Mental Health Coordinating Council

More than 200 public psychiatrists have resigned with their last day being Tuesday 21 January. The closing of beds and units has already begun in the NSW public mental health system which will impact the community-managed mental health sector and other intersecting sectors. It will exacerbate the stretched resources within existing increased demands and create unsustainable pressures on the sector. This morning, Mental Health Coordinating Council, along with BEING - Mental Health Consumers and Mental Health Carers NSW have called for urgent and significant investment by the NSW Government in the entire mental health system. The current crisis extends beyond just the challenge with psychiatrists, affecting the community-managed mental health sector also. We need funding for the entire mental health system including community mental health supports and services that are underpinned by a human rights approach that is trauma-informed and recover-oriented. See the joint media release: https://lnkd.in/gBNU2wZY

Have you signed up to receive our weekly sector news updates? As the peak body for community-managed mental health organisations in New South Wales, our inboxes are always filled with the latest developments across the sector, including grant opportunities, job vacancies, and invitations to take part in important research. We want to make sure you hear about it all too, so we send fyi news every week to keep you up to date with what you need to know. Sign up to fyi news here: https://buff.ly/4jgKkp6 Read the first 2025 edition of fyi news here: https://buff.ly/40KnaAh

We're back in the office in beautiful Callan Park, to continue our work and deliver effective leadership, advocacy and education for the community mental health sector and improve the lives of people living with mental health challenges. From our strong advocacy for reform as the leading voice of community mental health organisations in NSW, to strengthening sector capacity through the provision of innovative training and resources, the MHCC team is excited for another year of great impact. We look forward to continuing collaborations with our members, stakeholders and key-decision makers to drive meaningful change for those who need it most. Stay tuned for updates, events, and initiatives as we drive progress to advancing the sector. Take a look at our new Strategic Plan launched late last year: https://buff.ly/3LE6HFr

As 2024 draws to a close, we would like to thank all our readers, members, partners and stakeholders that have worked with us or supported us this year to advocate for the community mental health sector and the people our sector works to support. Key highlights from the last few months include a number of submissions and recommendations on: ➡️ 2025-29 Pre-Budget submissions ➡️ General Foundational Supports ➡️ NSW's first ever Loneliness Inquiry We will continue to advocate for the recommendations from these submissions in 2025. 🔗 See our End of Year update here: https://lnkd.in/gK2hYHFv For now, the MHCC team will be taking a break over the holiday season, with our office closed from Monday 23 December 2024 to Friday 3 January 2025. We acknowledge that the holiday period can be difficult for many people. If you need support during this period, please visit our Support Contacts page for services open 24/7: https://lnkd.in/gfDx-gxu We wish you a safe and restorative holiday season. See you in 2025.

Thank you to everyone who has submitted an expression of interest for our Mental Health Peer Navigation course. The response has been overwhelming and we thank you for your interest. With funding from Mental Health Commission of NSW, MHCC has led the development of this course with people with lived experience, peer workers and key stakeholders, to ensure it speaks to the needs of those with mental health challenges. Mental Health Peer Navigation is a nationally accredited course and can be taken as an elective for inclusion in Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work. 🔗 Find out more and submit your EOI at: https://buff.ly/49oCapU MHCC and the Mental Health Commission of NSW are proud to be leading workforce development for the community mental health sector and facilitating the rollout of this course to Registered Training Organisations nationally. #peernavigation #peerwork #livedexperiencematters #mentalhealthtraining #recoveryfocused

"Human rights are about our obligations to each other, about basic dignity and respect....[they are] realised in cooperation with others, how we act towards each other - they cannot occur in a vacuum" - Sharon Lawn Reflecting on these words from our last Advocates & Allies webinar for the year, as we mark Human Rights today, when human rights were universally protected for the first time, but there is still much more to do. The importance of human rights is paramount for those living with mental health challenges. Revisit our webinar about maximising human rights and reducing stigma and discrimination for people living with mental health challenges. Watch it here: https://bit.ly/4fZ5s0S #HumanRightsDay #HumanRights

We’re excited to announce a pivotal new course for the mental health sector, Mental Health Peer Navigation – a first of its kind, nationally recognised training course we developed with funding from Mental Health Commission of NSW, as a response to the growing need for peer-led service navigation and supports. This sector-leading initiative is a crucial step forward for peer workers, to empower those who have walked the journey to help others find their way, grounded in a recovery-oriented, trauma-informed approach, that supports self-advocacy skills. MHCC has developed and co-produced the course with people with lived experience, peer workers and key stakeholders, to ensure it spoke to the needs of those with mental health challenges. Pre-launch expressions of interest are now open to peer workers for MHCC’s delivery of the course in 2025, register your EOI here: https://buff.ly/49oCapU MHCC and the Mental Health Commission of NSW are proud to be leading workforce development for the community mental health sector and facilitating the rollout of this course to Registered Training Organisations nationally. #peernavigation #peerwork #livedexperiencematters #mentalhealthtraining #recoveryfocused

Today on International Volunteer Day, we celebrate the contributions of volunteers who dedicate their time, skills, and hearts to making a difference by bringing support and connection to those who need it most. From mental health support to community-building initiatives, their profound impact is truly transformative. Key findings from our Mental Health Workforce Profile show that roughly half of CMO mental health program providers include volunteers in their workforces, but alarmingly, the numbers of volunteers has seen a significant slide, dropping by more than 80% in the past four years for the community-managed mental health workforce. Volunteer grants will be available to assist eligible not-for-profit community organisations that rely on volunteers, to reduce barriers and increase participation. Learn more about volunteer grants: https://buff.ly/3B2fQ8Q Read the full Mental Health Workforce Profile Report: https://buff.ly/40TQTVT This International Volunteer Day we encourage you to explore opportunities to make a difference! #IVD2024 #InternationalVolunteerDay #Volunteers #CommunityImpact #MakeADifference

Did you know there are 5.5 million people living with disability in Australia? International Day of People with Disability is observed on 3 December and aims to promote awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability. Disability also includes psychosocial disability, which is about the functional impact and barriers someone living with mental health challenges may face, limiting their ability to participate in life fully. At MHCC, we value the insight and expertise of people with lived experience of mental health challenges. Our 2025-29 Pre-Budget Submission calls for additional investments in mental health care to ensure those living with psychosocial disability receive adequate support services. 🔗Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gUXSdann #IDPwD

We were honoured and humbled to be at Mental Health Carers NSW's 50th anniversary last week, recognising the many people who have shaped and contributed to the organisation and the advocacy of carers over the last five decades. It was a celebration, but also an acknowledgement that there still needs to be more support for families, friends and carers of people living with mental health challenges - for them to be partners in the care and delivery of mental health supports for their loved ones and ensure their voices and experiences are heard. Congratulations to all Lifetime Membership awardees, and Jonathan Harms, CEO of Mental Health Carers NSW and Board member to MHCC, for your leadership to the sector. #communitymentalhealth #mentalhealthcarers