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Mad Monday Memo - Mental Health Month
Mad Monday Memo - Mental Health Month
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Read all about it! - 6 October 2026
Message from the CEO
Mental Health Sector News
Training
Opportunities to share your experience
Events & Vacancies
Special Guest Introduction
What does Mental Health Month Mean to You?
Mental Health Month is a time where we reflect the many relationships that are important in our lives and recovery. From the various clinicians we put our trust in to assist when our mental and physical health are problematic, to our support people, friends and family.
Connecting with others is vital for our social and emotional wellbeing. In recovery we learn to ask and accept help, to rely on others without feeling a burden. Good connections empower and enrich us. Our lives are better for having these people around us. They are reciprocal relationships, where our connection to others is valued as theirs is to us.
My partner of nearly 35yrs, Michael died in December 2025. The love and connection we shared continues beyond his passing. He encouraged and supported me. He made me laugh and sat with me when I cried. His commitment to the rights and dignity of all people living with mental health issues was a part of him right up to his death. I cherish every moment I had the privilege to spend with him.
Early in my recovery, I was encouraged to get a pet. Living in social housing, I chose to get a cat. My first cat, Kimba was a special companion for 19.5 yrs. It took a while for me to get my second special girl. Her name is Gidget, a white tortious shell. She comes from traumatic early beginnings as did I. She is special and aware of my needs as I am of hers. Having a pet to connect with has helped me to receive and give love, taught me responsibility, and a reason to get up each day. Being owned by a cat is a special relationship, and I am honoured to have this connection.
Mental Health Sector News
BEING calls for stronger anti-discrimination protections
Last week BEING lodged its submission to the NSW Law Reform Commission’s review of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977, calling for a system that is genuinely accessible to people with lived experience of mental health challenges.
Drawing on consultation with BEING members, the submission makes 23 recommendations, including extending the time to make a complaint from 12 months to two years; recognising supported decision-making; providing access to advocates, peer workers and support people; removing the risk of paying the other side’s legal costs; and making procedural accommodations a right.
BEING also calls for a positive duty to prevent discrimination, stronger powers for Anti-Discrimination NSW to investigate systemic discrimination, and lived experience to be embedded in its governance.
We’ll share the full transcript as soon as we’re permitted to release it.
Mental Health Month kicked off last week with World Mental Health Day to be recognised this Saturday, 10 October.
BEING is contributing in three ways:
Member Newsletter Takeover
Throughout October, we’ve turned to members on our advisory committees and invited some of them to write the introduction for the Mad Monday Memo and share what Mental Health Month means to them. Thanks to all everyone who volunteered to take part, including Paula Hanlon who was kind enough to kick us off this week.
Lived Experience Video Stories
Still with the focus on individual lived experience, every Thursday throughout October, we are sharing one of four conversations with our members. The videos explore the personal experience of living with a range of challenges including: depression, anxiety, eating disorders, schizo-affective disorders, dissociative disorders as well as the impact they have had on each person’s life.
Our storytellers also share some thoughts on what helps them on their recovery journey and positive changes the system needs. We are incredibly grateful for their time and generosity to share their stories and provide encouragement for others.
Click here to visit our YouTube page and view the videos as they are published.
Member Event – Tuesday 20 October
BEING is putting the final touches on a free, in person member event to be held in Sydney on 20 October, a time to network with other members and explore the importance of human rights in our movement. Stay tuned.
Many of you will have tuned into MHCC’s webinar last week entitled “Crisis Beyond Care” launching their campaign to have the government step up their investment into the community mental health sector.
MHCC is continuing this campaign throughout Mental Health Month releasing a supporter toolkit with social copy, graphics and other resources you might find interesting.
Tell us what you think – BEING website
We’re looking to evolve the BEING website to improve how it delivers against the needs of members and support delivery of the organisation’s strategic plan.
We’ve created a short, 4 question survey to get your feedback on what you like about the current site, what you don’t and to hear any other ideas you might have.
Click here to complete the survey and help us ensure our website works for you.
Survey closes 5pm Friday 16 October.
The importance of good relationship skills
Our relationships play a vital role in our health and wellbeing. Yet too often, we only seek support when things are already going wrong.
A report released last week by Relationships Australia NSW (RANSW) found that only one in three people effectively learnt how to have difficult conversations when they were growing up contributing to the fact that as many as 1 in 6 of us feel lonely often or very often.
RANSW have launched a campaign to support their call for a greater focus on relationship skills, early support and prevention.
Click here to download the report and find out more.
Improving outcomes for fathers experiencing postnatal depression
Around 1 in 10 fathers experience depression during pregnancy or after the birth of a child, yet many do not seek support.
DadBooster, developed by the Parent-Infant Research Institute, is a free online CBT program designed to support fathers experiencing perinatal depression.
Their new study has found that DadBooster significantly improved depression symptoms among fathers experiencing postnatal depression.
Click here for more on the campaign.
$6m to research the mental health impacts of climate change
Last year we made the intersection of mental health and climate change the focus of our Mental Health Month activities. So, we’re delighted that the Australian Government has awarded $6 million to 3 new research projects through the Medical Research Future Fund to study and devise methods to improve the mental health and wellbeing of people affected by climate change, with a particular focus on First Nations people.
The Hon Rebecca White MP, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health said of the announcement,
“The grants… will provide some of Australia’s top researchers with the funds they need to improve mental health support for Australian’s impacted by climate change.
“These projects will deliver a range of practical, community-led responses to emerging mental health challenges with an important focus on First Nations communities impacted by climate change.”
Click here to read the government statement.
Recognition Days
1-31 October Mental Health Month
1-7 October BPD Awareness Week
10 October World Mental Health Day / World Homeless Day
12-18 October OCD Awareness Week / National Carers Week
Click on the links to find out more and how to get involved.
Training
BEING provides tailor-made training for mental health consumers to develop their skills, capacity and to support recovery.
Our current range of interactive, self-paced courses includes 3 free general interest topics (Introduction to Journaling, Stigma and Discrimination and Mental Health Advocacy) and 3 paid courses, which provide the core foundations useful for professional lived experience advocacy (Foundations of Co-Design, Foundations of Effective Meetings and Foundations of Committee Work.)
Click here to visit our dedicated eLearning site to find out more.
This FREE, 7 week programme by Finding North is for anybody who wants to feel more confident speaking up for themselves in mental health settings.
The programme has been co-designed from the ground up by people with firsthand experience of mental health challenges and self-advocacy bringing a variety of perspectives, identities and experiences to the table. Co-designers included people from CALD and LGBTIQ+ communities, neurodivergent people, people across different age groups, and people with a wide range of experiences with mental health services.
The programme is also delivered by people with lived experience. Join a community of peers, to learn more about your rights and build skills to advocate for yourself in mental health settings including: community mental health services, crisis support services, GP appointments and inpatient mental health wards.
By attending you will learn how to:
*
Build confidence to speak up about their needs and the support that works for them
*
Communicate their needs more clearly and advocate for themselves
*
Use practical tools and strategies to help them be heard by mental health professionals
When: Course starts Wednesday 4 November (12:30-2:30pm) and runs for 7 weeks
Where: Online
Click here to visit the Finding North website for more information and to register.
SESLHD Recovery & Wellbeing College – Term 4
The Course Guide 2026 and Timetable for Term 4 of the SESLHD Recovery & Wellbeing College has been released. Courses start 12 October.
To enrol, please complete an online enrolment form.
The College is open to eligible people, 16 years of age and over in the local community for whom courses are currently FREE of charge, funded by NSW Health.
The College offers a Student Learning Plan (SLP) with a Peer Learning Advisor to support you with your enrolment and learning. To arrange an SLP, phone the college on 02 9113 2981.
Click here for the course guide.
Click here for the timetable.
Opportunities
Music and Health in the Community: A Public Health Perspective
Researchers from Western Sydney University are running a survey to explore community experiences and perspectives relating to music and health.
The survey is open to adults aged 18 years and will take approximately 15 to 20 minutes to complete.
Click here to download the information sheet or here to go straight to the survey.
Sharing your Lived Experience ‘Experience’
The EQUIP network, is currently working with Monash University to better understand and learn from experiences of Lived Experience Experts (LEEs) in research and practice.
They define Lived experience experts (LEEs) as those with expertise gained through a direct and personal experience of a specific issue or system.
They want to learn more about what this practice looks like where you live.
If you contribute to policy, practice or research as a Lived Experience Expert (LEE), they invite you to complete their survey. Click here to access the survey.
If you are not a Lived Experience Expert yourself (LEE) but can share your experience and/or knowledge about Lived experience expert organisations (LEEs) that you are aware of, you can still share your experience. Click here to fill out an alternate survey.
National child/parent/family mental health workforce survey open
Do you work in the health, education, social or community service sectors?
If so, you’re encouraged to add your feedback to the Emerging Minds’ National Workforce Survey 2026.
The survey gathers important data on the capabilities among the Australian health, education, social and community services workforce by exploring knowledge, skills, confidence, challenges and practice in managing and responding to children’s mental health needs.
The survey results will help guide policy, advocacy and learning to address the future needs and demands of the Australian workforce.
Click here to complete the survey.
Calling all disability advocates!
Applications are now open for the Supporting Participation Program 2026-27, which funds people with disability to take part in key international disability and human rights forums.
This year, the program supports participation in the:
• UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW71)
• UN Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP20)
• Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.
This is an opportunity to build advocacy skills, strengthen networks, share lived experience, and help ensure Australian perspectives are represented in global conversations about human rights.
Applications close 1 November 2026.
Click here to find out more and apply.
Events
Pioneers of Peer Work
The Australian Association of Peer Workers is hosting what is sure to be an insightful webinar talking to “Pioneers of Peer Work” including BEING’s Chair, Tim Heffernan.
An experienced Consumer Peer Worker Tim was the former Lived Experience Deputy Commissioner at the Mental Health Commission of NSW. He worked for over ten years as a Peer Worker with Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District and for five years as Peer Coordinator with COORDINARE, the South Eastern NSW PHN.
Hear from Tim and four other pioneers at the AAPW’s member-only webinar.
When: Wednesday 7 October (4:00-5:30pm)
Where: Online
Click here to log in to the member portal to learn about the panellists and register.
This event is for 'full' and 'student' AAPW members only but you can click here to become a member and join the conversation.
This World Mental Health Day, the World Health Organization, World Federation for Mental Health, United for Global Mental Healthand the Global Mental Health Action Network are hosting a special webinar focusing on this year's theme “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change."
The event will discuss how people with lived experience can be meaningfully engaged in shaping mental health policy, services and practice. With experts by experience from three continents, and representatives from all three organisations, we will explore practical examples of meaningful participation. Speakers will consider what is needed to ensure lived experience is not simply heard, but shapes policy decisions and drives lasting change.
When: Friday 9 October 12:00-1:15pm GMT (11:00pm AEDT)
Where: Online
The webinar will also mark the launch of WHO’s guide, Supporting the transition to community-based mental health and social care: practical guide to the deinstitutionalisation of psychiatric hospitals.
The discussion will explore what deinstitutionalisation means for the rights and dignity of people living with mental health challenges, and the vital role of people with lived experience in shaping and delivering this work. Speakers will share how the guide can support the transition from institutional care towards rights-based, person-centred mental health and social care in the community.
Click here to register.
Meet your Neighbour - Western Sydney
MHCC joins forces with the Western Sydney Community Forum next month for a special “Meet Your Neighbour” event.
Through networking, shared learning and conversation, the event will explore what’s working well across mental health and community services in the area, where challenges remain, and opportunities for more connected, person-centred support.
Hear from lived experience workers and sector experts in a panel discussion exploring local issues and priorities for better supporting people living with mental health challenges and co-occurring needs and contribute your own experiences and ideas to the conversation.
When: 13 October (10:00am – 1:00pm)
Where: Business Western Sydney, Podium 2, 4 Parramatta Sq, 12 Darcy St, Parramatta
Registration is essential as places are limited.
Click here to register and find out more.
Youth Psychiatry: Leading the world and training the workforce
Mindgardens is excited to present the eighth edition of the MindLabs Psychosis webinar series for 2026, Youth Psychiatry: Leading the world and training the workforce.
The topic will be presented by Dr Daniel Pellen, who has been the Chair of the RANZCP Binational Section of Youth Mental Health Committee since 2020. Daniel is a Senior VMO Youth Psychiatrist in Child & Adolescent services at Prince of Wales Hospital and The Sutherland Hospital, Sydney. He is also a Consultant Youth Psychiatrist at headspace Port Macquarie and Camperdown.
Daniel has worked in headspace centres since 2016, and since May 2023 has co-ordinated a monthly Community of Practice meeting for psychiatrists working in headspace centres across Australia.
When: Wednesday 14 October (12:00 – 1:00pm)
Where: Online
Click here to register.
Taking Care of Mental Health
This Mental Health Month join Council on the Ageing NSW for a free webinar on how to look after your mental health.
Hear from Professor Dimity Pond, General Practitioner, and Dr Rosemaree Miller from the Black Dog Institute.
Professor Pond, a GP, will discuss how GPs can support mental health and what to expect from an appointment after which Dr Miller will introduce myCompass, a free online program.
When: Thursday 15 October (10:30am)
Where: Online
Click here to register.
Webinar | Explaining the Thriving Kids rollout
Thriving Kids is a new program providing early intervention services for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism who have low to moderate support needs, and for their families, carers and kin.
From October 2026, general supports will begin to be available for families who have concerns about their child’s development. The Department of Communities and Justice is the lead agency for Thriving Kids in NSW.
This session, co-led by the Department of Communities and Justice and the Department of Education, and will provide an update on the Thriving Kids program as the program begins to roll-out nationally and in NSW.
When: Tuesday 20 October (10:00 - 11:00am)
Where: Online
Click here to register.
Vacancies
Flourish Australia
Peer and Mental Health Workers Taree, Broken Hill, Bega and Inverell/Moree
One Door Mental Health
Aboriginal Peer Practitioner, Tamworth
Wellways
Peer Worker, Wagga Wagga
Grand Pacific Health
Peer Worker – CLS, Bankstown Sydney
WE WANT YOU!
BEING is the independent peak body advocating on behalf of mental health consumers for systemic improvements to the NSW mental health system.
If you have lived experience of mental health issues, we warmly invite you to join your community, to learn, be supported and use your experience to improve the system for everyone.
BEING gratefully accepts donations from all sources to help further our work to improve the mental health system for consumers in NSW.
To learn more, or to make a donation, please click the button below.
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