Category Archives: Legislation

Mental Health and Wellbeing Act now Live on Engage Victoria

A REMINDER THAT THE CONSULTATION PERIOD HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 1 AUGUST.  YOUR OPINION COUNTS. 

This is your chance to help improve on the Mental Health Act (2014).

A new consultation is now live on Engage Victoria.

Dear Judi,

Mental Health and Wellbeing Act: Update and Engagement is now live on Engage Victoria.

This consultation relates to Health.

Contribute to the development of the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act.

Thanks,

The Engage Victoria Team.
Produced by The State Government of Victoria. All rights reserved.

Tandem eNews 15 June 2021

Dear members and supporters,

The State Government is progressing quickly on the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act.

The new Act aims to address 12 recommendations made in the Royal Commission’s final report, including recommendations 4, 30, 42-45, 53-56, and 61-62. You can read more about these on the Royal Commission website.

Now, the government has released an Update and Engagement Paper on the Engage Victoria website for public consultation, with submissions due by July 4.

The paper contains four key sections:

  • the objectives and principles of the new Act
  • non-legal advocacy, supported decision making and information sharing
  • compulsory treatment and assessment, seclusion and restraint
  • governance and oversight in the new Act.

Each of these sections explains which recommendations it addresses, includes the Department of Health’s proposals on how the new Act could meet those recommendations, and then poses a number of specific questions for public response.

After reading it, you may choose to make your own submission to the website – and the more submissions made that emphasise the needs and priorities of families and friends, the better.

You may also choose to contribute your opinions through Tandem’s submission, by participating in our consultation session this Thursday during our Tandem Time:

Tandem Time
10am to 11am
Thursday 24 June via Zoom.

Knowing that the deadline set by the Royal Commission was tight (it recommended that the State Government “enact a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act, preferably by the end of 2021 and no later than mid-2022”), we have already been consulting with members.

Earlier this year, we surveyed family and friends of people with mental health challenges to capture your priorities for our new mental health laws, and to gather feedback on some of the specific issues raised in the Royal Commission final report for the new Act to address.

We received 112 responses to that survey, and 54 members also attended a consultation session held during our last Members Meeting on June 10. Thank-you to all who participated in these activities; as always, members were highly engaged and offered thorough and insightful responses to the questions asked.

Your feedback so far has been collected into a report which is available on our website, and summarised in eNews below.

We hope to see many of you at our Tandem Time consultation session this Thursday.

Click on the link below to access the complete newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/449528769e37/dfxn4oqrm0-4757548?e=34088e3417

Tandem eNews 17 June 2021

Tandem: representing Victorian mental health carers

 

 

Dear members and supporters,

Victoria’s new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act is in development.

The Victorian Government has published a public Update and Engagement Paper for the new Act on the Engage Victoria website.

Public consultation is open until Sunday July 4th.

Tandem is preparing a submission on the behalf of members to address each section of the paper:

  • the objectives and principles of the new Act
  • non-legal advocacy, supported decision-making and information sharing
  • compulsory treatment and assessment, seclusion and restraint
  • governance and oversight in the new Act.

We would like to invite you to join a consultation session as part of a special Tandem Time from 10am to 11am next Thursday 24 June via Zoom.

The consultation session will help to guide our submission.

If you can, read the Update and Engagement Paper before next week’s session.

You may also want to make a submission of your own. You can also do this via the Engage Victoria site.

We look forward to seeing those of you who can join us next week.

In this eNews edition

    • Introduction and invitation to a special Tandem Time
    • Co-researcher roles for family/carer lived experience workers
    • Special access tickets for Mental Health Victoria’s ‘Preparing for Reform’ symposium
    • At Home with Satellite – plus Satellite Slam postponed
    • Tandem Support & Referral Line
    • Other Mental Health Helplines and Webchats
    • Join the Tandem Family

Co-researcher roles for family/carer lived experience workers
Have you worked as a family/carer lived experience worker?  The University of Melbourne and the Centre for Mental Health Learning have paid ‘co-researcher’ roles available for people to join a co-designed research project investigating the experiences of family/carer lived experience workers employed in mental health services in Victoria.
The deadline for submitting an Expression of Interest has been extended to Monday 21 June. Find a copy on our website.

Special access tickets for Mental Health Victoria’s ‘Preparing for Reform’ symposium

MHV has a limited number of free tickets on offer for ‘Preparing for Reform’, their online symposium on 29 June 2021 from 9am-3pm.

These tickets aim to allow access for people with lived experience of mental illness, their family members and carers.

Simply contact conference@mhvic.org.au with your details. For more info about the symposium see mhvconferences.com

At Home with Satellite – plus Satellite Slam postponed

At Home with Satellite is a fun, creative program that offers connecting activities for children and young people aged 8-14 years old (approx.) that runs during the school holidays.

Satellite’s ‘At Home’ program provides a curated selection of activity-based self-care packs and online workshops.

Their next ‘At Home’ workshop is a two-part series called All Superheroes Wear Masks. The first workshop will take place on Monday 28 June and the second workshop on Monday 5 July.

Monday 28 June and Monday 5 July:
10 – 11am
(for ages 8 – 11 years approx.)
1 – 2pm
(for ages 12 – 14 years approx.)

Find out more from the Satellite Foundation website.

The Satellite Foundation has also informed us that due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, Satellite Slam will now take place on Thursday 14 October and will form part of Mental Health Week from 9 – 16 October.

If you have already booked tickets, you will receive an email  about the change in date and your tickets. If you have not yet booked tickets, you can do so via the Satellite Foundation website.

You can access the complete newsletter via the link below:
https://mailchi.mp/5b62b1050ac9/dfxn4oqrm0-4757088?e=34088e3417

 

NDIS Latest News 6 May 2021

Scheme reform update

There has been a lot of focus on the NDIS in recent weeks. 

The Hon Linda Reynolds has been appointed the new Minister for the NDIS and is taking the opportunity to consult further on Scheme reforms, including independent assessments, ahead of releasing draft changes to legislation. 

I’ve recorded a short video for participants, their families and carers, and the sector, to let you know where we are in terms of Scheme reforms and set a clear picture of what we’re working towards – ultimately, an affordable Scheme that supports participants to have more control over their supports and their lives.

Watch it on the NDIS website.

Article from ProBono Newsletter 6 May 2021

Advocates perplexed over government’s independent assessments plan

Disability advocates say they are confused by the federal government’s messaging around independent assessments, after National Disability Insurance Scheme Minister Linda Reynolds confirmed the controversial reform will proceed in “some form” despite widespread opposition.

What’s the issue? Advocates say the government has been sending mixed messages about independent assessments (IAs) – a reform that would drastically change the process for determining NDIS eligibility. After swift backlash to the reform from disability groups, Minister Reynolds said two weeks ago that the government would pause its plan to introduce IAs. While this made disability groups hopeful the policy could be dumped, Reynolds told Senate Estimates on Monday that the introduction of IAs were still set to go ahead. Disability advocates are now in the dark about exactly when and how IAs will be rolled out. They are calling for the government to reset relations with the sector and ensure people with disability are put at the centre of NDIS decision-making.

https://mailchi.mp/probonoaustralia/indpendent-assessments?e=638c213cfb

NDIS Newsletter 22 April 2021

1800 800 110

Participant First: Help shape the NDIS

Sign up to join the Participant First Engagement Initiative

Want to provide your feedback to shape the future of the NDIS?

Our Participant First Engagement Initiative helps us connect with participants, families and carers to get your ideas on creating a better participant experience.

If you’d like to work with us on delivering a better scheme for all, we’d love to hear from you.
Learn more.

For more information you can access the newsletter via the link below:
https://mailchi.mp/ndis.gov.au/enewsletter_22_april2021_participant?e=88b89fb306

VMIAC Weekly Newsletter 22 April 2021

Just Saying!

From new consumer rights resources, to campaigns to change the future of Victoria’s mental health system. Keep reading to find out about this and more in this weeks VMIAC newsletter!

GET READY

Now what are they doing about us, without us? We’ll be calling on you next week to act! Keep an eye on our social…

Read More

To access the newsletter click on the link below:

Inner South Family and Friends Support Group Meeting 7.30pm Tuesday 8 October 2019

Guest Speaker Rohani Bixler Estate Planning Lawyer, with an interest in Carer Issues, Wills and Succession Planning for Carers of Individuals with Mental Health Issues will discuss:

“Ensuring the best of opportunities for our loved ones when we are no longer able to look after them”

Venue: Uniting (formerly Prahran Mission), 211 Chapel Street Prahran, between High Street and Prahran Town Hall

All welcome, no need to book. Light refreshments are available from 7.15pm. There is no charge, but a small donation towards supper is always appreciated.  Please come early, especially if coming for the first time.  You can contact our office on 9076 4722, or by email at isfaf@alfred.org.au, or by calling Judi directly on 0425 723 746 if you have any questions or difficulty with transport.

You can access more news about ISFAF via the link below:

ISFAF News October 2019

INNER SOUTH FAMILY AND FRIENDS 2019 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 7.00PM TUESDAY 9 JULY 2019

will be held at Uniting (formerly Prahran Mission) 211 Chapel Street Prahran, between High St and Prahran Town Hall
Free parking in Chapel Street or carpark behind JB Hi-Fi­­­­. Refreshments will be available from 6.45pm

The AGM will be immediately followed by ISFAF Monthly Support Group meeting  at 7.30pm

Our guest speaker is  THE HON MARTIN FOLEY, MINISTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH,
MINISTER FOR EQUALITY, MINISTER FOR CREATIVE INDUSTRIES