Category Archives: Legislation

Inner South Family and Friends monthly meetings and social events March/April 2025

 

Please note the new address for our office and venue for our March Meeting. 

607 St Kilda Road is on the same side of St Kilda Road as for our previous meetings but closer the junction. Our monthly meetings will generally be held at 607 (not 549 as previously). However, for our April meeting we have received acceptances from local candidates for the 2025 Federal Election. Accordingly, our meeting planned for Tuesday 8 April will held in the Pavilion in Caulfield Park. Politicians need voters. Politicians respond to numbers. All are welcome to our April meeting, whether carers or otherwise. Please bring your family, friends (or even enemies!) who may be interested to meet the local candidates informally and to put their views and questions. Politicians may respond more favourably when they see those impacted by mental health are a large group of lovely individuals faced by challenges with which the government can help. Democracy provides power to numbers. 

ISFAF MONTHLY MEETING 7pm for 7.30pm TUESDAY 11 MARCH 2025 

GUEST SPEAKER: Dr Parsons is a Medical GP who has practised Integrative Medicine (IM) for as long as I can recall. IM enables the mind and body to work in an integrated way to focus on the body’s ability to heal itself. IM has success in a wide range of issues including mental health. In 2004, Sandy gained an award from the National Institute of Integrative Medicine (NIIM https://niim.com.au/about) for her outstanding contribution to Integrative Medicine. 

TOPIC: Integrative perspective on stress and mood management 

All Carers, family and friends of individuals are welcome to attend. We especially welcome Team Members of AMAH. 

A light supper provided by our committee is served from 7.05 pm, enabling mingling among individuals sharing similar challenging journeys. ISFAF monthly meetings are free. No need to book. 

However, a small contribution is always extremely welcome. 

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. 

ELWOOD BEACH WALK ‘N CHAT ON THE 1ST, 3RD AND FIFTH (WHERE APPLICABLE) TUESDAY OF THE MONTH 

PLEASE NOTE that by demand – it has been decided that Walk n Chats are so enjoyable that we will include the fifth Tuesday of the month (when there is one!) 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 are essential – times and starting points may vary, 

Some 2025 Tuesday Walk ‘n Chat dates to diarise: 4, 18 March, 1, 15, 29 April. 

If you need help with transport or have other questions, please do not hesitate to contact Judi at  judi.burstyner@gmail.com or home on 0425 723 746. 

Events are planned for fun and an important opportunity to chat with and influence local candidates in the coming federal election. Democracy is precious. Tuesday 8 April is your opportunity to make good use of this gift.

PRE-ELECTION FORUM: Tuesday 8 April 7.30pm (following 7.00pm light supper): Caulfield Park Pavilion 

We have invited local candidates from ALP, Liberals, Greens and an Independent. Tim Wilson from the electorate of Goldstein and Sonya Semmens from Macnamara have accepted. We await responses from Josh Burns, of Macnamara and from Zoe Daniels of Goldstein. 

ISFAF has a strong commitment to advocating for better assistance to individuals caught in the mental health sector, both our loved ones and we as carers. Reminding candidates that we are a large number who may influence their success or otherwise at the coming polls provides every one of us with a true means to make use of democratic process. The onus is on YOU. Democracy is the best form of government among many other not so good and very bad forms. Please make use of the process that many have given their lives to protect for us. Don’t waste the opportunity. Diarize the event and circulate it among everyone you know. Ask them to join us – we need LOTS of people in the audience. It is not essential that they be carers. By coming along, they show that they care about the election and that they are among the millions of voters who are connected to someone challenged directly or less directly by mental health issues. 

Excerpts from Mental Health Foundation Weekly Update 30 October 2024

 

Butterfly Foundation’s BodyKind Youth Survey is closing soon!
It’s the last chance for young people aged 12 – 18  to complete the third national online survey on body image. The BodyKind Youth Survey helps Butterfly understand the body image experiences of young Australians and get young peoples’ views on what needs to change to create a more BodyKind Australia.

Participants can win one of 20 gift vouchers.

Further information and a link to the survey is available at the button below.
Learn more

Excerpts from Mental Health Australia Weekly Update 7 August 2025

 

Excerpt from Mental Health Australia Weekly Update 10 April 2024

NDIS Legislation Presentation

The National Disability Insurance Agency last week provided stakeholders with a sharable presentation about the recent proposed legislation to the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The PDF presentation is attached.

Plain English/easy read material that explains what is included in the Bill, is also available on the DSS website.

The proposed legislation is the first important step to put in place the scaffolding needed to start making the NDIS stronger and to improve outcomes for NDIS participants.

The purpose of the legislation is two-fold, it:

  • Creates the scaffolding needed to progress key NDIS Review recommendations, in partnership with people with disability and the disability community.
  • Clarifies the intention of existing legislation to improve the delivery of the Scheme now. These adjustments will make legislation clearer and reinforce the original intent of the Scheme.

The proposed legislation is informed by feedback from people with disability, their families, carers and the broader disability community over many years—and importantly, it is informed by the NDIS Review.

In addition, the NDIS Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024 is available on the Parliament of Australia website and further information is available on the Department of Social Services websi

Inner South Family and Friends Support Group Upcoming Meetings and Social Function

ISFAF MONTHLY MEETING 7.30PM TUESDAY 13 JUNE 2023 

SPEAKER: Gabby Cohen, Southcity Clinic Team Leader, Alfred Mental and Addiction Health

TOPIC: Mental Health and Substance use at Home 

VENUE: Level four, Spotless Building, 549 St Kilda Road, Melbourne 

The “Spotless Building’ is a little to the city side of Wesley College, and has white umbrellas in the forecourt.  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 and/or issues faced by carers please phone: Judi on 0425 723 746 or Eleni on 0412 018 722.
Please come early to chat and to enjoy our delicious food which will be available from 7.10pm.  Due to security needs, we are required to pay a concierge at the door of the building.

INNER SOUTH FAMILY AND FRIENDS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 7PM
TUESDAY 11 JULY 2023

SPEAKER: Stephen Taffe, Senior Legal Counsel, Alfred Mental and Addiction Health 

TOPIC: Understanding the changes of the New Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 

VENUE: AMAH, Level four Spotless Building, 549 St Kilda Road, Melbourne

Please note the earlier starting time to the meeting. 

A ‘special’ supper will be available from 6.30pm. 

A new Act was a recommendation of the Victorian Royal Commission into Mental Health. With the new MHWA coming into force on 1 September, we are extremely fortunate to have Senior Legal Counsel to help us understand the differences between the Mental Health Act of 2014 and the new Act. 

Only knowledge can prepare us for the new legislation which will affect us all.

Mental health and wellbeing reform in Victoria 2 March 2023

The following paragraphs are excerpts from an update by the Deputy Secretary, Mental Health and Wellbeing 2 March 2023

Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 – A new Q&A
Our new ‘Q&A’ aims to promote understanding of the Act and the activities underway to support implementation. We’ll start this series with a question about the broader goals the Act is trying to achieve. You can email your questions to mhwa@health.vic.gov.au.

Q: ‘What does the new Act do?’
A: The new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 delivers on the Royal Commission’s vision for rights-based mental health and wellbeing laws which reflect the diverse needs of our communities and creates the structures that will hold government to account on providing a high-quality, compassionate public mental health and wellbeing system.

The new Act puts people with lived and living experience of mental illness and psychological distress, and their families, carers and supporters at the centre of the mental health and wellbeing system. It does this through the introduction of new rights-based objectives and principles and the inclusion of designated lived experience roles at the highest levels of new and existing governance and oversight entities.

It also establishes key elements of the new system architecture, including the Chief Officer for Mental Health and Wellbeing, statutory Regional Mental Health and Wellbeing Boards to provide advice on the planning and commissioning of services at the local level, the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, a legislated opt-out non-legal mental health advocacy service and Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Victoria.

The Act will ensure the legislative framework reach beyond merely authorising and regulating the use of compulsory treatment and restrictive interventions and enable a connected and coordinated system where people do not fall through the cracks and receive the treatment, care and support they need.

Please email your questions to mhwa@health.vic.gov.au

Calendar of engagement opportunities

This calendar reflects the most up-to-date view of upcoming mental health and wellbeing engagement opportunities, including consultations, EOI processes and tenders.

Targeted engagement refers to engagement activities where we are seeking input from priority groups and cohorts. In many cases, we will be working with peak bodies and organisations that represent those communities to identify participants, including people with lived and living experience.

Open engagement refers to public engagement activities where anybody with an interest in the work is welcome to contribute. Where available, we will provide a link to where you can find out more about the engagement and how to participate.

Last updated: 2 March 2023.

Visit our engagement webpage to find out about targeted and open engagement taking place in the next couple of months.

Victoria Legal Aid – New Partnerships (funded by the federal government)

New partnerships to extend vital family violence support

We are pleased to announce the legal and non-legal services that will be partnering with Victoria Legal Aid as we roll out the Family Advocacy and Support Services program across Victoria.

We have established multiple new partnerships to expand Family Advocacy and Support Services (FASS) across the state and provide more legal advice and support at court for those impacted by family violence.

The organisations will partner with us to deliver duty lawyer services, family violence support services and mental health support services at circuit locations of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) throughout Victoria.

For more information see link below:

https://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/new-partnerships-extend-vital-family-violence-support

A progress report on the effectiveness of mental health and wellbeing reform

 

Our Reform

A progress report on the effectiveness of mental health and wellbeing reform from the people who use the system

 

On 6 September 2022 Victoria’s three mental health sector peak bodies, the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC), Tandem, and Mental Health Victoria, will host a major, sector-wide conference focused on Victoria’s mental health reform journey.

The conference will be launched by Victoria’s Minister for Mental Health, Minister Gabrielle Williams. Senior representatives from the Victorian Government will be invited to engage in high-level, solutions focused policy discussions, led by the Victorian mental health sector, including the consumers, carers, families and supporters at the heart of our system.

This will be an opportunity for Victoria’s mental health sector to thoughtfully examine key reform initiatives from the first 18 months of Victoria’s reform journey, including legislative reform, service system reform in clinical and community settings, Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing, and Lived Experience reform.

Event details
Date: Tuesday 6 September 2022
Time: 9.30am – 5pm
Location: Pullman Hotel, Albert Park, 65 Queens Rd, Albert Park VIC 3004

Buy tickets

 

Mind Medicine Australia

Please Take 5 Minutes To Show Your Support For Rescheduling the Medicinal Use of Psilocybin and MDMA as Part of Psychotherapy for The Treatment of Mental Illness

Australians Need Your Help!

The TGA’s Public Submissions Period is Now Open

The TGA has announced the public consultation period is now open in relation to Mind Medicine Australia’s applications to amend the Poisons Standard in relation the medical use of psilocybin and MDMA as part of therapy for key classes of treatment resistant mental illness

The public consultation period ends COB on Friday 27 May 2022.

This is the last day that you will be able to lodge a public submission.

Make Submission Here

If the applications are successful this will be a historic moment – Please be part of it

“To my mind, the clinical evidence is clear…every day that this takes is a day that we lose people, and that’s not acceptable…”

Dr Tra-ill Dowie, dual PhD holder and co-founder of the Mind Medicine Institute speaks of the injustice of denying those in need treatments that can alleviate their suffering.

The Majority of Australians ALREADY Support the Regulation of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy… But The Regulators Don’t Know Where You Stand. Show Them That It is Politically Safe to Listen to the Science By Making A Submission. Australians Deserve Better.