VMIAC

Are you thinking of joining VMIAC's Committee of Management?

Tomorrow is the last day to become a member before our AGM. If you’re considering becoming a member of the committee of management or you want to vote for members of the Committee of Management, tomorrow is the last day to do it. If you’re unsure whether you’re a member, email our membership team at membership@vmiac.org.au Signing up as a member doesn’t mean you have to nominate to be on the committee of management, but it is a requirement if you want to do so. Find out more and sign up today Want to learn more about the benefits of membership? Sign up as a member today.

Are you thinking of joining VMIAC's Committee of Management? Come to our information session and learn about what’s involved and the benefits. Join VMIAC Chair Prunella Howell-Jay and Deputy Chair Kathy Wilson as they walk you through the experience of being on the committee and help you navigate the nomination process. There will be an opportunity to ask questions!

Are you thinking of joining the Committee of Management? VMIAC will soon be advertising for nominations for the new 2025 Committee of Management, but our Constitution clearly states that you can only nominate if you are a member. The deadline to become a member is October 31 If you’re unsure whether you’re a member, email our membership team at membership@vmiac.org.au. Signing up as a member doesn’t mean you have to nominate to be on the committee of management, but it is a requirement if you want to do so. Sign up as a member today.

Don't miss VMIAC at the Ballarat Mental Health Collective community expo this Sunday from 10 am. Say hi and join in the activities, stalls, live music, food vans and free barbecue. More information here: https://buff.ly/4gBSYNk We're also hosting our own event in Ballarat the next day. If you are a service provider or LLEW, join us at 10:00 am for networking and morning tea. Register here: https://buff.ly/4eat95s For our Ballarat members and friends, we're hosting lunch and conversations at 12:30 pm. Register here: https://buff.ly/4di30k4 We hope to see you all there!

Incredibly proud to see the new Victorian eating disorders strategy released over the weekend. It was a pleasure and humble learning moment to lead the team at the department developing this over 22-24, and in particular to partner with colleagues from Eating Disorders Victoria and the Victorian Centre of Excellence in Eating Disorders (CEED), as well as Tandem , VMIAC, SHARC and National Eating Disorders Collaboration. This level of stakeholder collaboration shows that system change takes a village - and it is buoying knowing that village is filled with passionate people who want to believe in something better for people at risk of or with experience of an eating disorder, as well as those who love and care from them (including the amazing workforce). Eating disorders do not discriminate - and given my new role - I am acutely aware of how they impact boys and young men. Looksmaxxing is no joke - and social media companies need to be held to account for the harms being caused by some of this rubbish content. The implementation plan is a good first step in translating the strategy document into tangible action. I wish the team at the department and across government all the best as they continue to seek further funding, evaluate, evolve, and support implementation of this important strategy. Strategy can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gfTxm5W8

Peer support worker, consumer consultant, and VMIAC member Jess Ferguson-McLellan is one of 28 students in VMIAC’s groundbreaking pilot training program, Consumer Leading in Governance. At the time, the Victorian Royal Commission into Mental Health called for more lived experience leadership in service delivery and boards. CLIG was designed to build capacity in the consumer workforce and meet that demand. For Jess, the training helped her maintain roots while working in a significant clinical environment. “In bigger organisations with smaller lived experience workforces, we’re often pulled into service design spaces or asked to contribute the lived experience perspective to mainstream projects. “This training really helped me refine my thinking and strategically advocate for lived experience in a clinical setting.” Read More here":

Several changes to the NDIS have come into effect today. VMIAC wants to acknowledge that for some NDIS participants, this might have caused uncertainty or raised concerns. One of the biggest changes today is introducing the definition of NDIS supports. The National Mental Health Consumer Alliance, which VMIAC is a member of, made this submission about what should and should not be included in NDIS supports. https://buff.ly/4eqLP0R VMIAC will continue to work with the NDIS to better understand these changes and will continue to advocate for the specific needs of people with a psychosocial disability who deserve equitable and inclusive support.

Applications are NOW OPEN for the Victorian Department of Health’s Lived and Living Experience Workforce University Scholarship Program 2025. Lived and living experience workers can apply for scholarships of up to $13,000 to pursue university-level qualifications that will build their management and leadership skills. This opportunity is available for lived and living experience workers employed in Victorian public mental health and wellbeing or AOD services. Scholarships help build the capabilities required to support LLEW to confidently take on diverse leadership roles across the mental health and wellbeing system. The LLEW Scholarship Program applications are open now and close on 6 November 2024. Start your application with an EOI here https://buff.ly/3MZnFPe

VMIAC is heading to Ballarat, and we'd love to see you there. As a state-wide peak, we know how critical regional voices are to systemic advocacy. We're hosting an event on the 14th of October at Ballarat South Neighbourhood House. At 10:00 am, we're hosting a networking morning tea for service providers. Register here https://buff.ly/4eat95s At 12 30 PM, we're hosting a lunch and conversation for members and consumers – register here: https://buff.ly/4di30k4