The report will be released prior to the September Federal Election and will aim to make mental health reform a priority in the political debate.

A new website has been launched to help build the conversation.

You can also read the first e-newsletter here.

Best of all, buying one helps support the work of Open Minds.

Available now for just $65.

To mark these important anniversaries, Open Minds is partnering with ConNetica Consulting and over twenty service providers, peak bodies and research institutions to prepare a major report focussing on the journey of mental health reform, what are the results or where we are now, and what are the future priorities for reform. The report will be released prior to the September Federal Election and will aim to make mental health reform a priority in the political debate.

The ‘Landmark Project’ includes a number of mechanisms to gather the views of the sector. One of these mechanisms is the conduct of community surveys of providers, consumers, carers and interested stakeholders.  The surveys have been developed by the Brain and Mind Research Institute at the University of Sydney.

We would encourage you to participate in these surveys. The links to the surveys are:
1. Community review of mental health services in Australia: http://surveys.med.usyd.edu.au/limesurvey/index.php?sid=14293

2. Consumers and Carers Direct Experiences of Mental Health Care in Australia: http://surveys.med.usyd.edu.au/limesurvey/index.php?sid=81989

“Open Minds welcomes Premier Newman’s decision to sign up to DisabilityCare Australia and looks forward to working in partnership to make the scheme a reality.

“People with disabilities have the right to proper support and equipment to live with dignity and independence. DisabilityCare Australia will ensure that support is available and affordable.”

Clients enjoyed a visit to the Science Centre and then toured the rest of the museum. The dinosaurs were particularly popular and the current “Collectomania” display on the top floor was a fascinating mixture of memorabilia and curiosities.

Do It Club offers Open Minds clients the opportunity to attend recreational retreats and engage in leisure and outdoor activities.

It is an unfunded program so donations are always welcome here. Any financial or in-kind support means a lot to us.

Do It Club major partners:
The Bryan Foundation
English Family Foundation

Open Minds TPCSI works with young people with mental illness or a disability who are leaving care. The Initiative is about linking individual young people to the community to ensure they can access services and supports.

This can include assisting with housing and work as well as other community activities. Our Transition Officers can provide assistance to link with services and information and resources to allow young people to make choices about their future.

The service is tailored to the needs of the individual and is flexible and responsive. The approach aims to significantly enhance the outcomes for young people leaving care with a disability or mental health issue. It assists them to live in stable and safe support arrangements that provide strong foundations for community living.

We currently have four workers based in Ipswich, Logan, South Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

We were joined by former AFL star Richard Champion, who discussed the emotional pressures on sports stars, drawing on experiences during his fourteen year football career.

Richard spoke candidly about the current drug-related scandals that have rocked the sporting world and was able to provide a unique insight into the pressure and expectations that are heaped on young sportsmen and women.
Reflecting on a year of sporting scandal, he commented “Where there’s money, where there’s betting on sport and where there’s pressure on these athletes to compete…. these things are going to happen. The pressure on the athletes is absolutely amazing.”

He went on to discuss some sporting peers who have overcome adversity and some of those pressures. Richard also praised the supports that clubs have in place for their players as well as well as stressing the importance of the support provided by team mates.

Richard answered questions before helping draw our raffle. Great prizes included a signed AFL ball donated by the Lions themselves and a Lions jersey given by Great Expectations. VIP rugby tickets and several bottles of Moet were generously donated by Suncorp.

Open Minds would like to thank Richard, all our volunteers who helped on the night and all those who donated prizes for their support.

More pictures on our Facebook page

A total of $50 000 has been donated to allow us to offer “from Crisis to control” to people leaving hospital.

Our worker assists the individual and their family to manage the complex and diverse range of community services, information, resources and community linkages to enable a more positive transition to home.

We made this little video to say thanks:

“Champs” will be drawing on experiences during his fourteen year football career and subsequent media work.

Today he commented: “The recent controversial news illustrates just how competitive professional sport is these days and the lengths some clubs and individuals will go to in order to get ‘the edge’.  I’m looking forward to sharing some of my thoughts and experiences on the night”.

Open Minds is hosting the evening as a fundraiser for their unfunded programs that assist people living with an acquired brain injury, mental illness or disability.

Tickets are $60 each and include a drink on arrival and canapés throughout the evening with all profits going to Open Minds unfunded projects.

Up for grabs on the night will be an AFL ball signed by the current Lions squad and a signed season 2011 Lions jersey which will be auctioned by Richard Champion.

The night kicks off at 7pm. Bookings can be made here.