Category Archives: Support

SANE Newsletter 24 May 2023

More than 24 million people worldwide live with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. But despite this statistic, community awareness around the condition is still low and stigma still remains.
This week, we are sharing stories from people with lived experiences of schizophrenia, like Hanna, one of SANE’s peer ambassadors, to encourage people to take a moment to ‘walk in another person’s shoes’ and challenge the stereotypes that still exist.
We are encouraging other people in our network to share their stories and find ways to raise awareness.
 
Click here to read more about Hannah’s story

Click here to read the complete SANE newsletter: https://saneaustralia.cmail20.com/t/t-e-zwsz-jtuyyktuki-r/

Carers Victoria has partnered with Live Life Foods

Carers Victoria has partnered with Live Life Foods, Victoria’s newest home meal delivery service.

Live Life Foods prepares restaurant quality meals with choice and flexibility to ensure that portion sizes are in line with nutritional requirements. The meals are developed with Nutrition Professionals Australia (NPA) to meet the daily nutritional needs of Victoria’s seniors. Starting today, members of Carers Victoria will be provided a discount code that can be used to gain access to exclusive deals and discounts with Live Life Foods. Register with Live Life Foods to obtain your Carers Victoria discount code.
Register now

 
There’s more…
To celebrate this amazing partnership, we are launching with a competition.Enter into the draw to WIN a month of sumptuous two-course dinner.

Enter now

Mental Health Integrated Complex Care Program in Dandenong

Taking Referrals: Mental Health Integrated Complex Care Program in Dandenong

The Mental Health Integrated Complex Care (MHICC) program provides care coordination and extended support for people living with severe mental illness and complex needs.

Our Dandenong service, run by MIND Australia, now has a Dual Diagnosis Practitioner. If you have patients experiencing a mental illness and ongoing difficulties with drugs or alcohol misuse, you can refer them to the MHICC Dandenong program.

To refer a patient or check their eligibility, please contact the SEMPHN Access & Referral team (8.30am – 4.30pm weekdays) on 1800 862 363.

Performance of Beautiful Highness 21 May at Chapel off Chapel

ENJOY A NEW AUSTRALIAN BLACK COMEDY BEAUTIFUL HIGHNESS BY CHELSEA PLUMLEY

IN THE COMPANY OF ISFAF FRIENDS, WITH A POST SHOW Q&A AND A REFRESHMENT INCLUDED FOR DONATION OF $10 pensioners, $20 non-pensioners

SUNDAY 21 MAY AT 4PM, CHAPEL OFF CHAPEL, 12 LITTLE CHAPEL ST, PRAHRAN
Seats are limited. Bookings are essential.
To Book:

  1. For bank details contact Eleni at elenikontos@icloud.com
  2. make sure your deposit shows your name
  3. email isfaf@alfred.org.au  with proof of booking
  4. your ticket will be emailed to you. If you don’t receive your ticket by Wednesday 17 May please email elenikontos@icloud.com

Beautiful Highness a new Australian black comedy by Chelsea Plumley.

Shelley – a spunky, wise-cracking battler – lives with a soundscape of non-stop ‘Voices’ plaguing her every waking minute. The only relief comes from weekly visits to see her kids who live with their Nana, daily phone calls to her siblings, and really, really loud music.

Based on a true story, Beautiful Highness centres around one family’s incredible grit and determination dealing with mental ill-health. Unsentimental, heartwarming and gently humorous, the play crystallises just how important a sense of belonging and connection is for all of us. Beautiful Highness is an empathy recharge for those living with or supporting someone with a diagnosis; the family members, carers and practitioners.

Written by musical theatre and cabaret star, Chelsea Plumley, and featuring music and sound design by ARIA and APRA winner, James Roche (Bachelor Girl).

Cast: Michelle Stayner (Blue Heelers, Halifix F.P., Carson’s Law), Petra Glieson (Metro Sexual, It’s A Date, The Dr Blake Mysteries), Tanya Schneider (Harrow, Metro Sexual, Heist), Angela Kennedy (Come From Away, Strictly Ballroom the Musical, Sons and Daughters), Anthony Scundi (Unsolicited Male, Nine – the Musical, Hurlyburly), Jessica Faulkner (The Inbestigators, Glitch, Mustangs FC), and child actors Jasper McDonald Parsons and Alistair Herbert.

Supported by City of Stonnington, the Cybec Foundation & ANZACATA

Painting by Richard McLean

Talking Point Free Seminar Series

How Three Sides of the Coin performances
empower people with lived experience of gambling harm
to educate the community and professionals.

Presented by Judy Avisar, Catherine Simmonds OAM,
Anna Bardsley and Fiona Read

Deakin University in collaboration with Three Sides of the Coin (3SOC) evaluated the use of lived experience performances as an education tool for professionals. Three Sides of the Coin empowers people with lived experience of gambling harm to educate the community and professionals about gambling harm and its intersection with alcohol and other drug use, mental health, family violence and crime.

This presentation will explore how being fully immersed in the lived experience of gamblers and affected others through performance was a powerful way for professionals to connect with the issues at an emotional and cognitive level. The evaluation showed there was an increase in the understanding of gambling harm, as well as changes in attitudes and practice among professionals including a greater empathy and confidence to ask about gambling, and a willingness to discuss gambling harm and support those affected. The research findings will be complemented by a short 3SOC Recovery Gamble video story, crafted artfully with animation and music, exemplifying the power of lived experience stories in understanding the intersectionality of gambling addiction.

Presenters: Judy Avisar, Catherine Simmonds OAM, Anna Bardsley and Fiona Read.

Judy Avisar, (from SHARC Self Help Addiction Resource Centre VIC) has coordinated Three Sides of the Coin gambling harm project since its inception 11 years ago. Judy has passionately carved a pathway for 3SOC over 11 years so that today it is recognized as a successful model for Professional Development in allied sectors (mental health, drugs, alcohol, family violence, criminal justice). Judy established the partnership with Deakin University and oversaw the data collection. https://threesidesofthecoin.org.au/

Catherine Simmonds, OAM is the artistic director of 3SOC. Her focus is the space between the ‘lived experiences’ of communities and the language of art. For 3 decades she has provided people with a creative space in which to ‘discover the need to speak and speak the unspoken’. She works together with participants to transform their stories into performance. https://actinconnection.com/

Anna Bardsley, a retired businesswoman, lost ten years of her life to poker machines. Her work as an advocate for reform began ten years ago. She is a founding member of Three Sides of the Coin and is committed to changing the conversation about gambling harm in Australia by elevating the voices of people with lived experience. Anna has numerous television and speaking credits including the ABC production ‘You Can’t Ask That’, podcasts, radio and television interviews.

Fiona Read, Senior Manager, Health Promotion and Engagement, Access Health and Community. Fiona coordinated the research, supporting the study design and ethics with Deakin University, and reviewed the evaluation from a public health perspective when working at Link Health and Community.

Date: Wednesday 19th April 2023
Venue: Online
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm AEST
Cost: Free
Register: click here to register
If you have enquiries regarding registration please call (03) 8413 8413.

Articles from Alfred Health Carer Services Carer eNews April 2023

Have you seen the new events page on our website?

Our events page has gone though some changes to make it easier to find events that you are interested in.Events are now categorized with tabs into “All Events”, “In Person Events”, Online Events” and “Young Carer Events”.To check it out, click here

OUR UPCOMING EVENTS

AHCS March-May 2023 events

We are excited to offer a program of events designed to give you a break from your day to day role as a Carer. Remember all our events are FREE!

This program covers events scheduled for March, April and May. In the program you will find all the information you need to know about the events, and how to join in.

Many of our events have limited places. Please register as soon as possible so that you don’t miss out. As a subscriber to our e-Newsletter you can find out about new events, updates or changes to the events program.

Make sure you also keep an eye on the What’s On section of our website for any updates to the calendar (changes to the program or added events). If you have any further questions call us on 03 9076 6644.

To view our program or to register your interest, click here

News from Mental Health Australia Weekly Update April 2023

Inner South Family and Friends upcoming meetings and events in April 2023

ISFAF MONTHLY MEETING 7.30PM TUESDAY 11 APRIL 2023 

TOPIC: Succession – Wills and Estates, Estate Planning with special emphasis on the issues facing carers

SPEAKER: Rohani Bixler, LLM, Wills and Estates, Estate Planning, Principal Lawyer, Sage Succession Law

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

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, please phone Eleni on mobile 0412 018 722

Please come early to enjoy a chat and refreshments at 7.10pm

Thursday April 27 Walk and Lunch at Royal Botanic Gardens, Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne 

Final arrangements tba but it is anticipated that we meet at 11am to walk and lunch at 12.30pm

Donation: Pensioners $10 Non-Pensioners $20, all donations large or small are very welcome.

PLEASE NOTE: BOOKINGS FOR LUNCH ARE LIMITED. FIRST COME FIRST SERVED.

To Book:

1. deposit your donation to Westpac ISFAF Community One Account BSB 033-169 A/c No: 258307

2. make sure your deposit shows your name

3. email isfaf@alfred.org.au with proof of booking

4. expect a confirmation via email. If you don’t receive a confirmation by 5pm Monday 24 April , please email elenikontos@icloud.com