Latest News
Working together towards change
Friday, February 22, 2019
I'm pleased to write to you all with an update on the National Multicultural Mental Health Project.
Priorities
In 2018 we were strongly focussed on bringing people together for this highly collaborative project, including mental health consumers and carers from multicultural backgrounds as well as key stakeholders from across the mental health and multicultural sectors.
Together, we have begun a significant program of work which builds on the achievements of previous national projects, and aims towards an equitable mental health system and improved mental health and wellbeing for Australia’s multicultural population.
In 2019 we will continue to work together to progress this important work, including:
- Providing support for organisations to evaluate and improve their cultural responsiveness through further development and promotion of the Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia
- Establishing, maintaining and promoting a quality-assured knowledge exchange and repository platform on the project’s website
- Increasing mental health awareness, knowledge and capacity in CALD communities
- Mapping available evidence-based resources and tools and from these findings, identifying priorities and developing new resources and training
- Establishing a data collection and reporting strategy
Initial efforts will focus on the development of the Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia into a series of modules. This includes reaching out to Primary Health Networks (PHNs) and mental health services across Australia, to help tailor the material to meet a range of service and community needs. Developing a new name, brand and website for the project will also be an early focus, and we look forward to launching the project’s new resources to you all in mid-2019.
Collaboration
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the key groups and teams who will be driving this work program.
Project Alliance
The Project Alliance provides high level guidance and makes strategic decisions about the project's direction. The Project Alliance brings together senior representatives from three national peak bodies: Mental Health Australia, the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia (FECCA) and the National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA). Importantly, it also includes a consumer and a carer representative, as nominated by the members of the CALD Mental Health Consumer and Carer Group.
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Mental Health Consumer & Carer Group
The CALD Mental Health Consumer and Carer Group is comprised of a consumer and a carer representative from each state and territory of Australia. The Group includes a passionate, energised and diverse mix of voices and will provide advice to the Alliance based on members' lived experience and connections to their communities.
CALD Mental Health Consumer and Carer Group shown here with members of the Project Team
Stakeholder Group
The Stakeholder Group includes senior representatives from across the multicultural, mental health and related sectors. The Group will provide advice to the Alliance based on members' expertise and links to multicultural communities and the mental health workforce.
Stakeholder Group meeting with Mental Health Australia staff
Project Team
The Project Team is based at Mental Health Australia and includes myself as National Project Manager along with Policy and Project Officer, Kaitlin Saunders and Project and Administration Officer, Charlene Singh. Staff at FECCA and NEDA also provide support to the Project. Our team can be contacted on 02 6285 3100 or at [email protected].
Thank you once again for your interest and support for the National Multicultural Mental Health Project. We look forward to keeping you updated with news and opportunities as the project progresses.
Warm regards
Ruth
National Multicultural Mental Health Project Update
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Applications open for consumers, carers from CALD backgrounds to join the new national multicultural mental health project
Friday, July 27, 2018
Positions Vacant - National multicultural mental health project
Friday, May 11, 2018
A renewed national focus: Bringing together the mental health and multicultural sectors
Friday, May 04, 2018
These inspiring personal stories of people living with emotional and mental health issues were created during a four-day workshop led by experienced film-makers. Each person wrote, voiced, created and edited their film.
The storytellers are from culturally diverse backgrounds. They decided that ‘Finding our way’ captures the collective spirit of the stories.
As far as we know, this project is the first of its kind in Australia. Listening to migrant and refugee stories can be sad, moving, and uplifting. Above all it presents an opportunity to gain greater insight and empathy towards people who are not only making a life in a new country but facing mental health issues as well. Their words and ideas are invaluable for everyone in the Australian community.
Who owns these stories?
Can we use these videos for education purposes? Do we need MHiMA’s permission to do this?
Why won’t the videos play on my computer?
Will MHiMA and ACMI run more workshops and create more stories in the future?
Click the image to watch the film.
Dear Self, Akeemi.
Childhood memories, moving to a new country, feelings of isolation and efforts to connect are among experiences that inspire Akeemi’s healing ‘letter to self’, with original drawings and paintings.
Also available to watch on YouTube
My Faith, My Anchor, Chandima.
Chandima’s story is about migration from Sri Lanka, faith in God and her family: inspirations for personal recovery and the desire to help others.
Also available to watch on YouTube
Doe Doh’s Story, Doe Doh.
A harsh childhood lived on the Thai-Burma border, yearning for freedom and seizing the possibilities of ‘now’. Karen with English subtitles.
Psychiatric Superhero, James.
The author voices scenes from his graphic novel about a light warrior’s deep inner struggles and his resolve to overcome them.
Also available to watch on YouTube
Spreading Joy, Kim.
Origami, laughter, good food, kindness: Kim’s ingredients for a fulfilled life and taking a positive approach to recovery. Mandarin with English subtitles.
Also available to watch on YouTube
Linh’s Story, Linh.
Linh discusses overcoming severe mental illness with the help of her loving family, feeling welcome in new country and going on holidays. Vietnamese with English subtitles.
The Visual Conductor, Maria.
A story about family expectations, taking charge and staying well involving art, personal goals and play.
Becoming, Nevena.
From civil war, loss and uncertainty to safety: a refugee’s unfolding story. A lifelong journey toward happiness and inner peace.
Also available to watch on YouTube
I am Colours, Tuan.
‘Colours within me connect me to colours around me.’ Tuan sews beautiful handmade objects and uses his keen sense of colour to connect with other people and the world around him.
Also available to watch on YouTube
Acknowledgements:
Each digital story is original and owned by its creator.
This project was created and developed by Mental Health in Multicultural Australia (MHiMA) in conjunction with the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI).
Victorian Transcultural Mental Health (VTMH), St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne and the Centre for International Mental Health (CIMH) at the University of Melbourne managed the project.
Project coordination for MHiMA by Erminia Colucci & Susan McDonough.
Presented by the Digital Story-telling Program of ACMI, 2014.
Thank you to all the individual storytellers, their families and friends, the film-makers, support workers and everyone else who helped in the telling of these stories. The participants and organisers hope it encourages others to share their experiences.
