Homelessness and mental illness - MI Fellowship submits to government inquiry
On Tuesday February 16th, MI Fellowship CE Liz Crowther presented to the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the Adequacy and Future Directions of Public Housing on behalf of people with a mental illness.
In 2007's, Australians Talk Mental Illness survey, housing and accommodation was revealed as the most pressing issue facing people with a mental illness and carers. MI Fellowship made housing its central theme throughout 2008 and brought out Dr Sam Tsemberis to speak on the issue for the annual Bruce Woodcock Memorial Lecture that year.
To find out more about Liz's approach to the housing issue, click here to see a recent editorial she wrote on it.
Bruce Woodcock 2010 - New year, new speaker, new venue
We're off to a flying start in 2010 at MI Fellowship with big announcements already underway for this year's annual Bruce Woodcock Memorial Lecture.
This year's theme will be "families" and we're very proud to say that we have secured American expert Dr Joanne Nicholson as this year's guest speaker. Dr Nicholson will be discussing issues around people with a mental illness and the role that family members play in recovery.
The other big news for this year's lecture is that we have a change of venue. In 2010, the Bruce Woodcock Memorial Lecture will be held on the 6th floor of the Victorian Arts Centre. The new location promises a more intimate space and better access to parking.
The Bruce Woodcock Memorial Lecture 2010 will be held on May 18 during Schizophrenia Awareness Week. Keep watching MI Voice and MI Voice Update for more details.
MI Fellowship in the media
MI Fellowship's CE Liz Crowther recently featured on ABC Radio's PM program commenting on the recent news that Victorian Police will be receiving training to help them handle volatile situations involving people with a mental illness - an issue that MI Fellowship has been campaigning on for some time.
Congratulations to the lucky winner of our summer car raffle, Tony from Narre Warren.
The new Toyota Camry Sportivo was presented by MI Fellowship and Melbourne City Toyota just in time for Christmas.
Tony has bought tickets for several of our raffles over the years and it is a cause he is happy to support. Tony has a family member affected by a mental illness and so understands the challenges faced by people with mental illnesses.
Tony and his family are delighted with the new car and we wish them all the best for the future.
Thomas Embling tragedy - MI Fellowship responds
Liz Crowther of MI Fellowship Victoria has written an editorial regarding the recent fatalities at the Thomas Embling Psychiatric Hospital and the impact it may have on in-community living for people with a mental illness.
The Thomas Embling Psychiatric Hospital is not a MI Fellowship Victoria service.
MI Voice Spring now online
The latest issue of MI Voice has just been added to the MI Voice archive.
Read and enjoy!
AGM need-to-know
Don't forget, MI Fellowship's annual general meeting is coming up this Tuesday October 20, with guest speaker John Mendoza, chair of the National Advisory Council on Mental Health and former chief officer of the Mental Health Council of Australia.
The AGM will begin at at 5.30pm at the offices of Middletons Lawyers, 25 South Tower, 525 Collins St, Melbourne.
To find out more about the candidates for this year's board election, click here.
Don't miss out! Open Mind Fiesta is on again for 2009
One of MI Fellowship's biggest events of the year is on again!
The National Health and Hospitals Reform commission has now released its final report outlining the future directions for reform into the health and hospitals sectors.
MI Fellowship recently brought together Melbourne’s leading mental health and community service providers for the MI Fellowship Corporate Breakfast at the MCG’s Jim Stynes room. For once though, sport wasn’t the topic of conversation - the agenda was all about social inclusion. Our 50 guests, which included representatives from government and the public sector, rose early to hear from Dr David Morris and City of Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor Cr Susan Riley. Both impressed with their knowledge and commitment to reducing social exclusion.
The MI Fellowship Corporate breakfast built knowledge and relationships and looks set to be a regular feature of Schizophrenia Awareness Weeks to come.
Dr David Morris at Bruce Woodcock Memorial Lecture 2009 May 21 2009
On Tuesday May 19, Dr David Morris presented to a packed out audience at BMW Edge in Federation Square for the Bruce Woodcock Memorail Lecture 2009, as highlight for Schizophrenia Awareness Week.
In his presentation, Dr Morris addressed the issue of social inclusion, highlighting what he'd learned from five years as head of the National Social Inclusion Programme and now head of the Inclusion Institute in the UK, and how we can improve social inclusion in Australia as well.
As well as talking about the need to increase the number of people within in the mental health workforce, Dr Morris also talked how social inclusion needs to be considered as something beyond just housing and employment but should be viewed as a set of principles that underlies all work achieved within the mental health sector.
Dr Morris echoed the thoughts of previous Bruce Woodcock Memorial Lecture speaker, Patrick Corrigan, when he said that social inclusion would only come into effect when communities of people with a mental illness interact with communities of people without a mental illness because it is the space between them that progress is made.
To download a copy of Dr Morris' presentation click here.
'ilikeyou' opens at Victorian Parliament May 20 2009
You may remember the 'ilikeyou' exhibition, a social inclusion project that brought together student photographers with people with a mental illness.
After a major success last year at the Open Mind Fiesta, MI Fellowship is thrilled to announce that the 'ilikeyou' has found a temporary new home and will soon again be viewable by the general public.
From June 2 to June 4, 'ilikeyou' will take up residence at Queens Hall, in Victoria's Parliament House, where it will reignite awareness of mental health issues, particularly among parliamentarians.
'ilikeyou' gives students an opportunity to improve their understanding of mental health issues. It also gives people with a mental illness the opportunity to share their stories as they work collaboratively on a piece of art.
Students from the 'ilikeyou' were recruited from Footscray City College, Thornbury High School, Fitzroy High School and Wanganui Park Secondary College in Shepparton.
Film launch at the Cunningham Dax Collection May 19, 2009
One of MI Fellowship's affiliate organisations, the Cunningham Dax Collection, is hosting the launch of a new film featuring renowned artist and mental health advocate Richard McLean, author or Recovered, Not Cured and the recent Ego and Soul and is inviting MI Fellowship members to attend.
As well as a viewing of the film itself, the launch will include a live debate between Richard and the director of the Cunningham Dax, Dr Eugene Koh.
The launch will be held on Thursday May 28 at 6pm at the Cunningham Dax Gallery, 35 Poplar Road, Parkville. Entry is free.
MI Fellowship is supporting Cunningham Dax Collection’s student education program by providing members of our Speakers Bureau to talk about their lived experience of mental illness.
Some of you may remember a recent member initiative by MI Fellowship member Nici Wall calling for articles and poetry by people with a mental illness in her two electronic publications “Glimpses” and “Minds Unleashed”.
Nicci’s is updating all contacts to make sure she has an up-to-date list of contributors and recipients. If you had been in touch with Nicci since March this year please resend her your details via the below channels.
Nicci Wall
MI Fellowship Member
c/o 43 Browallia Drive
Rose Park
Corio Vic 3214 forwalls@xi.com.au
Fax: 03 5222 6847
MI Fellowship awards 2009 open for nominations April 21 2009
The annual MI Fellowship awards have just been declared open for nomination for 2009.
If you're a MI Fellowship member and want to nominate somebody for their work to support people with a mental illness, now's the time to speak up about it!
Popular demand moves February's volunteer information session February 3 2009
An unprecedented number of subscribers to the next volunteer information session has led to changing locations and hosting the session at a larger venue.
The new venue is at Gestalt Therapy Australia, just a quick walk from MI Fellowship's Fairfield offices.
The new details are
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
5:30-6.30 pm
Gestalt Therapy Australia
333 Heidelberg Road
Fairfield (close to cnr Westgarth St)
(5 minute walk from MI Fellowship’s Fairfield Office and 5-10 minute walk from Fairfield train station) Click here to get a map of the new location
New Step Up, Step Down centre opens in Canberra January 14 2009
On November 8 MI Fellowship, in partnership with ACT Mental Health, opened a new Step Up, Step Down centre in the Canberra suburb of Lyneham.
Step Up, Step Down centre, which are known as PARC centres in Victoria, provide an important midway point for people who have just been released from acute psychiatric care but need more support before re-joining their normal lives and for people who need support to prevent the onset of an episode of mental illness but are not sick enough to get into an in-patient bed.
As well as giving people with a mental illness more options for managing their illness, the centre also helps to improve community understanding of mental illness and relieve some of the pressure on acute inpatient beds.
MI Fellowship, based on our experience running PARC centres in South Yarra and Shepparton, is providing the psychosocial support for the LynehamStep Up Step Down while ACT Mental Health provides the clinical support.
The Step Up Step Down centre was officially opened by ACT Health Minister Katy Gallagher and attracted a slew of media attention including coverage from: ABC 666 Canberra radio, The Canberra Times, ABC TV and WIN TV.
Police shooting in Northcote - MI Fellowship's response December 12 2008
On December 11, 2009, Victorian police officers shot dead a teenaged boy who was allegedly threatening them with knives in a situation that was reminiscent of the 2002 death of Mark Kaufman.
To read some media coverage of the story please click here and here.
And to read the media release the MI Fellowship has put out in response, please click here.
New MI Voice now online December 9 2008
The Summer edition of MI Fellowship's member magazine MI Voice can now be found on the MI Voice page.
Local resident picks up $1000 petrol card November 12 2008
The winner of the $1000 petrol card on offer as a prize in the raffle for this year's Open Mind Fiesta in Fairfield's Station St was Stuart Jonas.
Mr Jonas is local to the Fairfield area, having moved there four years ago. This Open Mind Fiesta was his third Open Mind Fiesta.
MI Fellowship would like to thank Barry Plant Real Estate and Melbourne City Toyota for donating the petrol card and vendors from the Fairfield Traders' Association for selling raffle tickets both befor ena dduring the Fiesta.
Free Travel October 28 2008
Public transport on Sundays will be free from next weekend for carers and people receiving disability pensions in Victoria.
Victorian public transport minister Lynne Kosky said those on disability support pensions or receiving carer payments could now travel free on Sundays, along with Victorian senior card holders, from October 26.
Those wishing to take up the offer would need to obtain a Sunday Pass Metcard, which is valid on trains, trams and buses travelling in metropolitan Melbourne and also on town bus services in Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong.
Disability Support Pensioners and Carer Payment recipients under 60 living in Victoria can apply for a Sunday Pass at any Metropolitan Premium Station, staffed V/Line station, or at the MetShop. Application forms are also available at stations, Metcard retail outlets across Melbourne or by downloading a form via the link below.
MI Fellowship Annual Report Online October 21 2008
Following on from its official release at the MI Fellowship Annual General Meeting on Friday 17, the 2007-08 Annual Report is now available online for your enjoyment.
