Melbourne. The conference is an opportunity to join a national conversation about effective and innovative social inclusion policy and practice. The conference will be highly interactive and offer participants an opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss topics and learn from each other to build a more socially inclusive Australia.

Click here for more information.

12 February 2010 - Guidelines - management of co-occurring AOD & mental health conditions

The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), University of New South Wales (UNSW) Seminar on Guidelines on the management of co-occurring alcohol and other drug and mental health conditions in alcohol and other drug treatment settings.UNSW.

The purpose of this half-day seminar is to provide an overview of the Guidelines with a focus on the implications for clinical practice. The seminar will be of particular relevance to service managers, team leaders, educators, comorbidity project officers from government and non-government services.

To register your interest in attending this half-day seminar: contact Alison Bell, email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or ph 0412 002 816. 

For more information about the seminar: contact Robert Stirling, NADA, email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 

18 & 19 February 2010 - TheMHS Summer Forum

Crowne Plaza Hotel, Sydney  NSW  Australia

The RIGHT to CARE that Works

Everyone has the right to timely, effective, best-practice mental health care.  This Summer Forum will focus on the RIGHT to CARE that WORKS.

People with mental illness need access to a comprehensive system of care that offers high quality care that works.  But how do we ensure that this system of care respects human rights and drives forward to social justice? How do we balance the delivery of effective care against an individual's right to choose their own treatment? How do we ensure equity of access to care that works regardless of age, gender or location?  We need a system which recognises the magnitude of the problems inherent in providing this system and commits resources to delivering care properly.  Right Care Works!

Speakers will examine the evidence and address the challenge of delivering care that works within the broader context of respecting the rights of those who experience mental illness.  Some of the specific topics to be examined are: balancing human rights, mental health and social inclusion; coercive treatment and mental health,  equity of access across gender, age and rural and remote areas, clinical and human rights issues in prisons; and homelessness and the right to housing and employment.

More details about SPEAKERS

More details about PROGRAM

10.00am, Community Hall, South Windsor Family Centre

This seminar will provide an overview of the history and services of the Black Dog Institute and information on identifying the symptoms of depression and bipolar disorder. It includes general information on causes of mood disorders, when and where to seek help and wellbeing tips. The desired outcome is that people will be better informed, better equipped to identify warning signs and feel more comfortable seeking help and communicating more openly and honestly.

Morning tea provided.

RSVP: by 18 February to Peppercorn Family Services, ph 4577 9810 or 4577 9804

 Click here to download flyer 251.95 Kb

18-19 March 2010 - Health Workforce Innovation and Reform

Westmead Education Centre, Westmead Hospital

This highly interactive leadership event sponsored by NSW Health and hosted by Sydney West Area Health Services will demonstrate how NSW is planning, innovating and reforming the health and aged care workforce ready for the challenges of the 21st Century. It will focus on delivery of Caring Together: The Health Action Plan for NSW the first stage of the NSW Government's response to the Garling Inquiry's findings and recommendations

The two day conference will enable hands-on advice from best practice, take home practical implementation guides and peer networking/collaboration to improve workforce initiatives.

The Conference will aim to engage leading experts from a National and Local perspective will strengthen ideas presented in theme based interactive presentations and workshops.

Click here for more information.

22-23 March 2010 - Consumer-Centred Health Care: Policy, Innovation and Empowerment

Angliss Conference Centre, Melbourne

This national conference over two days will explore the emerging agenda of consumer-centred health care.

Key themes include:

• Commonwealth reform initiatives: driving change

• Organising and empowering health consumers

• Medicare Select: opt-in health plans

• Self-care and self-management in heath

• Consumer-directed aged care

• Consumer-centred innovation in mental health

• Consumer-centred innovation in drug and alcohol rehabilitation

• Consumer-centred systems

• Consumer-centred funding arrangements

• Chronic illness consolidated budgets

• Capitation-based payment systems

• Health brokers, care co-ordinators, health infomediaries

• Community engagement in health reform

• Partnerships between practitioners and consumers

The conference will have a strategic focus on implementing system change in these fields over the next few years.

Click here for more information and registration details.

29-30 April 2010 - Unfinished Business: Pathways to Social Inclusion

International Mental Health Conference, Melbourne Cricket Ground. The conference theme acknowledges that 25 years after deinstitutionalisation, people with mental illness tend to fare badly on many of the key dimensions of social inclusion: health, housing, education and employment.

The conference will focus on pathways to greater social inclusion for people with a mental illness. It will showcase the excellent work occurring across different sectors, present the latest research into what works, and point to the way forward.

For more information, click here
 

27-28 May 2010 - Eating Disorders: Meeting the Challenge Conference

Novotel Sydney Olympic Park, Cnr Olympic Bvd & Herb Elliott Ave, Sydney Olympic Park

Professionals and carers welcome. A collaboration between the Centre for Eating and Dieting Disorders (CEDD), the Children's Hospital Westmead Eating Disorder Service and the Centre for Research into Adolescent Health (CRASH), with the support of the Mental Health Council of Australia.

Click here for more information.

18-20 August 2010 - International Mental Health Conference

Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association, 11th International Mental Health Conference, 'Depression & Anxiety: Who, What, Where, When and How?'
Holiday Inn, Surfers Paradise.

Who are the leaders in the fields of depression and anxiety research and service provision? What new treatments have been developed that are recognised as evidence based treatments?

Where do we go from here? What further developments are under consideration? What advances can we expect in the next ten years? What changes do we need to implement in the workplace to promote and provide better management of anxiety and depression?

When and under what conditions are treatments and programs likely to be successful?

How are Governments developing policy to help with the ever increasing number of clients reporting with these conditions? How are new approaches being trialled?

The conference will be structured to provide practice updates on the treatment of depression and anxiety over different phases of the life cycle (from childhood to older adults).

Click here for more information.

1-3 September 2010 - National Homelessness Conference, Brisbane

Homelessness Australia,6th National Homelessness Conference, 'Many Ways Home: Ending Homelessness by 2020', Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre

The Conference is an opportunity to discuss the Government's White Paper - The Road Home. Will we meet the national target or can we do more? How will the White Paper impact on your service? What are other States and Territories doing in relation to their Implementation Plans? Homelessness Australia will bring together all sectors to answer these questions and more.

The Conference is of particular interest to specialist homelessness services and those who support these services. It is also directly relevant to those services who have an interest in responding to homelessness and how the Federal Government's new approach to homelessness is being implemented throughout Australia.

Organisations who are interested in solving the underlaying issues of homelessness, such as poor educational outcomes, unstable housing and employment opportunities will also have an interest in the event. 

Click here for more information.

14-17 September 2010 - TheMHS 20th Annual Conference

20 years strong:  and now a renaissance

Since the first TheMHS Conference 20 years ago, many mental health reforms have been implemented.  TheMHS has actively contributed to this reform and in celebrating its 20th Conference will be highlighting innovative models of mental health care.  By looking back we can look forward, we can determine what has worked and what hasn’t and set about ensuring that we build on the strengths of the past.

Renaissance is a rebirth. It is a time to revitalise mental health services through questioning policies and practices and implementing those that are effective. As each generation takes its place at the ‘reform table’, service providers, policy makers, consumers and carers and all other stakeholders seek to raise issues and pose questions from their individual perspectives.  This conference provides an opportunity for all involved in mental health services to come together to discuss ideas, clarify thoughts, listen to and learn from others and to explore possibilities for the future.  

Keynote speakers include: Alain Topor (Sweden), Leonie Manns (Aust), Anthony Mancini (USA)

22-24 September 2010 - Australasian Schizophrenia Conference, Sydney

Hosted by the Schizophrenia Research Institute.

The conference theme will be ‘Molecules to Mind’, which reflects the broad perspective required to achieve a greater scientific understanding of schizophrenia, understanding that will make a tangible difference in the lives of people with this illness.

The Conference is expecting over 300 psychiatrists, medical practitioners, psychologists, research scientists, clinical educators, nurses and other mental health workers to attend.

Click here for more information.

Tracking Trajectories - influences on developmental pathways from infancy to whatever

Novotel Barossa Valley Resort, South Australia

It will be the task of Child2010 to explore the intertwining biopsychosocial influences on the development "from infancy to whatever" through keynote addresses, workshops, themed symposia, papers and poster sessions. Daniel Hughes, a leading figure in attachment trauma and realtionship therapy, and Jerome Hughes, whose main expertise in in attachment based psychotherapy, will be keynote speakers.

Click here for more information.