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May 14, 2013
My Health Information & Medical Records - 15 May 2013

The Health Care Complaints Commission runs bi-monthly webinars on a range of issues that are often raised in complaints using case studies and offering a platform to ask questions.

The Health Care Complaints Commission runs bi-monthly webinars on a range of issues that are often raised in complaints using case studies and offering a platform to ask questions.                                      

The next webinar will be held on:

Wednesday, 15 May 2013 at 1.00pm – 1.30pm

May 10, 2013
Mental Health Carers Arafmi Australia (MHCAA)
May 10, 2013
Mental Illness - Is your workplace prepared?

About one in five people will suffer from mental illness and according to the World Health Organisation, depression will be one of the biggest health problems worldwide by 2020.

However, mental illness not only affects the person who is suffering;  it affects the family of the sufferer which then may impact on an individual’s ability to perform which then may lead to disciplinary action by employers.  This story is shared by northern Industrial officer Noel Martin to help others.

 

Republished with permission from United News

May 3, 2013
CONSUMER'S HEALTH FORUM - Media Release: REFORM OR RATION REPORT

The recent Media Release from the Consumers Health Forum of Australia following the publication of a report from the Committee for Economic Development of Australia:

‘Reform or ration’ is right says peak health consumer group

 Australia’s once-prized universal health system is doomed without reforms of the scale recommended by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia, says Carol Bennett, CEO of the Consumers Health Forum.

 Ms Bennett was commenting on the launch today of the CEDA report Healthcare: reform or ration, which calls for major reforms to the healthcare system in order to make it sustainable

“Many people are already struggling to afford essential treatment or having to pay huge out of pocket fees in a system that is failing to keep pace with the demands of modern health care,” Ms Bennett says.

“As the CEDA report says, the funding system is “sub-optimal’’, individuals and governments are facing financial strains, while we in Australia are using health services more than ever.

May 3, 2013
Prevention 'Saves Mental Health Budget'

Experts at a Canberra health forum say prevention programs would offer huge savings to Australia's mental health spending.

Prevention is better than cure, not only for mental health problems but also for health budgets and the economy, experts say.

Speaking at the Australian Rotary Health Symposium in Canberra, a panel of academics on Thursday said the billions spent every year on mental health could be slashed through a greater emphasis on prevention.

Dr Nicolas Cherbuin, from the Australian National University's Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, said there were currently 300,000 dementia sufferers across the country, which would increase to about one million by 2050.

The direct health costs of dementia were about $5 billion a year, he said.

However, if risk factors such as depression, lack of exercise and poor diet could be reduced by a tenth, the number of new dementia cases would fall by 3.3 per cent annually.

April 16, 2013
Media Release: You are not alone - Funding Boost for Carers - WA/Victoria/Queensland

11th April 2013

This week ARAFEMI Victoria, Mental Health Carers Arafmi WA, and Mental Health Carers Arafmi Queensland received over 6 million dollars through the Commonwealth Government’s Personal Helpers and Mentors program to deliver new Mental Health Respite: Carer Support services. The new funding will support these organisations in their valuable work with people with a mental illness and their families, carers and friends.

See the attached media release for further information.

March 26, 2013
First meeting of the Carer Peak Advisory Committee

On Thursday 21stMarch 2013 ARAFMI NSW facilitated its first Carer Peak Advisory Committee.  This Committee will assist with both providing high level feedback and advise about engaging with a wider circle of carers for consultation and advocacy purposes.

On Thursday 21stMarch 2013 ARAFMI NSW facilitated its first Carer Peak Advisory Committee. As the peak body for mental health carers in NSW, Mental Health Carers ARAFMI NSW Inc is regularly asked to provide feedback on policies and services on behalf of carers to the NSW Ministry of Health & Local health Districts (LHD’s) among others. This Committee will assist with both providing high level feedback and advise about engaging with a wider circle of carers for consultation and advocacy purposes.

March 26, 2013
Mental Health Carers and Relatives Experiences of Services (MH-CARES) Survey

ARAFMI has adapted a Northern NSW Local Health District carer survey for general use, so that we can get feedback from carers about how NSW mental health services interact with you in your role as carer or support person for the person with a mental health problem. Take our survey to provide your experiences here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MH-CARES and your feedback on the survey itself: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MH-CARES

If you provide ongoing care, support and assistance to someone using mental health services, and you do not do this on a commercial basis, we invite you to complete this survey.

 This survey was developed by experienced carers and the Northern NSW Local Health District (‘LHD’) in collaboration with various stakeholders including Mental Health Carers ARAFMI NSW Inc. (‘ARAFMI’). It was developed for use in the LHD.

March 11, 2013
Deputy Commissioner appointments at the Mental Health Commission of NSW

NSW Mental Health Commissioner John Feneley today welcomed the appointment of four Deputy Commissioners, whose professional expertise and personal experiences bring valuable new perspectives to the Commission’s mental health reform work.

All four Deputy Commissioners have substantial experience working in the mental health sector. Two have lived experience of mental illness, in line with a requirement of the legislation under which the Mental Health Commission of NSW was created in 2012. “It’s essential we are guided by the experience of people with mental illness at all times,” Mr Feneley said.

MEDIA RELEASE

March 8, 2013
WANTED: Mental Health Consumers, Carers & Professionals

Exciting things are happening in mental health research. The Federal Government is funding MHFA training for financial counsellors and current financial counselling students around Australia.  The first step is to customise it to make it useful for financial counsellors.  We are looking for 30 mental health consumers, 30 mental health carers, 30 mental health professional, 30 financial counsellors, and 30 financial institution staff to sit on a Delphi Expert Panel. Everyones opinions count equally.

Exciting things are happening in mental health research. The Federal Government is funding MHFA training for financial counsellors and current financial counselling students around Australia.  The first step is to customise it to make it useful for financial counsellors.

We are looking for 30 mental health consumers, 30 mental health carers, 30 mental health professional, 30 financial counsellors, and 30 financial institution staff to sit on a Delphi Expert Panel. Everyones opinions count equally.

February 26, 2013
WHAT IS THE NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME?

The way the NDIS scheme operates will be set out in theNDIS Rules, including how it caters for people with a psychiatric disability.The Commonwealth has released a Discussion Paper to explain what is intended to be covered in the NDIS Rules and to give people an opportunity to provide feedback here: http://www.ndis.gov.au/towards/rules-consultation-paper/. 

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will provide eligible people with disability with the reasonable and necessary support that they need.  Australians who have a disability (including a psychiatric disability) which means they need care and support in everyday life, or who would benefit from early intervention support or therapies, will receive that assistance.

February 22, 2013
ARAFMI NSW Carer Peak Advisory Committee

There’s still time!  ARAFMI’s first Peak Advisory Committee Meeting is on Thursday, 21 March 2013, 11am-1pm – lunch provided

There’s still time!  ARAFMI’s first Peak Advisory Committee Meeting is on Thursday, 21 March 2013, 11am-1pm – lunch provided

If you, or you know a carer who might be interested in becoming a member of the Peak Advisory Committee, please email us at info@arafmi.orgincluding a brief description of the carer and their carer history.  Alternatively call us on (02) 9332 0777.  All applications will be considered.

February 20, 2013
Centrelink Benefits for Mental Health Carers

Carer’s Allowance is a “supplementary payment for parents or carers who provide daily care to an adult or dependent child who has a disability" This includes psychiatric disability and so these benefits should also be available to mental health carers, but some people have difficulty accessing them. Take our survey so we can understand why? https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MHCarerCentrelinkSurvey

Carer’s Allowance is a “supplementary payment for parents or carers who provide daily care to an adult or dependent child who has a disability or medical condition or is frail aged.[1]” This includes psychiatric disability and so these benefits should also be available to mental health carers.

Carer’s Allowance is paid in addition to other support payments such as Carers Payment or Newstart allowance.   Carer Allowance is paid to approved applicants by Centrelink.

February 14, 2013
Mental Health Carers Arafmi Australia (MHCAA) Releases New Logo

Mental Health Carers Arafmi Australia (MHCAA) this week unveiled a transformation of its identity through the announcement of a new logo and full rebranding.

MHCAA this week unveiled a transformation of its identity through the announcement of a new logo and full rebranding. MHCAA enlisted the help of Out of the Box Design Studio, a Design and Marketing Consultancy. Their pro-bono support was invaluable.

January 29, 2013
Mental Health Carers ARAFMI NSW Carer Peak Advisory Committee

Would you like to be consulted on policy and service development on behalf of Mental Health Carers? If you answered yes, then Mental Health Carers ARAFMI NSW (‘MHC ARAFMI’) is currently recruiting mental health carers to be part of ARAFMI’s Carer Peak Advisory Committee (CPAC). Would you like to be an ARAFMI CPAC representative?

Would you like to be consulted on policy and service development on behalf of Mental Health Carers? If you answered yes, then Mental Health Carers ARAFMI NSW (‘MHC ARAFMI’) is currently recruiting mental health carers to be part of ARAFMI’s Carer Peak Advisory Committee (CPAC). Would you like to be an ARAFMI CPAC representative?

December 17, 2012
Mental Health Carers ARAFMI NSW Inc.’s Submission on the 2012 Review of the NSW Mental Health Act 2007

ARAFMI has provided a detailed submission on the current Review of the Mental Health Act based on its surveys, consultations and discussion with carers since the introduction of the Act in November 2007. ARAFMI's submission addresses many issues including; the scope of the Act and the basis of involuntary treatment, the role of the Mental Health Review Tribunal, the supervision of voluntary and involuntary treatment, and the rights of carers and primary carers in particular.

Mental Health Carers ARAFMI NSW Inc. (‘ARAFMI’) is the peak body for mental health carers in New South Wales. As such ARAFMI welcomes the opportunity to comment upon the Mental Health Act (NSW) 2007 (MHA) at the time of its statutory review after five (5) years of operation as specified under section 201 of the MHA.

In this submission ARAFMI will address the areas of major concern to mental health carers in NSW which relate to the operation of this legislation.

These will be:

December 17, 2012
Primary Carer Nomination forms (and why you need one)

Primary Carer Nomination is a process and legal form that may allow a carer better access to the people and information involved in the care and management of the ones that they love.  Read about how one care has been able to use this form to be better engaged with his loved one's care.

Primary Carer Nomination is a process and legal form that may allow a carer better access to the people and information involved in the care and management of the ones that they love.  

The nomination is created legally in section 72 of the Mental Health Act 2007(the act). 

 What is it?

November 29, 2012
Exploring a New Model for the NSW Mental Health Review Tribunal

The time is right to consider what possible alternative models there might be for the Mental Health Review Triubunal's role in supervising mental health treatment in NSW. A speculative alternative is considered in this article.

The time is right to consider what possible alternative models there might be for the Mental Health Review Triubunal's role in supervising mental health treatment in NSW. A review of the Mental Health Act of NSW is required in 2012 under section 203 of that Act; and the Tribunal is administered under that legislation.

November 29, 2012
Mental Health Act Review 2012: Mental Health Review Tribunal Supervision of Care Issues

The Mental Health Act creates the Mental Health Review Tribunal in NSW which supervises involuntary mental health care. The Act is currently under review. What should the role of the Tribunal be in supervising other aspects of care? 

Timing of Inquiry’s and Reviews

 The 3 main decision making points for involuntary mental health care are: assessment, admission and compulsory treatment / treatment decisions. Generally, various professions and lay participants (like police, carers etc) are able to facilitate short term entry into treatment with no intervention from the Mental Health Tribunals (MHTs) in Victoria and NSW, after which they must be examined by two medical practitioners including a psychiatrist (NSW) or an authorised psychiatrist (Victoria).

November 29, 2012
Mental Health Act Review 2012: Primary Carer Recognition issues

In November 2007 the Mental Health Act (the Act) was passed recognising the role of carers by creating the status of ‘primary carer’ for the first time. These innovative changes attempted to address some perennial difficulties for mental health carers. Now the Act is under review - how effective have these changes been?

In November 2007 the Mental Health Act (the Act) was passed recognising the role of carers by creating the status of ‘primary carer’ for the first time. These innovative changes attempted to address some perennial difficulties for mental health carers.

These arise due to the nature of mental illness and the administrative structures set up to cope with it, in particular with fluctuating levels of seriousness and also changing levels of insight and cooperation from the person living with mental illness.  

November 29, 2012
Mental Health Act Review 2012: Scope of Mental Health Act; Involuntary Treatment

The Mental health Act of NSW is currently under review. What matters should this Act deal with? Should it continue to concentrate on involuntary treatment?

The current Mental Health Act is chiefly concerned with the provision of involuntary mental health treatment as can be seen from section 3 the ‘Objects’ clause:

      

October 31, 2012
Official release of ARAFMI NSW 2011-2012 Annual Report

Following the Annual General Meeting on Saturday, Mental Health Carers ARAFMI NSW has now released the 2011-2012 Annual Report.

Following our Annual General Meeting on Saturday, Mental Health Carers ARAFMI NSW has now released the 2011-2012 Annual Report. The Annual report contains the following information;

October 30, 2012
MENTAL HEALTH CARERS ARAFMI NSW INC 2012 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Mental Health Carers ARAFMI NSW Inc. (ARAFMI)  2012 AGM was very successful   and well attended at our head office 80 William Street Woolloomooloo.   A new board was elected amidst an air of enthusiasm and positive future direction.   

The Mental Health Carers ARAFMI NSW Inc. (ARAFMI)  2012 AGM was very successful   and well attended at our head office 80 William Street Woolloomooloo.   A new board was elected amidst an air of enthusiasm and positive future direction.   We now have a new President, a new Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer as well as one new Ordinary Committee Member together with three previous members. 

The newly elected Board for Mental Health Carers ARAFMI NSW Inc. comprises:

President: Kristine Havron

October 23, 2012
Annual General Meeting Notice

The Annual General Meeting of Mental Health Carers ARAFMI will be held shortly, and as a member, we would like to invite you to attend.  The election of the Committee will take place at this meeting. The venue is Kincumber Cottage 6/20-22 Kincumber Street, Kincumber 2251, on 24th October at 2.00pm.

The Annual General Meeting of Mental Health Carers ARAFMI will be held shortly, and as a member, we would like to invite you to attend.  The election of the Committee will take place at this meeting.

Venue:Kincumba Cottage 6/20-22 Kincumber St, Kincumber  NSW  2251

October 18, 2012
Carers Day - Mental Health Month Celebrations

As part of Mental Health Month, ARAFMI NSW yesterday participated in a Carer & Consumer Information Dayat Bradfield Park. The day was to celebrate ‘Carers Week’ and to recognize and appreciate the great work that Mental Health Carers do. 

As part of Mental Health Month, ARAFMI NSW yesterday participated in a Carer & Consumer Information Dayat Bradfield Park. The day was to celebrate ‘Carers Week’ and to recognize and appreciate the great work that Mental Health Carers do.  The event ran from 11.00am until 3.00pm and consisted of several musicians providing live entertainment, an array of scrumptious lunch was provided, complimentary massages for all to enjoy and a free arts and crafts stall.