VMIAC

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR OUR GEELONG EVENT As the state-wide peak for people with a lived experience of mental health and emotional distress, VMIAC is committed to advocating for the needs of every Victorian regardless of where you live. Please join VMIAC at our event in Geelong for some food and conversation so we can better understand the issues, challenges and opportunities you face and how our work can best support you. Date: Monday, 2 September Place: Norlane Community House 39A Rose Ave, Norlane VIC 3214 If you are a LLEW worker, ally or walk service provider join us for morning tea and networking Time: 10 AM Morning tea and networking for services Register here: https://buff.ly/3YEVDPY If you are a member or consumer, join VMIAC for lunch at 12:30 PM, followed by a Group discussion. “What do you want VMIAC to know about accessing services in Geelong?” Register here: https://buff.ly/4dLqhLY If you would like more information about this event, please email membership@vmiac.org.au

Join VMIAC for a Courageous Conversation, where we will explore the meaning of “psychosocial disability.” This event will spotlight consumer perspectives on psychosocial disability and provide a much-needed space for our community to: Learn what is a psychosocial disability; Understand how it is different than a mental illness; Learn about the short-term and long-term challenges faced by people with psychosocial disabilities, especially with recent NDIS changes; and Share ideas on how to self-advocate. There will also be breakout group discussions to create space for individual stories. We hope to be able to document the key messages from this conversation into a resource that can be shared with the wider community.

VMIAC’s reaction to the Federal Government’s response to the Disability Royal Commission On 30 July 2024, the Federal Government published its response to the Disability Royal Commission. The Federal Government responded to the 172 recommendations that it was found to be responsible for. The Federal Government: - accepted in full 13 recommendations - accepted in principle 117 - is still considering 36 recommendations, and - is noting six recommendations. This outcome is disappointing for the over 10,000 people with disability and their allies who shared their experiences with the Disability Royal Commission. Read our full statement:

VMIAC is deeply disappointed the NDIS reforms have been passed. We share the concerns raised by People With Disability Australia that these reforms may have devastating and long-term impacts on people with disability. VMIAC is calling on the Federal Government to commit to co-develop with people with disability all future NDIS reforms. This is essential for the Government to repair the fractured relationships with the disability community that have been negatively impacted by the lack of co-design in drafting this Bill. Failure to do so will lead to people with disability being disempowered by the system that is supposed to support them.

JOIN US IN GEELONG As the state-wide peak for people with a lived experience of mental health and emotional distress, VMIAC is committed to advocating for the needs of every Victorian regardless of where you live. Please join VMIAC at our event in Geelong for some food and conversation so we can better understand the issues, challenges and opportunities you face and how our work can best support you. Date: Monday, 2 September Place: Norlane Community House 39A Rose Ave, Norlane VIC 3214 If you are a LLEW worker, ally or walk service provider join us for morning tea and networking Time: 10 AM Morning tea and networking for services Register here: https://buff.ly/3YEVDPY If you are a member or consumer, join VMIAC for lunch at 12:30 PM, followed by a Group discussion. “What do you want VMIAC to know about accessing services in Geelong?” Register here: https://buff.ly/4dLqhLY If you would like more information about this event, please email membership@vmiac.org.au

If you're in Shepparton and want to learn about your rights under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act... Join VMIAC's free education session on Wednesday 4 September Our community education sessions will cover: 👍 Background on the Act 👍 Preparing yourself to use your rights 👍 Who can help you with making choices about treatment? https://buff.ly/3yDcgRD

Calling Geelong members, consumers, LLEW and friends As the state-wide peak for people with a lived experience of mental health and emotional distress, VMIAC is committed to advocating for the needs of every Victorian regardless of where you live. Please join VMIAC at our event in Geelong for some food and conversation so we can better understand the issues, challenges and opportunities you face and how our work can best support you. Date: Monday, 2 September Place: Norlane Community House 39A Rose Ave, Norlane VIC 3214 If you are a LLEW worker, ally or walk service provider join us for morning tea and networking Time: 10 AM Morning tea and networking for services Register here: https://buff.ly/3YEVDPY If you are a member or consumer, join VMIAC for lunch at 12:30 PM, followed by a Group discussion. “What do you want VMIAC to know about accessing services in Geelong?” Register here: https://buff.ly/4dLqhLY If you would like more information about this event, please email membership@vmiac.org.au

Mental Health Australia has been joined by 80 mental health organisations across the country calling for Health and Mental Health Ministers to take serious action at the Ministers’ meeting on 16 August. In a joint Statement of Priorities released today, the mental health sector has outlined priority actions and next steps for Australian, State and Territory Governments to implement immediately to improve access to mental health supports. This includes action to: 1. Publicly release the national Analysis of Unmet Need for Psychosocial Support outside the NDIS, and recommend to National Cabinet a co-funding agreement to fully address unmet need for psychosocial support 2. Commit to ongoing twice-yearly mental health minister meetings 3. Commit to a national accord to co-fund a system of mental health supports bridging primary and acute care The Statement further outlines agreed actions across priority areas including system reform and integration, workforce development, and infant, child and youth services. Read our full Statement of Priorities here: https://lnkd.in/gPSrgBrJ

Lived Experience Australia ,in partnership with many universities, is seeking to explore the factors affecting both consumers who have been on community treatment orders (CTO) and carers who have supported people on CTOs in Australia. The research study, voluntary and anonymous, aims to understand why and how this treatment varies, and to reduce coercive actions by mental health services. Participate in the consumer survey: https://buff.ly/4cEByxq Participate in the carer survey: https://buff.ly/3y5VIBa If you have any questions about this project, email Professor Sharon Lawn: sharon.lawn@flinders.edu.au. La Trobe University Flinders University University of Melbourne University of Sydney #vmiac #mentalhealth #livedexperience #carers #communitytreatment #survey

inside out and associates Australia is running the 2024 Consumer Perspective Supervision training course by and for the consumer/peer/lived/living experience workforce in Victoria. The training aims to build discipline-specific Consumer Perspective Supervision (CPS) capability and capacity in Victoria, to build capacity to provide CPS to the consumer/peer workforce. This hybrid course, combining face-to-face and online delivery, is fully funded and free. EOIs close by 5:00pm AEST on Sunday 28 July 2024. For more information about the training, and to express interest, visit https://bit.ly/466Cc40 #vmiac #capacitybuilding #livedexperience #mentalhealth #training #Victoria