Welcome to the website of the Mental Health Community Coalition of the ACT
MHCC ACT is the peak body representing the not for profit community mental health sector in the Australian Capital Territory. Founded in 2004, MHCC ACT promotes a diverse range of community agencies and local consumer and carer groups.
If you would like to learn more about our work please contact us by following the link at top of this page or subscribe to our regular e-bulletin by emailing admin@mhccact.org.au
- Position Vacant - Mental Health Promotion Officer: Stepping Out of the Shadows Project
- MHCC ACT – Annual General Meeting
- Mental Health: Recovery in Our Community
- Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA)
- Senate Community Affairs Committee Inquiry into Mental Health Services - Towards Recovery: Mental Health Services in Australia
- Review of the ACT Mental Health (Treatment and Care) Act
- Building Capacity in Community Mental Health Family Support and Carer Respite: A FACSIA funded national project in collaboration with Community Mental Health Australia
Position Vacant - Mental Health Promotion Officer: Stepping Out of the Shadows Project
The ‘Stepping Out of the Shadows project, is a new mental health promotion program targeting people of diverse cultural and linguistic communities. The project officer will support bilingual community educators to deliver education sessions in local communities with the aim of promoting mental health awareness. The project officer will also work closely with the ACT Transcultural Mental Health Network on related policy. Project to be completed by mid 2010.MHCC ACT offers above award conditions, generous salary packaging and flexible working arrangements.
Click here to view the Position Description and Selection Criteria. Applications close 5 December 2008.
MHCC ACT – Annual General Meeting
The Mental Health Community Coalition invites you to attend its Annual General Meeting, all welcome. MHCC ACT is pleased to have Amanda Bresnan - Greens MLA, attending as Guest Speaker. Light refreshments will be served.
Where: Room 6, Griffin Centre, 20 Genge Street, Canberra City
When: Thursday 4 December 2008, 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm
Please RSVP by phone 6249 7756 or email admin@mhccact.org.au to assist with catering requirements.
Mental Health: Recovery in Our Community
Please feel welcome to view MHCC ACT's most recent publication which will be launched at our Mental Health Week - ACT Pre-Election Community Forum on 8 October 2008. This document sets out a 2020 vision and action requirements for community mental health service reforms in the ACT region. Click on the hyperlink to view the document.Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA)
Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA), is a new national alliance between the state and territory peaks that aims to support the development and promotion of mental health community sector services.
Not-for-profit community services are an integral component of Australia’s mental health service system, leading the way in the promotion of social inclusion and recovery focused support and care. The sector has grown considerably over recent years and includes over 800 specialist and generalist non-government community groups and psychiatric disability support agencies across Australia. The sector has long been supported by the state and territory mental health peak organisations who have worked consistently in their jurisdictions to promote a range of sector development, workforce and funding issues.
In March 2008, the state and territory peaks agreed that a more effective and collaborative way was needed to promote community sector industry issues at a national level. The CMHA alliance was created in order to allow the state and territory peaks to achieve the following objectives;
· Develop a better national understanding of community mental health and recovery services
· Coordinate the development of the community mental health industry/sector across all states and territories
· Proactively pursue involvement within national mental health policy and service development arenas; and
· Establish partnerships with national stakeholders to achieve shared mental health reform goals
CMHA partners are currently working on a range of projects which includes the first national sector development project, funded by FAHCSIA and auspiced by VICSERV and additional policy and workforce development projects. The community mental health sector has in many ways come of age over the last 30 years and since the COAG National Action Plan community services are being recognized as an integral partner in the reform process. For further information on CMHA please contact your state/territory peak mental health organisation. A web site is currently being developed at www.cmha.org.au and will go live in the coming weeks.
Senate Community Affairs Committee Inquiry into Mental Health Services - Towards Recovery: Mental Health Services in Australia
MHCC ACT welcomes the findings of the Senate Community Affairs Committee Inquiry into Mental Health Services. “The committee has made a number of recommendations aimed at setting a clearer future for mental health in Australia and considers that further investment, leadership and cooperation are required to achieve an adequate community-based, recovery-focussed mental health care system in Australia”. To view the report please visit: http://www.aph.gov.au/SENATE/COMMITTEE/CLAC_CTTE/mental_health/report/index.htmReview of the ACT Mental Health (Treatment and Care) Act
The MHCCACT and its members have closely followed the Review of the ACT Mental Health (Treatment and Care) Act. The Coalition has urged the review to explore alternative legal frameworks to stand-alone mental health legislation which is less stigmatizing and more reflective of modern mental health service delivery, treatment, practice and knowledge.
The Coalition has joined with the ACT Mental Health Consumer Network, ACT Mental Health Carers Alliance and Carers ACT to call for the establishment of a legal framework for advanced mental health care directives. An Advanced Care Directives Working Group meets regularly to progress work on this important matter.
Follow the Review's progress:
Stage 2 Consultation Report, AEQUITAS Communications, April 2008
MHCCACT’s Response to the Options Paper, March 2008
Options Paper ACT Health, November 2007
MHCCACT’s Response to the Discussion Paper, October 2006
Discussion Paper ACT Health, August 2006
MHCCACT’s Response to Scoping Document, September 2005
Scoping Document, ACT Health, September 2005
Relevant ACT Legislation
Mental Health (Treatment & Care) Act 1994
Guardianship and Management of Property Act 1991
Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997
Follow the progress of the Advanced Directives Working Group:
Paper prepared by Dr Penny Weller, Rethinking Mental Health Laws, Faculty of Law, Monash University
Draft Implementation Framework, Karen Blake
Draft Crisis Card, Michael Firestone
New Zealand Mental Health Care Directives, information brochure for service users
Join our Working Group! email karen.blake@mhccact.org.au for details
The MHCCACT’s work for the Review has been led by Dr Leanne Craze, one of the authors of the Model Australian Mental Health Law (Cwlth Dept Health and Ageing 1994) and currently a member of the Rethinking Mental Health Laws, Faculty of Law, Monash University. Leanne was engaged by ACT health to research and write the Discussion Paper for the Review. The Coalition has also benefited from the advice of Professor Duncan Chappell, an internationally respected mental health law academic.The Coalition has also been assisted by the hard work of its Consumer and Carer Caucus and member organizations who have set aside considerable time to provide both oral and written comments.