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Welcome to NTMHC's January e-newsletter
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The Northern Territory Mental Health Coalition is the peak body for NT community managed mental health organisations. We work in collaboration with a wide network of organisations, people with lived experience, their families and supporters across the NT. We work at both a national and local levels to improve the mental health and wellbeing of Territorians.
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The NT Mental Health Coalition’s newsletter has updates, news and information related to the mental health and the community managed mental health sector. Please feel free to forward our newsletter on to interested people or organisations as we encourage new membership and subscribers. To find out more about the benefits of becoming a member click the link below.
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We hope you have had an enjoyable break over the Christmas holidays and have come into the new year feeling rested and ready for a year of new and exciting possibilities! Our team has hit the ground running with the revamping of our office clearing out the old, and creating a fresh space to bring in the new!
We are looking to the year ahead with excitement as we prepare for some big projects, including the launch of our new and improved website giving us a fresh look and feel and providing more comprehensive resources and updates from the community mental health sector. Stay tuned for our launch date in February!
After a busy end to 2022, with a successful Mental Health Week campaign and awards ceremony, our AGM and the release of our Annual Report, welcoming of new board members, revising of our constitution and the development of our new Policy Position Statements, we are eager to keep the momentum going as we put together our plans for 2023.
With the growth of our team in 2022, we have made some great headway in our sector development work and communications planning, setting the stage for building and strengthening our partner relationships, facilitating the sharing of sector knowledge and resources and further collaborations in 2023.
We look forward to continued engagement with our valued members and communities, in working together to achieve our shared goals, and ultimately, better mental health outcomes for all Territorians.
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Latest news from the Coalition
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The Darwin Mental Health Network
The Darwin Mental Health Network held four meetings in 2022 with our last meeting held in late December in which we celebrated with a Christmas feast. Nancy Jeffrey, Advisor on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social and Emotional Wellbeing was our guest speaker for the month. Nancy works for Emerging Minds which house a wide range of excellent resources for professionals and families, including videos featuring NT people, speaking about their own lives and pathways to healing. Resources can be found here.
Speakers for the Network came from both governnment and the community mental health sector including the Australian Childhood Foundation, EASA, the Psychogeriatric Service, and Emerging Minds. Topics included trauma informed practice in the NT context, tips to avoid burn-out from vicarious trauma, wellness and mental health for older Territorians and video resources to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
The next meeting of the network will be held on Wednesday February 15th from 10am to 11.30am and will feature guest speaker Ben Horsington from Melaleuca Australia, delivering a talk on the work that Melaleuca is doing with Refugee and multicultural communities. Please note that the venue has changed to the Nightcliff Community Centre at 18 Bauhinia Street, Nightcliff. To attend the meeting register with the Mental Health Professionals Network Portal MHPN - Home
Meetings will be held every eight weeks throughout the year. If you are interested in speaking at any of the meetings, please contact Max Taylor Sector Development Coordinator at NTMHC on (08) 8948 2246 or 0498 103 679.
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Cert IV Mental Health (Peer Work) Scholarships in 2023
In recognition of the importance of growing a strong peer workforce in the NT, the federal government is funding 20 NT scholarships in Certificate IV Mental Health (Peer Work). Scholarships include full course fees and some financial support for study materials and travel.
Eligibility criteria for scholarships include:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People or anyone living in the NT with lived experience of mental illness and/or suicide or caring for someone with a mental illness and who:
- works in the mental health sector
- works in health, aged care, and community services sector
- works in other sectors
- or is currently unemployed.
All scholarship recipients should reside at least 20km outside of the Darwin CBD
Applications will be open in late January. Details on where and how to apply will be available soon.
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New online support program helps family and friends support the mental health of paramedics
There are over 21,000 paramedics registered in Australia. Paramedics are regularly ranked as one of the most trusted professions in Australia. But due to the high stress, exposure to trauma, long and shifting work hours and low rates of help-seeking – ambulance service personnel are nearly twice as likely as the general population to experience mental ill-health.
Paramedics experience higher levels of psychological distress, trauma, PTSD and suicidal behaviour. Family and friends provide most of the practical and emotional support, and this support is key to improving the mental health and wellbeing of paramedics. While rewarding, this support role can impact the carer’s time, energy, finances and emotions.
Everymind, a national institute dedicated to the prevention of mental ill-health and suicide, is trialling a new tailored program which aims to reduce these impacts and prevent mental ill-health and suicidal distress in family and friends.
The Minds Together program for family and friends supporting the mental health of paramedics is free to access and delivered online. It focuses on the needs, experiences and challenges of caregiving.
To find out more and to take part, visit: mindstogether.org.au or check them out on Facebook here.
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Events, conferences and training
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Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Anglicare NT is offering Applied ASIST training, a two-day intensive, participatory workshop where you will develop practical skills in suicide intervention. Workshops run from 9am– 4pm over two days.
Darwin Workshop Dates: (Location: Harry's Place - 1 Willeroo St., Tiwi)
February 14 & 15
April 4 & 5
June 20 & 21
Katherine Workshop Date: (Location: Civic Centre - Lot 1865 Stuart Hwy)
March 1 & 2
Full attendance for the entire two days of the ASIST workshop is essential. Lunch and morning tea are provided on both days.
To register online, go to anglicare-nt.org.au/events.
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Melaleuca Australia's Portable Panel
The Portable Panel is a team of culturally diverse professionals who are skilled in various specialist areas such as Social Work, Psychology, Human Rights, Health and many others and share a common interest of social justice and welcoming people who are marginalised by society.
The Portable Panel which was launched in 2020 includes people with lived Refugee experience who can be invited to your workplace, gathering, school, shop or anywhere in the greater Darwin Region, to answer questions about
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Refugee or Humanitarian settlement in the Northern Territory.
The Panel will be with you for up to 1 hour, of which at least 45 minutes will be available to you to ask your questions and make comments. You are encouraged to ask many questions. Every question leads to the path of wisdom.
TO BOOK please contact Melaleuca on (08) 8985 3311 or visit www.melaleuca.org.au.
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Standard Mental Health First Aid course for men only
Sabrinas Reach4Life has been funded by FRRR to run 5 Mental Health First Aid courses.
Our next course is a Standard Mental Health First Aid course for men only. It is free and at the Sailing Club (includes catering).
Dates: Sundays Feb 5 and 12 (must attend both days
Times 8:30am - 3:00pm
Cost: $50 refundable deposit (upon completion of course, otherwise donated to Sabrina's Reach4Life).
Venue: Darwin Sailing Club
Faciliator: Pauline Neil from MH Training
Future Mental Health First Aid courses will be open to everyone, and held in:
- Katherine (15 people)
- Jabiru (15 people)
- Darwin (15 people)
- NT wide - Online course (12 people)
To register your interest in any of these courses send an email to: info@mhtraining.net.au. Stay tuned for further details!
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MHPN Online Conference 2023
ALL TOGETHER BETTER: Collaborative Mental Health Care in a Changing World - 28 to 30 March 2023
Registrations are now OPEN for the Mental Health Professionals’ Network 2023 national online conference. Attendance is open to and for Australian mental health professionals, however places are limited.
The fully online conference will consider how the social determinants of our health; the places where we live, work, learn and play; have been irrevocably impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and a range of extreme, climate-related weather events.
The Conference looks at how both our collective and individual experiences over recent years have particularly affected metal health service providers and their clients.
This online conference will be full of interactivity, providing opportunities to collaborate directly with experts in the field, as well as structured and casual networking events with your peers from all over Australia. There's also mindfulness sessions every day.
Learn more about the program activities and our expert speaker line up at www.mhpnconference.org.au, or download the program http://bit.ly/3Ajyw0b.
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Still Time to Register...
AADANT Drug and Alcohol Conference 2023: Together We Make a Difference
The Association of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies NT will hold their annual Northern Territory drug and alcohol conference May 23 - 24 in Darwin at the Darwin Hilton (32 Mitchell St).
Learn more and get tickets here.
National NDIS & Mental Health Conference 2023
Community Mental Health Australia will be hosting their 4th National NDIS & Mental Health Conference at the International Convention Centre Sydney on the 20th and 21st of February, 2023.
Click here for more info and to register.
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Gender Equality - General Grant Program 2022/23 (Office of Gender Equity and Diversity)
Funding is available to eligible individuals, organisations or community groups for a project, service or activity that promotes gender equality in the Northern Territory. If you would like to undertake a project, service or activity which addresses intersectional gender-based inequalities you can apply for a general grant of up to $5,000.
Click here for more info and to apply.
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Arts Project Grants - Applications close 23 January, 2023
The Arts Projects grant provides support for projects that create and showcase the arts of the NT, provide skills and employment opportunities for NT aritsts and support community access and participation in the arts. Click here for more information or to apply.
Northern Territory Men's Places Grants Program - Applications close 31 January 2023.
To support Men’s Places the Northern Territory Government will provide $100,000 per annum to support Men’s Places Grants of up to $10,000 per applicant, to support a range of activities such as information sessions, skills development, health and wellbeing programs, education and peer to peer support programs, parenting programs, and equipment. Funding is available to individuals and organisations. Click here for more details.
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Sacha King - Australia Of The Year Award | ABC Australia
Sacha King, 2023 NT Local Hero award recipient, set up the charity Two Two One to provide accredited mental health training and community workshops. It aims to close gaps in the delivery of mental health services and education.
This annual Award celebrates the achievements and contributions of eminent Australians by profiling leading citizens who are role models and inspire us through their achievements and challenge us to make our own contribution to creating a better Australia. The Awards honour an exceptional group of highly respected Australians who ignite discussion and change on issues of national importance. The Australian of the Year Awards provides everyone with the opportunity to recognise any Australian who makes them proud. (ABC.NET.AU)
View video here where Sacha kicks off 2023 with a few inspiring words about raising awareness and supporting ourselves and others to maintain good mental health.
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Darwin Youth Hub in the works
The Northern Territory (NT) Government has committed to establishing a youth hub in the northern suburbs of Darwin as the base for delivering activities and support services for young people. Children and young people from 8-18 years old will be the primary age group that will access the Youth Hub. The Northern Suburbs Youth Hub will provide young people aged 8-18 years old with a safe place to hang out together to have fun, feel a sense of belonging and have the opportunity to connect to the support they need.
The types of programs and activities that will be offered at the Youth Hub will be fun and will also give young people the opportunity develop life skills and be mentored and supported by trusted adults. The Northern Territory (NT) Government will seek proposals from organisations that have the experience and expertise in working with young people to run the Youth Hub through an open grant process during 2023.
There will be a community focus group on Thursday 19 January 2023 at 7:30pm at the Casuarina Library. If you are interested in attending, you can register your attendance.
For updates and more info click here.
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New Mental Health Inpatient Unit in Darwin
A new mental health inpatient unit will hopefully be finished construction by mid-2024. Minister Lauren Moss announced the contract had been awarded at a press conference last week in front of the Royal Darwin Hospital.
Both she and the Australian Medical Association have said this new facility will lead to better health outcomes for patients who present at the hospital, because it will allow doctors to better care for mental health patients in an appropriate setting, rather than mixed in with other patients in the emergency department. It will also allow patients to be better situated in the ward which provides them with the most appropriate care.
Construction of a new three-story building which will house 18 inpatient beds is scheduled to begin within the next few months.
For more details, NT News has covered the story here.
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Partyline health & wellbeing online magazine - call for submissions
Partyline is the online magazine of the National Rural Health Alliance, the peak body working towards healthy and sustainable rural, regional and remote communities across Australia. Published four times a year, the magazine is looking for submissions on news relating to the health and wellbeing of people living in rural and remote Australia. Contributions may cover, for example, successful local programs, leadership and empowerment, reflections on reform initiatives, opportunities for improved health, stories of personal and community commitment and resilience.
Its readers include people in rural and remote areas – both health professionals and health consumers – as well as health policymakers, rural health researchers, health students, universities, libraries, and rural and remote health services. It is the magazine for good health and wellbeing in rural and remote Australia.
The copy deadline for their next issue in March is 13 February, 2023. For more information about how to make a submission visit their website here.
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Football Without Borders Darwin - Celebrating Diversity
Refugee World Cup is an annual community event held on 26th of January to celebrate Darwin’s multicultural community.
Footballwithoutborders run this beautiful event and are looking for volunteers to help out on the day. If you can spare some time, click below to let them know or register here: https://form.jotform.com/223417989720869
Or come and enjoy a fun day out while celebrating diversity and supporting the teams.
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headspace Darwin
headspace Katherine
headspace Tenant Creek
For more vacancies with Anglicare NT, go to https://www.anglicare-nt.org.au/careers/.
Catholic Care NT - Tenant Creek
Mission Australia - Katherine
Mental Health Association of Central Australia (MHACA) - Alice Springs
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To contribute content to our monthly newsletter, please email your information in the body of an email or as a Word document to admin@ntmhc.org.au. Please ensure your contribution is no more than 200 words and includes all relevant dates, times, images, links and contact details.
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Acknowledgement of Country
The Northern Territory Mental Health Coalition acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout the Northern Territory and Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures and to their Elders both past and present.
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Acknowledgement of Lived Experience
We acknowledge those with a lived experience of mental ill-health. We recognise that we can only provide quality care through valuing, respecting and drawing upon the lived experience and expert knowledge of consumers, their families, carers, friends and communities.
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