Community Sector News

Diabetes Awareness Day

Don’t miss out on the Fremantle Dockers open training session as part of National Diabetes Week on Tuesday 10 July, where you can meet the players and learn more about diabetes! Players will sign autographs following the training session and Diabetes WA ambassador Michael Johnson will also be there to meet and greet fans. There’s lots of fun to be had on the day, you will be able to sample some free healthy snacks, assess your diabetes risk, be entertained by Aboriginal dance group “Halo”, see art demonstrations and much more! Get down to the Fremantle Oval from 9am to 11am to join in on the action.

The Act-Belong-Commit Awards 2012

In 2011 Mentally Healthy WA initiated the Act-Belong-Commit Awards to showcase Western Australian people and organisations that epitomise the ‘Act-Belong-Commit’ way of life—and to celebrate their mentally healthy achievements.
The Awards were enthusiastically received with over 40 nominations across five categories. Mentally Healthy WA is hosting the Act-Belong-Commit Awards again in 2012.
The winners will be announced by the Hon. Helen Morton, MLC, Minister for Mental Health and Disability Services at a sundowner event on Wednesday 10th October 2012.
For full details of the Categories and Eligibility and Assessment Criteria please download our guidelines HERE
Entries open on 16th July 2012 and close at 4.00pm on 24th August 2012
Nomination forms will be available on the Act-Belong-Commit website soon!
If you would like to receive email updates about the Awards please email info@actbelongcommit.org.au . You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the subject heading "Awards Subscribe"
If you are interested in being a prize sponsor for the Awards please phone Sarah Graham on (08) 9266 4648

Black Diamond with a Difference

This year Lifeline WA invites you to step into the Roaring Twenties, Great Gatsby style, for the Black Diamond Supper Club! Dine with a difference as your champagne saucer is filled and the chefs overflow your tables with an abundance of mouth-watering fare. Be seduced onto the dance floor with live jazz sensations reminiscent of supper clubs’ enigmatic beginnings. End the evening in the Diamond Cocktail Lounge, sipping on a 1920s ‘Sidecar’.
Saturday August 25 2012 | Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre | Tickets $225, Diamond Package $3750
Head to www.blackdiamondsupperclub.com.au for further details.

What Is A Mental Health Care Plan?

If you are having trouble with your mental wellbeing – feeling depressed, anxious, depressed or troubled by intrusive thoughts and flashbacks, assessing a mental health care plan might be for you.
Medicare now offers a rebate for some mental health practitioners such as clinical psychologists and social workers. Depending on the practitioner and your income, the rebate covers most or sometimes all of the cost.
So what do I have to do?
1. Establish contact with your GP
First make an appointment to see your general practitioner (GP). It is advised that you see a GP you already have a relationship with. If you don’t have an existing relationship with a GP you may want to search for medical practises in the white pages and calling one in your area.
2. Check eligibility and agree on a mental health care plan
The GP will then assess whether a care plan is suitable for your needs and what other options may be useful. The GP will record your agreement to the service, take a relevant history that includes a mental health assessment, identify if there are any safety concerns, and provide you with a diagnosis or formulation. The GP will then prepare the Mental Health Care plan where you jointly agree on your goals, the referral and treatment options, and what actions you need to take.
3. Consult with mental health practitioner
You can now start consulting your mental health practitioner and work towards your goals. Your GP will only refer you to practitioners who are fully qualified and, depending on your plan, appropriate to work with you. It’s common for the practitioner to report back to your GP after the first six sessions.
4. Mental health care review
Between four weeks to six months after you first agree to your mental health care plan, your GP will review your progress with you. Based on your review and the mental health practitioner’s recommendations, additional appointments with the practitioner can be approved by the GP. The maximum number of appointments per client is now 10 per year.
Source: S.A. Health Promotions Unit
Please Note: Contact your GP, Psychologist or Psychiatrist for more details

Better for You, Better for your Patients

From July 2012, a patient can choose to register for a personally controlled electronic health record.
If you would like more information or to sign up and receive regular updates visit:
www.ehealth.gov.au

Speakers Bureau Program

Health Consumers Council WA (Inc)
Guest Speakers Available! HCC has volunteer speakers available (in metro and WA Country areas) to provide information sessions on:
- Using WA's Health system
- Your rights and responsibilities as a health consumer
- Where to go if you are having difficulties using the health system
- The Health Consumers’ Council, its services and activities
- How you can get involved
Information sessions last approximately ¾ hour with the opportunity for questions. If you are interested in hosting an information session and improving community health through increased health system literacy, contact Caroline Rugdee on 9221 3422 or caroline.rugdee@hconc.org.au . For further information regarding the information sessions, click here.
HCC’s Speakers Bureau call for Speakers!
The Health Consumers Council is looking for suitable individuals to take part in the Speakers Bureau Programme.
Free volunteer and public speaking training available to successful applicants on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th July 2012.
Further information regarding the volunteer position and how to apply can be found in the Call for Speakers Factsheet and applications can be made by completing the Speakers Expressions of Interest Form. To secure your place for the training, please complete the form and send it back to us, or for further information, contact Caroline Rugdee at 9221 3422 or caroline.rugdee@hconc.org.au

Indigenous Community Volunteers: Join the Fun!

As Indigenous Community Volunteers (ICV) enters its twelfth year of operation, volunteers are still playing a crucial role in closing the gap on disadvantage in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
ICV is a registered charity with a unique community development model which relies on volunteers to help build capacity and strengthen relationships in Indigenous communities. To meet increasing requests for help from communities, more local volunteers are needed across regional Australia.
ICV matches volunteers to community development projects close to home. This builds successful and ongoing relationships which means positive, lasting change for the communities we work with. At ICV volunteers are our greatest asset, and their dedication, time, passion and belief in reconciliation is making a real difference to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Indigenous Community Volunteers is seeking volunteers to join our team. If you are interested in working with a local community and playing a role in grass roots reconciliation, contact our nationalToll Free number: 1800 819 542. For further details see www.icv.com.au

The Wireless Hill Centenary 2012

The Wireless Hill Centenary is a significant historical event celebrating 100 years of wireless telecommunications. The Wireless Hill station was the first station opened in Australia and is now the only surviving station of its kind. Activities on the day of the Centenary event will include music, displays of telecommunications memorabilia, vintage car displays, children’s traditional games and craft activities, animal farmyard and pony rides, bush poets, indigenous activities and much more
The event details are:
EVENT:                         2012 Wireless Hill Centenary
DATE:                           Sunday September 30th 2012
VENUE:                         Wireless Hill Park, Telefunken Drive, Ardross
EVENT TIME:                12.00nn to 5.00pm

Expressions of interest are open for those who may be interested in fundraising with a stall. Please download EOI form here.

A Volunteer Opportunity – Home Visitor
Shenton Park

The Future Living Trust is currently seeking a friendly, caring, and dependable volunteer to visit John who in his early 60’s and has a mild intellectual disability.
Visits are bi-monthly, for about 1 hour, to check on his general wellbeing.
John enjoys coffee and exchanging friendly conversation.
No experience is required although a desire to help people with a disability is needed.
Full training, support and insurance are provided with
$20 paid towards travel expenses for each visit.
For more information please contact Erica Salih at Future Living Trust on 9387 0575 or Email: info@futureliving.org.au Web: www.futureliving.org.au