Author Archives: Inner South

Excerpts from Mental Health Australia Weekly Update 7 August 2025

 

Turning Point Free Seminar Series August-September 2024

Talking Point is a regular series of publicly available lectures that aim to inspire, inform and challenge our notions of what we know about addiction and its impact across society. Health and social sector professionals and the general public are all welcome to attend.

MOXY:  An open label pilot study of oxytocin for methamphetamine withdrawal in women, presented by Dr Sarah Catchlove, Research Fellow, Turning Point & A/Prof Shalini Arunogiri, Clinical Director, Turning Point Statewide Services –  for more information & to register: click here 
___________________________________________________________

18th September 2024, 1pm – 2pm – ONLINE

Maternal Alcohol Reduction Interventions (MARI): coproducing support for women, to improve health and reduce alcohol harm, presented by Dr Abi Rose, Reader in Alcohol behaviour – for more information & to register click here
___________________________________________________________

View previous presentations on the Turning Point Website
click here for Talking Point and click here for Connect & Learn
If you have enquiries regarding registration please call (03) 8413 8413.

First Step Event ‘Is Resilience Contagious’

On behalf of First Step’s Lived and Living Experience Reference Group, we warmly invite you to our next event where we will ask the question, ‘Is Resilience Contagious?’

This event will explore the unique and positive transformation that can occur for families, friends and clinicians from experiencing the resilience of the people they support as they travel the road that is recovery.

To help answer the question ‘Is Resilience Contagious?’ we will bring together pairs of speakers who have experienced resilience and vicarious resilience together, hearing both sides of the story. This event was inspired by the work of Vikki Reynolds, psychotherapist and activist, on the concept of resilience being contagious. The event will include a brief video introduction from Vikki.

Please join us:

Wednesday 28th August
12.00pm – 2.00pm (light refreshments will be served)
Betty Day Community Centre
67 Argyle St, St Kilda

This will be the third event hosted by our Reference Group which is made up of past and present clients and aims to empower, exchange ideas, build social connections, challenge stigma and promote diversity.

We hope you can join us for this very special event. Please RSVP as places are limited.


p.s: If you would like to extend this invitation to someone in your network, please let me know – we would love to welcome them.
First Step · Australia
Our vision is a community where people who use drugs and alcohol and people living with mental distress can live well, be safe and be supported.

Aboriginal Flag We acknowledge the traditional owners of this land, the Yalukit Willam clan of the Boon Wurrung people and pay our respects to their elders both past and present. We acknowledge and uphold their continuing relationship to this land.
Pride Flag First Step are committed to equity irrespective of cultural or linguistic background, sexual orientation, gender identity (LGBTI+), intersex status, religion or spiritual beliefs, socio-economic status, age, or abilities.
Facebook link Instagram link Twitter Link LinkedIn link YouTube link

Excerpt from Mental Health Australia Weekly Update

The Promise Documentary
Directed by Jye Currie, a new documentary, titled The Promise, is being featured at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival on 28 July at Cinema Nova, on Lygon Street in Melbourne.

At its core, The Promise delves into the depths of hope and human resilience, offering an intimate exploration of the challenges faced by those affected by suicide. Through the courageous journey of Craig Hamilton and the poignant stories of survivors and loving families, the film offers a raw and unfiltered look at the impact of suicide on individuals and communities alike.

The documentary is described as a journey of discovery, understanding, and hope. Through powerful interviews with leading researchers and health experts, the film provides valuable insights into the complex factors contributing to suicide and the strategies for prevention.

A media release is attached. Mental Health Australia has no affiliation with the production.

https://www.cinemanova.com.au/films/mdff-the-promise

Turning Point Connect & Learn


Connect & Learn
Recording available to view on the Turning Point Website
click here to view

Working with trauma and addiction – understanding it’s impact and the implications for our work, presented by Sally Thomas & Anna Bough

This presentation provides a brief overview of what trauma is, paying particular attention to complex trauma, and the relationships between trauma and addiction whilst also addressing the social complexity clients may experience. We will present practical ideas and tools on how to work effectively with people presenting with trauma related symptoms and explore some of the challenges this may present.

Connect & Learn is a series of case-based webinars funded by the Department of Health, designed to support AOD clinicians throughout regional and metropolitan Victoria. Webinars are presented by experienced clinicians currently working in the AOD sector and facilitated by Turning Point.

Recording available to view on the Turning Point Website
click here to view

Previous webinars are on demand at the Turning Point website: https://www.turningpoint.org.au/education/webinars

Click here to subscribe to the Turning Point mailing list

Turning Point – Working with trauma and addiction

Connect & Learn

Working with trauma and addiction – understanding it’s impact and the implications for our work,
presented by Sally Thomas & Anna Bough

This presentation provides a brief overview of what trauma is, paying particular attention to complex trauma, and the relationships between trauma and addiction whilst also addressing the social complexity clients may experience. We will present practical ideas and tools on how to work effectively with people presenting with trauma related symptoms and explore some of the challenges this may present.

Objectives:

· Further our understanding of the relationships between AOD use and trauma in treatment settings and the implications for our work

· Recognise the impact of social complexity and how this may hinder client’s engagement with services and what we can to foster client engagement;

· To introduce some practical tools, concepts and resources for clinicians and clients/consumers

Sally Thomas is a senior social worker at Turning Point, working with multiple programs to support clients navigate and link into AOD services as well as providing linkage to other psychosocial supports. These roles also involve supporting family members and concerned others. Sally also has background in youth mental health counselling and a further interest in understanding the socioeconomic determinants of health outcomes for AOD clients.

Anna Bough is a senior clinical psychologist who has worked at Turning Point over a range of programs, most recently the COPE program which is an evidence based treatment for trauma and substance use disorders. Prior to working at Turning Point Anna has worked in community health and homelessness. Through her work Anna seeks to highlight the value of connection in AOD treatment.

Who should register? This webinar is suitable for workers in the AOD, mental health, allied health and welfare sectors.

Date and time: Monday 24th June 2024 @ 1pm to 2pm AEST
Venue: online register here
Who should register? This webinar is suitable for workers in the AOD, mental health, allied health and welfare sectors.

Connect & Learn is a series of case-based webinars funded by the Department of Health, designed to support AOD clinicians throughout regional and metropolitan Victoria. Webinars are presented by experienced clinicians currently working in the AOD sector and facilitated by Turning Point.

Previous webinars are on demand at the Turning Point website: https://www.turningpoint.org.au/education/webinars

Click here to subscribe to the Turning Point mailing list