the bar upon order.

Confirmation of booking will be emailed to individuals whose deposits show up in the above account AND who have emailed isfaf@alfred.org.au.  with their choice of main course (and any special dietary needs)

WE THANK THE VICTORIAN STATE GOVERNMENT, CARERS VIC AUSTRALIA AND AMAH FOR THEIR GENEROSITY IN SUBSIDISING THIS AMAZING DINNER FOR US TO ENJOY

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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

Inner South Family and Friends Meetings and Social Activities October-December 2025

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 7.05pm

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

GUEST SPEAKERS   Brooke Paisley and Mark Graham

TOPIC  Windana – Changing and Healing Lives
Windana provides many services, including Residential and Home based Recovery Programmes https://windana.org.au/services-category/aod/

FRIDAY 10 OCTOBER 2025  WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY (WMHD) Level 1, 607 St Kilda Road Melbourne (our usual venue for meetings).

As a token of ISFAF’S appreciation for the dedication to the challenging work of improving the lives of our loved ones and to express our gratitude for the generosity of AMAH, Inner South Family and Friends have invited Team Members of Alfred Mental and Addiction Health to join us for a buffet lunch on World Mental Health Day.  WMHD provides an opportunity for Team Members of AMAH and Carers to meet informally.

SUNDAY 19 OCTOBER CELEBRATE CARERS WEEK

FILM FOLLOWED BY LUNCH AT BLOSSOM THAI RESTAURANT

Meet at Palace Como in Como Centre,  corner Toorak Road and Chapel Street South Yarra.  Meeting time will be approximately 10am but exact time depends on time of screening and will be advised to those who have booked. BOOKINGS MUST CLOSE BY 5pm MONDAY 13 OCTOBER

TO BOOK
1.     Choose your meal from the attached menu. Pictures and further information are available at https://blossom-thai.nextorder.com/
ISFAF will pay for upto $30 per person. You are welcome to choose more and to pay the extra into an honesty jar in cash on the day.
2.     deposit $14 pensioners, $26 non-pensioners to Westpac ISFAF Community One Account BSB 033-169  A/c No: 258307,
3.     make sure your deposit shows your name,
4.     email to isfaf@alfred.org.au and c/c to judi.burstyner@gmail.com with
·       proof of booking,
·       names of all the individuals in your booking,
·       your menu choice
5.      expect a confirmation via email on Tuesday 14 October.  If you don’t receive a confirmation by 8pm please email isfaf@alfred.org.au  and c/c to judi.burstyner@gmail.com  urgently as we may not be able to increase our booking beyond Wednesday morning.

The film is due for release in October and therefore seats are limited

THE TRAVELLERS

‘The further we go, the closer we become’

The Travellers is an upcoming Australian family film  directed by legendary Australian filmmaker Bruce Beresford, the acclaimed director behind four Oscar wins.

Stephen Seary, a stage designer, returns to Australia to say goodbye to his dying mother. A quick trip descends into chaos, drama, and funny moments as he juggles family tension, grumpy father, past lovers and returning to Europe for an opera contract.

The film stars Luke Bracey, Bryan Brown, and Susie Porter.

We thank AMAH and Carers Victoria for their generous assistance in making this and other events possible.      

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, contact Alexis 0423 939 949.    Meeting place will be advised when you book. Bookings are. essential as times and starting points may vary,
Some 2025 Tuesday Walk n Chat dates to diarise   October 7, 21, 28.   But there are often more.
If you need help with transport or have other questions, please do not hesitate to contact Judi at email  judi.burstyner@gmail.com  or phone 0425 723 746

ISFAF Monthly Meetings

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.

 December  End of Year Dinner  Please keep an eye on our website – Date yet to be advised.

World Mental Health Day 10 October 2025

10 October is World Mental Health Day – a time to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and support each other’s mental health.

This year, Mental Health Australia’s theme is Connect with your community.

Whether it’s with friends, family, colleagues, your mob, or local groups, building connections helps us feel safe, seen and supported – and that’s good for our mental health.

To help you take part, Mental Health Australia has created free resources you can use and share:

October Calendars – a month full of mental health tips to follow along – there are also First Nations and Youth (16–24) editions

Connect with your MP – this year, Mental Health Australia is encouraging community members to engage with their elected representative

Supporter Toolkit – free digital assets to help spread the word online and in your community

Share how you connect with community on socials – Tag us on Instagram and Facebook @aumentalhealth #WMHD2025 #connectwithyourcommunity

Together, we can spark conversations, strengthen connections, and make mental health a priority.