Author Archives: Inner South

Extract from Mental Health Australia CEO Update 30 October 2025

 

  • Media release: Access Denied report paints alarming picture of NDIS access A new report shows the alarming impacts of hidden changes at the NDIS, which are creating invisible barriers and growing inequity for some of Australia’s most vulnerable people. The Access Denied: Psychosocial Disability and the NDIS report comes from the Australian Psychosocial Alliance (APA) – a national alliance of leading mental health support organisations including Mind Australia and One Door Mental Health, drawing on first-hand insights from consumers, participants, carers and others involved in the system, as well as NDIS statistics and APA organisational data.

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/

 

Alfred Health Carer Services News October 2025

 

National Carers Week 2025
12-18 October

National Carers Week is an opportunity to recognise and raise awareness about Australia’s 3 million carers.As we know, carers represent a diverse range of cultures, ages, experiences and responsibilities. All carers have to balance caring responsibilities with other responsibilities like work, study and their physical and mental health.Anyone can become a carer, at anytime.The Carer Wellbeing Survey found carers who had good access to support had healthier levels of wellbeing compared to those who had no or limited access to help.To learn more about National Carer’s Week and to search events being held, click below

National Carer’s Week

Click Here to view the Program

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 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.