History

• Consumer and Carer Representation
  As part of its goal to enhance and increase the capacity for genuine involvement of the mental health consumer and carer sector and to address issues of tokenism at all levels of representation for carers and consumers, the NMHCCF continued to seek representation on the AHMAC Mental Health Standing Committee.

• Seclusion and Restraint
  The NMHCCF began its work towards a national consumer and carer position statement on seclusion and restraint and began to liaise with the MHSC’s Safety and Quality Partnership Group on this issue.

• Mental Illness and Employment
  The NMHCCF established a working group to consider the impact of welfare to work changes on people with mental illness with a view to defining ‘best practice’ in this area.

• Privacy and Confidentiality
  The NMHCCF provided input into Enhanced Access to Psychological Services under the MBS through the Australian Psychological Society.

• Tolkien 2 Consultation
  NMHCCF members met with Professor Gavin Andrews and his staff in a day-long briefing session to review this work and provide consumer and carer perspectives. 

• Input into Auseinet's Leadership Development Program on Prevention, Promotion and Early Intervention.
• Commentary for the National Health and Medical Research Council’s draft toolkit "Making Decisions About Tests and Treatments".
  
• The NMHCCF lobbied and raised concerns with the Federal Government’s welfare to work reforms and the proposed government changes to the Disability Support Pension.
• The AHMAC National Mental Health Working Group (NMHWG) agreed to the provision of two yearly core funding cycles (pegged to inflation), an increase in funding to the MHCA Secretariat support to the NMHCCF and to consult the NMHCCF as an expert body on matters affecting consumers and carers at a national level.

• Diabetes, Psychotic Disorders and Antipsychotic Therapy
  The NMHCCF held a workshop to develop a consumer and carer version of Diabetes, Psychotic Disorders and Antipsychotic Therapy: A Consensus Statement, a guideline for clinicians regarding the co morbidity of schizophrenia and diabetes.  The Consensus Statement was originally developed to provide information for clinicians treating people with co morbid diabetes and a psychotic disorder. The NCCF workshop was the first step in developing companion information for consumers and carers about the relationship between diabetes and treatment for antipsychotic disorders. The finalised product was distributed widely during 2005.

• Consumer and Carer Participation Policy
  The final Consumer and Carer Participation Policy: A framework for the Mental Health Sector was developed. By the end of 2005, over 5,000 copies of the Consumer and Carer Participation Policy: A Framework for the Mental Health Sector had been widely distributed to mental health consumers, carers, services and NGOs.

• A New Consumer and Carer Participation Model
  A New Consumer and Carer Participation Model Based on the NCCF report was produced by Craze Lateral Solutions. The report documented new and existing models of consumer and carer participation, with a view to improving the operations of the NCCF.

• the impact of Federal Budget on Mental Health;
• the World Federation for Mental Health Conference;
• primary health care work between GP's and Psychiatrists;
• a review of the NSW Mental Health Act; and
• the lack of progress in mental health reforms in South Australia and nationally.

• Consumer and Carer Participation Working Group
  This Working Group promoted full engagement of mental health consumers and carers at every level of mental health service delivery and development and began work on the Consumer and Carer Participation Policy: a framework for the mental health sector to provide a best-practice example for all levels of the mental health sector, as to how consumers and carers can be included in all processes.

• Education and Information Working Group
  This Working Group addressed better education of consumers and carers and, in turn, their involvement in educating mental health professionals. The NCCF supported 2 of its members who were involved in implementing the National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce  to guide education curricula for the mental health professions. The NCCF advocated for the core concept that all health professionals entering the mental health workforce should have the opportunity to be educated by mental health consumers, their family members and carers.

• Special Population Groups Workgroup
  This Workgroup focussed on consumers with co-morbid mental health, drug and alcohol problems (the co-occurrence of a mental disorder with a substance use disorder) and their carers. It worked with the MHCA and the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia to research consumer and carer experiences of dual diagnosis treatment and which treatments have been the most effective.