Category Archives: Education

A Path to Follow

An invitation from Kirstie Edwards, Founding Director, A Path To Follow

I am looking to begin a parent/carer group for those who care for young people with mental health related life challenges in the coming weeks.

This will be a combination of casual meets up with liked minded people, alongside internally and externally facilitated sessions where we provide mental health related education and trial some self-care related activities that are available to community.

If you know of someone who might be interested, please copy and paste the below blurb and email to them.  We will follow up all interest personally to ensure the group is a good fit for the person and the person for the group.

Parent/Carer Group Expression of Interest

Are you a parent/carer of a young people with mental health related life challenges?

Do you sometimes feel isolated and alone in navigating their world?

Do you feel you could benefit from sharing time with other people like you?

Are you open to try new strategies and activities to support yourself?

Finally, do you live locally to Bentleigh or would be willing to travel there on a fortnightly basis?

 If you answered yes to more than a couple of these questions, it would be great to meet you!!  Please feel out a couple of questions for us to get the ball rolling (link below).

Don’t worry too much about the finer details at this stage, like is my child too old at 20 years? I am a nana or a foster carer, do I fit this group? One of our A Path To Follow Peers will be in contact with you to personally discuss your preferences.

With thanks,

Kirstie Edwards
Founding Director
A Path To Follow
0478 310 145
Inc. No. A0118403G

APTF Inc. acknowledges, respects and celebrates the diverse living and lived experiences of our Consumer, Carer and Sibling Peers. We recognise our individual and collective experiences of mental ill-health and wellbeing and are determined to use this expertise for the benefit of our future community

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Inner South Family and Friends Support Group Meeting 14 November 2023

SPEAKER:  Associate Professor Simon Stafrace, Programme Director Alfred Mental and Addiction Health (AMAH)

TOPIC:  Implementation of the Royal Commission into Mental Health  Innovations at AMAH and what it means for you.

VENUE:  Level 4,  549 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
A little to the city side of Wesley College, 549 is easily recognizable by 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 delicious snacks which will be available from 7.10 pm.  Due to security needs, we are required to pay a concierge at the door of the building.

If you come late you may not be able to enter

BEACH WALK ‘N CHAT ON THE FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAY OF THE  MONTH
Please note change of day to Tuesday
Bookings by phone / text to the numbers shown are essential – times and starting points may vary.  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 before the walk or by 10am on day on 0425 723 746
2023 Tuesday Walk ‘n Chat dates: 21 November, 5 and 19 December

ANNUAL END OF YEAR DINNER 6.30PM TUESDAY 12 DECEMBER 2023
Venue and menu to be advised.

Tandem eNews 25 October 2023

Excerpts from Tandem’s October eNews

Tandem produces a monthly email newsletter, eNews, with news and information for our members. Join Tandem to subscribe.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Act Resources

Stay up-to-date on the latest information on the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act on our . Resources include videos, fact sheets, web content and links to useful documents on the new Act. We have also developed a poster and a postcard on the Act, which you can download and .

Tandem’s AGM

The Tandem AGM is coming up Thursday 9 November, for any of our members who would like to attend in-person or online. For the agenda and minutes from last year’s AGM, please head to our .

When: 10:00am – 11:00am Thursday 9 November
Where: The Tandem office, 70 Trenerry Crescent, Abbotsford. Or online.
Online details:

Meeting ID: 810 8404 6170

 

Inner South Family and Friends Coming Events October – December 2023

Coming Events

TUESDAY 10 OCTOBER 2023 – WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY (WMHD) 

WMHD is going to be a very busy one for us as it is the day of the ‘Free Lunch’ 12.30pm to 2.00pm to which we have invited staff and at 7.30 pm we will hold our monthly meeting. The lunch is a thank you to staff at AMAH for their support to ISFAF and is a great opportunity for staff and carers to meet and chat in an informal environment.

Both events are to be held at 549 St Kilda Road Melb (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 Alfred Mental and Addiction Health AMAH, Inner South Family and Friends has invited all Team Members of Alfred Mental and Addiction Health and the Alfred Health Housing Portfolio to join ISFAF members at Ground Level of 549 St Kilda Road for a free lunch.

We look forward to many members sharing the day with the staff. For catering purposes, please book via isfaf@alfred.org.au, phone 9076 4784 If you could contribute with a plate, it would be greatly appreciated, but not at all necessary.
TUESDAY 10 OCTOBER 2023, 7.30PM – ISFAF MONTHLY MEETING 
We have several excellent speakers planned and will soon advise our speaker for October.

SUNDAY 15 OCTOBER CARERS WEEK FILM AND LUNCH
We look forward to seeing you at 10 am at Palace Como Cinema, corner Toorak Road and Chapel Street South Yarra. Following the film, we will again enjoy a delicious lunch at Blossom Thai, just across the road. Details of film and how to book will be advised in the next few days.

BRIGHTON BEACH WALK ‘N CHAT ON THE 1ST & 3RD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH, PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DAY COMMENCING IN OCTOBER 2023
To avoid disappointment bookings by phone / text to the numbers shown are essential. Please book on the day before or by 10am on the day of the walk. Although we generally commence at 1 pm times may vary, as may the starting point and café during the current works in the area. Family members, including canines are very welcome . Non-walkers are welcome to join us at 2.15pm for a drink (at no cost): To book for walk on Tuesday October 3 and 17, November 7 and 21 please phone 0425 723 746 

TUESDAY 14 NOVEMBER  Monthly Meeting – 549 St Kilda Road
Guest Speaker: Associate Professor Simon Stafrace, Programme Director, Alfred Mental and Addiction Health
Topic: AMAH Current innovations in mental health

TUESDAY 12 DECEMBER  Annual End-of-Year Dinner venue tba
PLEASE REVIEW OUR WEBSITE REGULARLY FOR DETAILS AND UPDATES https://ispaf.org/ Working together helps everyone: If you have friends who

  • are caring for a loved one with serious mental illness and need support, introduce them to ISFAF – ask them to leave a message on  9076 4722 or email isfaf@alfred.org.au or contact Judi directly on 0425 723 746, email judi.burstyner@gmail.com
  • are members of ISFAF but do not receive email and might be interested in our current news, please contact them and pass this message on to them. 

We wish to thank: 

  • the Victorian Government via Alfred Health Carer Services for their generosity funding the concierge for our monthly meetings and a drink for participants of our Walk and Chats. 
  • Alfred Mental and Addiction Health for their continued generous support, including funding functions and providing us with office and facilities and venue for our meetings.