The NMHCCF had many important achievements in 2009-10.
Meetings
The NMHCCF met four times in 2009-10; 24-25 September 2009 (face-to-face), 25 November 2009 (teleconference), 18-19 March 2010 (face-to-face) and 16 June 2010 (teleconference).
Publications, Submissions and Launches
NMHCCF members completed eight Advocacy Briefs:
The NMHCCF position statement, Ending Seclusion and Restraint in Australian Mental Health Services, was published and launched by Senator Claire Moore at the TheMHS Conference in Perth on 2 September 2009.
The Privacy and Confidentiality Issues Paper was developed by consultants for the NMHCCF and completed in September 2009. The NMHCCF is currently using this paper to develop a privacy and confidentiality position statement.
The draft NMHCCF position statement – Supporting and developing the consumer and carer identified workforce – a strategic approach to recovery – was developed and sent out to the mental health sector for consultation on 8 June 2010.
NMHCCF submissions were made to the following consultations:
The NMHCCF website was launched at the TheMHS Conference in September 2009.
Planning and Operation
The NMHCCF Business Plan was completed in November 2009. A public version of the Business Plan is available on the NMHCCF website.
A new NMHCCF Executive Committee was elected in March 2010:
Consumer Co-Chair - Isabell Collins (VIC)
Carer Co-Chair - Keiran Booth (Mental Health Carers Arafmi Aust.)
Consumer Deputy Co-Chair - David Lovegrove (ACT)
Carer Deputy Co-Chair - Judy Bentley (ACT)
Consumer Ordinary Executive Member - Lyn English (SA)
Carer Ordinary Executive Member - Jean Platts (QLD)
In March 2010 NMHCCF members endorsed the revised NMHCCF Operating Guidelines and the Nationally consistent approach for NMHCCF consumer and carer selection and representation.
The NMHCCF undertook a comprehensive membership review and provided recommendations to the Mental Health Standing Committee in May 2010.
Joint National Register / NMHCCF Workshop
NMHCCF members participated in the National Register & NMHCCF Workshop held on 29-30 April 2010 in Melbourne and attended by 46 mental health consumers and carers.
Key agenda items for this training and skill-building workshop included consumer and carer rights, research, workforce, youth mental health, Indigenous mental health and systemic advocacy. A key outcome from the workshop was the development of a joint communiqué by NMHCCF and National Register members on human rights of people affected by mental illness. The communiqué is available on the MHCA and NMHCCF websites.