[MMHA-E-Bulletin] MMHA E-Bulletin February 2006

Thu Feb 2 16:55:42 EST 2006

Welcome to the Multicultural Mental Health Australia February 2006
E-Bulletin.
This free e-bulletin aims to keep you up-to-date with the latest news and
information related to the mental health and wellbeing of Australia’s
culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. For
contributions: info at mmha.org.au
This edition in brief: (please scroll down for more information)

What’s New?
1.	Do you have something to promote in the next edition of Synergy
2.	Northern Area Mental Health Community Resources Booklet (SA)
3.	Cross-Cultural Mothers' Group (QLD)
4.	Employment assistance for migrants and refugees
5.	Carer Assist, a service of the Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW Inc.
6.	Higher Education for potential CALD students
7.	The 'Jobs in Jeopardy' program
8.	Alcohol and other Drugs (AOD) Resource Kit (WA)

Publications
1.	Debunking myths about Muslims in Australia
3.	Advances in Contemporary Mental Health Nursing

Events and Training
1.	Cross-cultural youth practice training YANQ
2.	theMHS Summer forum 23-24 Feb 2006
3.	Introduction to Transcultural Mental Health
4.	Partnerships towards recovery
5.      VTPU Seminar Series for 2006

New additions to the Web
1.	Multicultural Communication Service Newsletter Polyglot
2. 	University of Adelaide Library Mental Health News Service

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WHAT’S NEW?

1. Synergy Magazine

The national noticeboard is a regular feature in Synergy, the magazine of
MMHA and a great way to promote your service, competition, latest resource
or event. Deadline for submissions is Wednesday 15 February 2006. Email
Brett at synergy at mmha.org.au

2. A – Z directory

An A – Z directory of mental health community resources in South Australia
has been produced by the Adelaide Northern Division of General Practice
(ADGP). This is a valuable resource that can be downloaded using the
following link
http://www.andgp.org.au/ProgramsandServices/MentalHealth/tabid/61/Default.aspx

3. Cross Cultural Mothers Group

The East Brisbane Community Centre are currently seeking new members for
their Cross-Cultural Mothers' Group. The function of the group is:
*       To discuss issues relating to mothering, and share thoughts and
experiences, eg most useful parenting book, cultural differences re how
babies are cared for, the challenges of being a mother

*       To allow infants to play and begin learning social skills

*       To identify and use good infant's resources and toys

*       To ask questions and get new ideas on childrearing

*       To occasionally ask professionals / others to speak about a topic
and share their wisdom

The group is only for mothers with infants, ie babies 1 year or
younger.  Participants are not required to bring anything except their
ideas andenthusiasm, but may bring toys or resources etc if they like.  The cost is
$2 per meeting.  The day, time, and frequency can be negotiated among
members.

Please ask any interested women to phone  Dorinda Harvey on 07 3891 5686.

4. Employment service for migrants and refugees

The Australian Red Cross has set up a service to assist job seekers from
culturally diverse/ non-English speaking backgrounds. The goal is to
achieve long-term employment benefits for job seekers, employers and the
community. To be eligible you need to be unemployed and live in the
Southern suburbs of Brisbane. For further information, view the
information flyer via the following link.
http://lists.yanq.org.au/attachments/cd68328e5c5e6a01e37282e2fe841223257dda9c.pdf

5. Carer Assist, a service of the Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW Inc.

Carer Assist supports all families and carers of someone with a mental
illness by providing information, education, advocacy and support.  It is
a free and confidential service provided by Carer Advocates in eight
regions across NSW (Northern Sydney, Inner West Sydney, Hunter, Illawarra,
Macarthur, Dubbo, Port Macquarie and Wagga Wagga). We work together with
the Area Health Services, other NGOs, health, professional and community
organisations to provide access to helpful information and advocacy. We
regularly provide information on mental illness and medication, help with
navigating the health service or just someone to listen to the daily
struggles as a carer.

Drop-in centres and resource libraries are being set up in each area where
carers and families can access information and meet other carers.

For support and more information please phone Carer Assist on 02 9816 5652
or email: infoassist at sfnsw.org.au  Web: www.sfnsw.org.au

Carer Assist is a service of the Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW Inc.
funded under the Family and Carers Mental Health Program through the
Centre for Mental Health, NSW Health

6. Higher Education for potential CALD students

A project to develop stronger relationships between the University of
Queensland (UQ) and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD)
communities in the Inala-Ipswich (QLD) corridor is seeking to increase
access to higher education for potential CALD students. Young people still
at school as well as mature age students who may be thinking about
returning to study are being targeted.

Sue Scull, the Program Leader is undertaking a brief scan of the corridor
to identify higher education access issues affecting CALD communities and
is keen to talk to people about this issues and people with ideas on how
to address it.

Sue can be contacted on 07 3381 1908 or s.scull at uq.edu.au

7. The 'Jobs in Jeopardy' program

An innovative support program has been developed by Brisbane not-for-profit
Open Minds to provide assistance to individuals in the workplace
experiencing difficulty coping because of the impact that a mental health
problem is having on their life.
The 'Jobs in Jeopardy' program was developed after the organisation
recognised the growing need for a service that assisted people faced with
the dilemma of having to support a family and pay a mortgage while also
dealing with problems resulting from depression, anxiety and
schizophrenia.
For further information go to www.openminds.org.au

8. Alcohol and other Drugs (AOD) Resource Kit

The Family Resource Kit - My Plan

Womens Health Services have developed an AOD specific tool to meet the needs
of children's safety whose family life is affected by alcohol and/or other
drugs. The resource kit is one way in which the views and wishes of children
can be taken into account when decisions are made that affect their lives.
The information may be contributed through drawing, storytelling or writing.

The kit has three components one for the children, one for the parent/carer
and one for the professional. Each component allows the individual to
contribute personal information within their comfort level.

The kit is available from AOD agencies and from the Womens Health Services
website. Training for health professionals will be commencing in February
2006.

The project was a partnership between Womens Health Services (WHS), Western
Australian Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies (WANADA), Alcohol
Education and Rehabilitation Foundation Ltd (AERF) and Drug and Alcohol
Office (DAO).

For more information please contact the Community Development Officer at
Womens Health Services Western Australia: 08 9227 9032

For further information go to www.wha.org.au

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PUBLICATIONS

1. Debunking myths about Muslims in Australia

The Edmund Rice Centre has released a document Debunking the Myths About
Muslims in Australia to deal with the stereotyping and discrimination
Muslim Australians have had to face.
To read the full document go to www.erc.org.au

2. Advances in Contemporary Mental Health Nursing

Mental ill health represents not only an immense psychological, social and
economic burden to society, but also increases the risk and complexity of
physical illnesses. Recognising that neuropsychiatric conditions account
for 13% of total Disability Adjusted Life Years lost globally, and are
estimated to increase to 15% by 2020 (WHO 2004), this book addresses the
dynamic nature of professional mental health nursing across the lifespan.
ISBN 0-9750436-8-4 iv +
164 pages March 2006

For order form and further information go to
http://www.contemporarynurse.com/21.1/mental-health-nursing.html

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EVENTS AND TRAINING

1. Cross-Cultural Youth Work Practice Training

YANQ has organised the Cross-Cultural Youth Work Practice Training to be
delivered by Peter Westoby.
The training will be held in West End (Brisbane QLD) on Tuesday the 21st
of February from 9am to 5pm. Cost will be $120.00 (inc. morning/afternoon
teas and lunch).
For further information go to http://www.yanq.org.au/

2. TheMHS Summer Forum 2006

The next TheMHS Summer Forum will again be held at the Swiss Grand Hotel
at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia.  Each Summer Forum turns the spotlight
on a specific current issue in mental health services.  This year, the
eighth annual TheMHS Summer Forum will focus on understanding, preventing
and managing violence.
This 2 day Summer Forum will highlight presentations from experts in the
field, giving information on the latest research evidence and stimulating
debate on the best ways of de-escalating and preventing aggression and
violence.  The speakers will focus on the latest research, updates on best
practice in service provision, perspectives on how national and local
policies and strategies can make a difference, and personal perspectives
For further information go to http://www.themhs.org/

3. Introduction to Transcultural Mental Health 2006

This highly regarded course is delivered by the QTMHC in partnership with
the School of Mental Health and the University of Queensland, Department
of Psychiatry. The course is a series of eight interactive "train the
trainer" workshops complete with training notes, power point slides and
handouts. Participants may enrol in any or all of the workshops as an
elective postgraduate subject or for professional development.
For further information go to
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/pahospital/qtmhc/training.asp
Enquiries
Greg Turner
Ph: 07 3240 2833
Email: Greg Turner

Registration
Penny D'Ath
Ph: 07 3240 2833
Email: Penny D'Ath

4. Partnerships toward recovery Mental Health Conference 2006

An international Psychosocial Rehabilitation Conference to showcase,
present and discuss community mental health partnerships in all their
possibilities at local, national, global and transcultural levels.The Conference targets mental health service providers, mental health
consumers, carers and families, government officials, academics, students
and the media.
For further information go to http://partnerships2006-rfv.vicserv.org.au

5. VTPU Seminar Series for 2006

Date: Wednesday February 22, 2006
Time 4.00pm - 6.00pm
Presenter: Mark Loughhead - University of South Australia

The role and experience of consumers of mental health services and their
carers as participants in the professional development of mental health
clinicians:

Making the most of partnerships in mental health education: How consumers
and carers express their knowledge across personal and public experience.
For further information go to www.vtpu.org.au

For a complete listing of conferences and training relevant to
multicultural mental health, visit www.mmha.org.au

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NEW ADDITIONS TO THE WEB

1. Multicultural Communication Service

See the latest online newsletter from the Multicultural Communication
Service Polyglot.
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/health-public-affairs/mhcs/news/xx_welcome.html

2. Uni of Adelaide Information Service

While not necessarily new to the web the page is being developed by the
Research Librarian for Mental Health at the University of Adelaide. Its
purpose is to provide some links to quality mental health sites on the
World Wide Web, and to save you time in locating useful material.
Go to: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/library/guide/med/menthealth/

Multicultural Mental Health Australia has extensive listings on mental
health resources and services. Available at: www.mmha.org.au. For more
information please contact us on:Tel: +61 2 9840 3333
Fax: +61 2 9840 3388
Email: admin at mmha.org.au
Website: www.mmha.org.au