MMHA's E-Bulletin: March 2009

Welcome to Multicultural Mental Health Australia’s March 2009 E-Bulletin. This free electronic newsletter, The E-Bulletin, aims to keep you up-to-date with the latest news and information related to the mental health and wellbeing of Australia's culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.

WHAT'S NEW?

1. MMHA Launch: MMHA recently hosted a special event with SBS Radio at the SBS studios in Sydney. During the event, MMHA accepted its new funding from the Department of Health and Ageing. The Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services, the Hon. Laurie Ferguson MP, attended the event on behalf of the Federal Health Minister, Nicola Roxon. He announced the new three year funding agreement and outlined the areas MMHA will be focusing on until June 2011. The Chief Executive from Sydney West Area Health Service, Prof Steven Boyages, accepted the funding and launched MMHA’s new stigma reduction training kit, while the Director of SBS Radio, Paula Masselos, launched MMHA’s new multilingual mental health CDs. MMHA Advocate, Vicki Katsifis, also spoke at the launch by sharing her personal journey of living with bipolar disorder. More than 100 people from across Australia attended the event and MMHA has received extensive interest in its latest resources. (More details about these below). For more information about the new resources, please contact MMHA – 02 9840 3333 or admin@mmha.org.au

2. Boost for Respite Services and Carers: The Australian Government has announced more than $12 million in funding to 35 separate projects to improve and support respite services for carers in every Australian state and territory. The funding, over two and a half years, is part of the National Respite for Carers Program, which is helping more than 600 community-based respite services deliver services in a variety of settings – including carers’ homes, day centres and overnight cottages. This new funding will help organisations offer new or expanded respite services to meet their local needs. The funding is a reflection of the Federal Government’s commitment to improving respite services around the country in response to the needs of our ageing population and their carers.

3. National Perinatal Depression Initiative: The National Perinatal Depression Initiative Working Group has been established to progress the development of the National Perinatal Depression Initiative, which aims to improve prevention and early detection of antenatal and postnatal depression. The Initiative also aims to provide better support and treatment for expectant and new mothers experiencing depression. The Mental Health Council of Australia nominated CALD Consumer, Lily Wu, to sit on the group as a consumer representative. Lily is responsible for raising issues and concerns of women with depression during the perinatal period. Lily has provided valuable input to the Working Group and in the development of the draft Framework by providing a consumer perspective and ensuring that the interests of women with perinatal depression, especially those from CALD backgrounds, are considered. The Working Group is currently finalising a draft Framework for the initiative, which includes the main elements relating to screening services, follow-up support and care for women who are at risk of or experiencing perinatal depression, and information and resources for health professionals.

4. Multicultural Mental Health Project: The Multicultural Mental Health Project has drawn to a close after twelve months of intensive work within five Victorian communities. The five community groups included the Australian Polish Community Services, Victorian Arabic Social Services, Cambodian Community Welfare Centre, Chinese Health Foundation and Macedonian Community Welfare Association. All worked together to raise awareness of mental health within
their communities, and share experiences and ideas. The groups delivered a number of information sessions to their respective communities to raise understand about mental health and how to seek help prior to crisis point. A report about the project is being finalised and will be available soon. It will provide an overview of the project and include a number of recommendations such as the need for more focus on prevention and early intervention in culturally & linguistically appropriate formats, more collaborative work between the mainstream and ethno-specific sectors and a clearer understanding of the role of the ethno-specific media services. For more information, please call the Australian Polish Community Services (APCS) - 03 9689 9170 or email: info@apcs.org.au or visit: www.apcs.org.au

5. Research into Psychogeriatric Disorders: Applications for the Australian Government’s research grants, totalling $2 million, into the care and treatment for psychogeriatric disorders have just closed. The applications are now being administered through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the successful applicants will be announced later this year. Psychogeriatric disorders include psychiatric conditions that predate the ageing process, such as depression or schizophrenia, as well as the various forms of dementia that can result from ageing. This funding aims to further develop understanding of the best treatment and management for people with these disorders. The funding announcement is part of the response to the Report on Residential Care and People with Psychogeriatric Disorders by the Department of Health and Ageing’s Deputy Secretary, Mary Murnane. The Murnane Report is available at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-quality-report-psychogeriatric-disorders.htm. The Government says the research grants and the recommendations from the Murnane Report are important in improving the care and services available to older Australians in residential facilities who have a mental illness. For more information about NHMRC research grants, please visit: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/grants/apply/projects/_files/2009%20-%20Project%20Grant%20Priority%20Areas.pdf

6. Introducing the Queensland African Communities Council Inc: African communities in Queensland have built a strong united voice with the formation of the Queensland African Communities Council Inc (QACC). QACC is an umbrella organisation for Africans in Queensland representing 10 new and emerging African communities. The non-profit, non-governmental and non-political organisation aims to facilitate and support collective development. Over the next two years, QACC will set out to empower, promote and build capacity among African communities; build and maintain effective relationships and partnerships with its communities and stakeholders; and excel in its leadership and governance practices. For more information please contact Sharon Malebogo Orapeleng - sharonO@eccq.com.au or 07 3844 9166.

7. International Observatory on Mental Health Systems: The Centre for International Mental Health at the University of Melbourne recently launched the International Observatory on Mental Health Systems - A mental health systems research and capacity development network. The two main key goals of the Observatory are to produce new knowledge to inform the development of mental health systems that are effective, accessible, culturally appropriate and affordable to ensure the rights of people with mental illness are protected as well as monitor and evaluate progress in the development of mental health systems in low and middle-income countries. The Observatory will foster the establishment of a vibrant mental health systems research and capacity development network, particularly in low and middle-income countries, and will produce evidence for policy and practice that is generated in low and middle-income countries. Journal papers will be preferentially published in the International Journal of Mental Health Systems. The Observatory will begin its work in Asia and the Pacific, and will extend to other world regions as it develops the resources to do so. The International Observatory on Mental Health Systems (IOMHS) is an initiative of the Centre for International Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population Health at the University of Melbourne. For more information, please call the Centre for International Mental Health – 03 8344 0908.

PUBLICATIONS/RESOURCES:

1. MMHA’s new multilingual mental health CDs: MMHA has recently launched its new series of multilingual mental health CDs. These are an adaptation of the What Is series on multilingual mental health fact sheets. The audio series has been created to help people from CALD backgrounds with low literacy levels gain a better understanding of mental illness and learn where to go for help. The audio series was produced in partnership with SBS Radio and covers 10 topics including information on schizophrenia, depression, eating disorders, suicide, mental illness and heart disease, and challenging behaviours. The CDs are available in 21 languages including Amharic, Arabic, Assyrian, Croatian, Dari, Dinka, English, Farsi, Greek, Italian, Khmer, Korean, Krio, Macedonian, Mandarin, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Swahili, Turkish, Vietnamese. These are available for free for consumers and carers, but MMHA is charging a minimal fee for organisations. Please call MMHA - 02 9840 3333 or visit http://www.mmha.org.au for an order form.

2. MMHA’s new stigma reduction training kit: Stepping Out of the Shadows: MMHA has also launched its new stigma reduction training kit: Stepping Out of the Shadows. This resource is a new training package that has been developed for CALD community workers to educate their communities about mental health and help reduce stigma towards mental illness. It contains additional resources including a DVD and bilingual mental health fact sheets. The training package aims to reduce stigma and help individuals, families and communities from CALD backgrounds deal with mental illness. The training kit also aims to build a greater awareness of mental illness, raise acceptance of mental illness as another illness, dispel myths and misunderstanding, and assist families and encourage them to seek the help required. MMHA has already piloted the training kit nationally through a team of Expert Trainers and is currently collecting expressions of interests from those around the country who wish to gain training.  If you will like to be involved in the roll-out of this training package, please call MMHA – 02 9840 3333.

3. Synergy Edition 1, 2009: Golden Years – out soon: The first edition of Synergy for 2009 is titled: Golden Years. It explores the issues surrounding mental health amongst older people from CALD backgrounds. While elderly people have to contend with cognitive impairment and physical frailty, some also face mental disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder. This edition aims to raise awareness of geriatric psychiatry and eliminate the stigma of mental illness amongst older people populations. It also aims to promote healthy aging strategies and increase access to quality mental healthcare. It will be available soon. If you are not currently on the MMHA mailing list to receive this free publication – please sign up: http://www.mmha.org.au/contact/mailinglist-form. If you wish to contribute to the next edition, please contact MMHA – 02 9840 3333 or email admin@mmha.org.au

4. African Communities Speak Out: The African Communities Speak Out report titled: “Making Our Voices Heard” was recently launched by the Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, The Hon Carmel Zollo MLC, at the Annual General Meeting for the Migrant Resource Centre in South Australia. The report follows a consultation with leaders and members from South Australia's diverse African communities who met last year to identify and discuss their shared issues, concerns and aspirations. These included education, employment and training, housing, health, family relationships, identity and integration, law and the police, leadership and governance, migration and family reunion, participation and social inclusion, and the rights and protection of children, youth and women. The forum was hosted by the African Communities Council of SA (ACCSA) and the Migrant Resource Centre of SA (MRCSA) and its findings have since been included in this report. “Making Our Voices Heard” provides a valuable blueprint for policy makers and service providers involved in the planning and delivery of services to African and other refugee and newly arrived communities. For more information or to obtain a copy of the report, contact Martin Maya at the ACCSA - 08 8217 9520 or Matti Spellacy at the MRCSA - 08 8217 9510.

5. World Mental Health Day 2009: The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) has announced the theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day. “Mental Health in Primary Care: Enhancing Treatment and Promoting Mental Health” is the theme for 2009. This follows the 2008 campaign of making mental health a global priority. Last year, the WFMH called for services to be scaled up through citizen advocacy and action. Further information on this year’s theme will be released by the WFMH soon. If you would like to be on the mailing list to receive the 2009 WMHDAY CD, please send your full mailing address to wmhday@wfmh.com 

6. Perceptions of dementia in ethnic communities: This new resource kit outlines perceptions of dementia in Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Greek, Italian, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese communities. Alzheimer’s Australia Victoria received funding from Allens Arthur Robinson to develop the kit, which aims to assist organisations working with people from CALD backgrounds to better understand their clients and develop appropriate services to assist them. The kit consists of individual community profiles and information about the perceptions of dementia, diagnosis and treatment, the role of the family and attitudes to residential care. To obtain a copy of these resources or for more information, please call Alzheimer's Australia Victoria - 03 9815 7800.

7. The 8th Edition of the Way Ahead Directory: The 8th Edition of the Way Ahead Directory, produced by the Mental Health Association NSW, is now available on CD Rom. The directory is a valuable time-saving resource for any individual or practitioner needing to make referrals, it will assist anyone working in the mental health field to make the most appropriate and useful referrals for clients. It is also a valuable addition to libraries. The directory also includes other useful information, including introductions to the Office of the Public Guardian and Protective Commissioner, a helpful guide to acronyms and jargon, details of the important Acts of Parliament that mental health workers, consumers and carers need to be aware of, and much more. It also contains up-to-date information on more than 2,000 mental health services across NSW. You can download an order form from their website at: http://www.mentalhealth.asn.au/resources/way_ahead_p.htm

EVENTS/TRAINING/RESEARCH:

1. Supporting Older People from CALD Backgrounds Who Have Experienced Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing is hosting two workshops across 23-24 March on PTSD in older people from CALD backgrounds. The workshops both aim to help health staff recognise and manage symptoms of trauma in older people from CALD backgrounds. Participants will develop an understanding of how the effects of torture and trauma can create barriers to appropriate care. They will learn ways to overcome these barriers. The guest speakers at these workshops are Jan Mantell from the Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors, WA and Sheryl Stone - Multicultural Aged Care Service from WA. The workshop on Monday 23 March from 1-430pm is for managers of aged care services and care coordinators. Meanwhile, the workshop on Tuesday 24 March begins at 10am-12pm and is for allied health service managers and staff. Both workshops are being held at Melbourne University in Hawthorn, Melbourne. For more information, please contact the Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing - 03 8823 7900 or visit http://www.culturaldiversity.com.au

2. The 2009 Celebration of African Cultures: This event is hosted by the Somali Welfare & Cultural Association, Granville Multicultural Community Centre Inc and the African Women’s Group NSW. It aims to embrace and celebrate the wide ranging diversity of African cultural groups through a celebration of music, dance, market stalls, arts, crafts and sports from the many different African cultures that make up our community. The Celebration of African Cultures will be held on Saturday 4 April at Auburn Park on Macquarie Road, Auburn in Western Sydney. For more information please email Fatma Isir: somaliwelfare@hotmail.com
 
3. Points of Departure National Forum: The Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (MCWH) is hosting this forum to discuss national issues affecting immigrant and refugee women, and for participants to contribute to the development of an Advocacy Toolkit. The MCWH is an organisation that is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of immigrant women, including refugee and asylum seekers, around Australia. It is hoping its forum will help build knowledge and capacity among NGOs and individuals around Australia to advocate on key issues relevant and specific to immigrant and refugee women. About 100 stakeholders from relevant organisations/agencies from across Australia are expected to attend this event on Wednesday 8 April 2009 at the Richmond Town Hall on 333 Bridge Rd, Richmond in Melbourne. For more information please contact the National Project and Advocacy Officer, Pauline Gwatirisa - email: pauline@mcwh.com.au or 03 9418 0915

4. Culturally Inclusive Assessment in Aged Care Workshop: The Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing is hosting this workshop, which will provide an overview of assessment tools specifically designed to ensure culturally appropriate assessment practices as well as an overview of findings from relevant research. This workshop is designed to stimulate discussions among practitioners concerned with specific issues when assessing clients from CALD backgrounds and to identify culturally appropriate aged care assessment principles and practices. Guest speakers include Freda Vransidis from the National Ageing Research Institute at Melbourne University and Karen Teshuva from the Lincoln Centre for Research on Ageing at La Trobe University. This event will be held on Friday 24 April, 10am-1pm at Monash University – Level 7, 30 Collins St, Melbourne. For more information, please contact the Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing - 03 8823 7900 or visit http://www.culturaldiversity.com.au

5. Country Health SA Mental Health Participation Framework: Country Health SA is seeking people with a lived experience of mental illness and carers to attend a two day workshop on Consumer and Carer Participation to develop the CHSA Mental Health Participation Framework. A workshop is being held in South Australia facilitated by well-respected and internationally recognised consultant and educator in recovery based practice in mental health, with lived experience of mental illness, Helen Glover. The aim of the workshop is to develop a Country Health SA Consumer and Carer Participation Framework, which includes an implementation plan with clear actions and associated timelines. Travel, meals and accommodation costs will be covered, but places are limited. If you are interested in taking part, please forward a written expression of interest explaining: Why are you interested in participating in the forum? What would you like to see achieved by the forum. What networks do you have or are a part of. What do you feel are your skills and experiences relevant to the work of the forum? Consumers and carers are encouraged to apply. MMHA is encouraging consumers and carers from CALD backgrounds to attend this event. Organisers of this event are seeking input from a broad cross-section of people from country South Australia to attend this two-day workshop from 28-29 April 2009 in Mclaren Vale, South Australia. 

Applications must be forwarded to Bronwyn Ryan by March 23rd 2009:
Bronwyn Ryan
Hospital Road
Port Augusta SA 5700
Email: Bronwyn.ryan@saugov.sa.gov.au

6. Post Natal Depression in CALD communities: The Post and Ante Natal Depression Association, PANDA, is undertaking research to identify agencies that work with women from CALD backgrounds living with post natal depression. PANDA is aiming to analyse service delivery and to make recommendations on how to improve services. The three objectives of the research are to: identify existing services that currently work with women with PND from CALD backgrounds, identify key service gaps relevant to women with PND from CALD backgrounds and identify pathways to improve access to PND services for women with PND from CALD backgrounds and their families. If you wish to assist PANDA in its study please contact Asra Kassem - 03 9481 3377 or email: Asra@panda.org.au

7. NIRWA Mentoring Program: The Network of Immigrant and Refugee Women of Australia (NIRWA) is an independent body that seeks to advocate for immigrant and refugee women at the national level by working to achieve cultural, social, economic, educational and sexual equality for immigrant and refugee women living in Australia. NIRWA is currently running a national mentoring program until May 2009. The program aims to develop and strengthen the advocacy voice of young immigrant and refugee women in Australia. It is open to any overseas or Australian-born young women (30 years of age and under) from CALD backgrounds. For further information please email: nirwa@ywca.org.au

8. Respite Services for Families Affected by Mental Illness: The Respite Services Program at Schizophrenia Fellowship NSW in Ashfield, NSW is conducting a qualitative research project into Chinese-speaking families and carers. The project aims to investigate cultural perceptions of mental illness and the community’s access and experience of using mental health services. The researchers aim is to speak with the Chinese community on ways which mental health providers can improve their services. To achieve this, interviews and focus groups will be conducted with Chinese-speaking families and carers, mental health experts who have worked closely with carers from CALD backgrounds, religious and spiritual leaders, and other prominent community leaders. For further enquires and to express interest in participating, please contact Herbert Fung from Schizophrenia Fellowship NSW - 02 9716 4404 or 0488297327.

CONFERENCES:

1. Queensland Alliance 2009 Conference: Altering States - Reforming the System. Sofitel Hotel, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. 25-26 June2009: This conference is a follow up from the Altering States, Creating Futures Conference in 2007 where there was a lively and passionate debate on the mental health system for the 21st Century. During this conference, participants created a vision of how the mental health system should look by 2020. This year organisers of the Altering States Conference are inviting people to discuss how to achieve this 2020 Vision. The 2009 conference will explore a number of themes including social inclusion and human rights, and system reform.  For more information, please visit http://www.qldalliance.org.au or call 03 9349 2220.

2. The 10th International Mental Health Conference. Holiday Inn, Surfers Paradise, QLD, Australia. 12-14 August 2009: This conference aims to review the accumulated knowledge and clinical wisdom over the past 10 years for the High Prevalence Disorders - anxiety conditions, mood disorders and substance abuse, and will canvass future developments in treatment approaches for these conditions. The conference theme is: ‘Looking Back -Moving Forward’. Experts from Australia, New Zealand and overseas have been invited to attend including representatives from non-government organisations, public and private health services, nurses, psychologists, GPs, counsellors, psychiatrists, carers and patient advocate groups. For more details about this conference, please call 07 5528 2501 or visit http://www.anzmh.asn.au/Conference9

3. The 2nd International Unity in Diversity Conference. Rydges Southbank Townsville Hotel & Convention Centre, QLD, Australia. 12-14 August 2009: This is the second International Unity in Diversity Conference, which will continue the deliberations of the success of last year’s conference. A panel of experts have been invited to explore the potential benefits of diversity and to develop a unified cohesive approach to address the current global crisis. This conference will also explore how cultural diversity can be seen as a key platform to the Government’s Social Inclusion Policy. Topics of discussion include mental health issues facing immigrants and children from CALD backgrounds, migrant settlement services and the Australian skills shortage. For more details, please call 07 4772 4800 or visit http://www.unityindiversityconference.com 

4. The 1st Australasian Refugee Health Conference. Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre, Western Australia. 1-2 September 2009: This conference aims to improve participants’ understanding of complex refugee health needs. It will cover a number of topics such as tropical diseases, tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C, refugee child health, vitamin D deficiency and other nutritional issues. It will also discuss working across cultures, the effective use of interpreters and explore cultural belief systems about health, treatment and management. It will bring together the expertise of leading health and mental health practitioners who specialise in refugee health, as well as refugee community providers, researchers, policy makers and ethnic community representatives. Keynote speakers include Australian paediatrician, Prof Kim Mulholland, the Director of the Health in Human Diversity Unit at the University of Adelaide, Dr Jill Benson,  Dr Anthony Marsella and Professorial Fellow at the University of Western Australia and former politician, Prof Carmen Lawrence. For more information about this conference please call 02 9810 8700 or visit http://www.health.wa.gov.au/mentalhealth/events/refugee_health.cfm

5. The 19th Annual TheMHS Conference. Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre, Western Australia. 1-4 September 2009: This is an international mental health educational forum, which aims to attract over 1000 mental health clinicians, managers, consumers, carers, families, researchers, educators and policy makers. This conference will link concepts of the interrelatedness of individuals, families and communities, providing connections which can strengthen and support mental health and wellbeing. Streams within the conference include networks, relationships and partnerships to improve mental health and wellbeing in our communities; inclusion, sense of place, connection and drawing together; speaking out, renewal, recovery and hope, and moving forward in policy directions, clinical practice and service provision. For more details, please visit http://www.themhs.org or call 02 9810 8700.

6. The 3rd WA Transcultural Mental Health Conference. Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre, Western Australia. 2-4 September 2009: This conference promises to provide the opportunity to hear from a range of experts across the areas of refugee health, general mental health service delivery and transcultural mental health. It aims to share and explore innovations in holistic management of mental healthcare; inform policy makers about how to best design and develop a mental health service for an increasing multicultural population; broaden our knowledge about the availability and accessibility of mental health resources to pass on to CALD consumers and carers, and highlight proven and effective strategies for culturally appropriate community development and engagement for promoting mental health. For more details about this conference, please call 02 9810 8700 or visit: http://www.health.wa.gov.au/mentalhealth/events/transcultural.cfm

7. World Congress of the World Federation for Mental Health. Hilton Hotel, Athens, Greece. 2-6 September 2009: The theme for Congress 2009 is "Working Together for Mental Health" and it aims to provide numerous opportunities for participants to gain new information and skills, to strengthen current networks and build new ones, to share their own knowledge and experiences and to become actively engaged in the global mental health movement. It will also aim to review the impact of The Lancet Series on Global Mental Health as well as host a special symposia and plenary session to introduce the 2009 World Mental Health Day global awareness campaign. For further details, please visit http://www.wmhc2009.com

8. World Congress: "Hearing Voices". Maastricht, Holland. 17-18 September 2009: INTERVOICE, the international association responsible for promoting the interests of people who hear voices, has decided to hold this World Congress in September 2009 to bring together people concerned with hearing voices to exchange information and ideas. The themes for this conference are experiences, research, training and practice. Organisers of this event are also hoping to bring together the families and friends of people who hear voices, as well as academics, those who have conducted clinical and social research on the relationship between trauma and hearing voices and those who have developed training programs and courses on hearing voices. For more details please email Paul Baker: admin@intervoiceonline.org or visit http://www.intervoiceonline.org

9. FECCA Conference 2009 - Strengthening Multiculturalism & Building Social Inclusion. Eastbank Centre, Shepparton, VIC, Australia. 29-30 October 2009: FECCA’s 2009 biennial conference will provide a platform to explore a number of themes, share ideas and develop policies through plenary addresses, panel discussions and breakout session papers, presentations and workshops. The conference streams include social inclusion and multiculturalism; regional settlement; interfaith, economic participation and skills; refugee and migrant women; health, aged care and disability; environment and the arts; and youth, sport and recreation. FECCA is currently calling for abstracts. The deadline is 1 July 2009.  For more information, visit: http://www.fecca.org.au/PDF/Shepparton_call_for_papers.pdf

WHAT’S ONLINE:

1. Mental Health TV - A World-First: A new internet channel, mentalympians.tv, has just gone live. mentalympians.tv is the brainchild of Canadian-born Australian mental health advocate, Keith Mahar, who has been involved in local, national and international mental health initiatives. This is a world-first new community media initiative giving people with a mental illness the chance to watch and create multi-media content worldwide. By hosting a broad range of internet content, stories, film, research and other material, mentalympians.tv aims to raise awareness of recovery, inspire hope and reduce self-stigma and social isolation. People can watch material, interact with peers and post their own stories to demonstrate the resilience, creativity, intelligence and humanity possessed by people with mental illness. Visit http://www.mentalympians.tv

2. Migrants Should Never be Pushed Apart, Expert Warns: The online edition of the Age Newspaper in Melbourne features an article on Canadian researcher Morton Beiser during his recent visit to Australia. Morton Beiser is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and founding director of a research centre for immigration and settlement issues. During his visit, Prof Beiser expressed how close-knit ethnic communities should be seen as sources of social and emotional support for new migrants, not examples of their poor integration with mainstream society. He said the help new migrants and refugees get from flocking to groups of the same ethnicity was vital to their long-term mental health and settlement needs. He added that there is a definite mental health advantage to having a like ethnic community available. Prof Beiser also expressed that it was concerning that migrants and refugees in regional or rural areas may not have access to such critical support networks. He urged governments to consider the health and wellbeing implications of any push to encourage migrants to settle remotely. For a full copy of this article, please visit: http://www.theage.com.au/national/migrants-should-never-be-pushed-apart-expert-warns-20080912-4fj6.html

3. Towards a New National Women's Health Policy: The Rudd Government has released a paper outlining the aims of a new National Women's Health Policy. The new Policy will be set in-line with international developments and the Government's Social Inclusion Agenda. The National Women's Health Policy will emphasise prevention, health inequalities in our society, and the social determinants of those health inequalities. It will aim to address the varied needs of all women of all ages including women from CALD backgrounds and refugees, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women in rural and remote areas, and women from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Government has identified that in order to address the health issues and risk factors faced by women from CALD backgrounds, health services and preventive programs and strategies need to take account of the diversity of cultural and ethnic backgrounds and need to be culturally and linguistically appropriate. The Government will undertake consultations with consumers, the community, health service providers, and State and Territory governments to make sure that its new Policy builds on the successes of the previous National Women's Health Policy and meets the varied needs of all Australian women.
For more information, including links to the background paper: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/Publishing.nsf/Content/phd-women-policy#cultural

4. Engaging Refugee and Migrant Young People Around Mental Health: Exploring Strategies That Work: The Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) has published a latest report from its recent Statewide Multicultural Youth Issues Network meeting, which was held in partnership with Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities (ADEC). Over 80 people attended the forum to discuss mental health issues facing refugee and migrant young people. The forum provided an opportunity for mental health service providers, youth and settlement workers, as well as other interested groups to come together to explore what can and does work in regards to engaging refugee and migrant young people around mental health. The guest speakers at this event included Clinical Psychologist and Research & Education Consultant at the Victorian Transcultural Psychiatry Unit (VTPU), Yvonne Stolk; VTPU’s Consumer Advocate, Evan Bichara; Derek Wilson, Abraha Mamo Gebremariam and Damian Mason from the Footscray Youth Housing Group; and Poni Tongun, Alyssa Blamey and Carla Vanlaar from the Community Capacity Building Team at Western Melbourne Headspace. Highlights from their speeches are captured in this report on the CMY website - http://www.cmy.net.au/Assets/475/1/ForumReport_SMYIN_MentalHealth_161008.pdf

5. MIGHEALTHNET: The Queen Mary University of London recently launched its new website on good practice in healthcare for migrants and minorities. MIGHEALTHNET provides professionals, policy makers, researchers, educators and representatives of migrant and minority groups easy access to an evolving body of knowledge and a virtual network of expertise in the field of migrant health. This website can be drawn upon when trying to develop good practices, and aims to help healthcare services meet the challenge of providing adequate care to increasingly multicultural European populations. The new site features general information on migration and health, good practice and centres of expertise; as well as specific documentation of specific migrant and minority groups such as African migrants, Middle Eastern migrants, Asian migrants, traveller communities and others. The UK MIGHEALTHNET website is http://www.mighealth.net/uk

6. Home-to-School Transitions for Financially Disadvantaged Children: Final Report 2008, The Smith Family, Sydney, NSW: The Smith Family has published its report investigating the transition from home to school for financially disadvantaged children. The report identifies how school readiness is predictive of later life outcomes, whereby children who are less 'ready' are less likely to excel academically and are more likely to have behavioural and emotional problems. This report focuses on the role of families, schools and communities as facilitators and inhibitors during this transition, and also looks at issues affecting children from CALD backgrounds. The findings from this research may be used to guide future interventions to reduce the gap between financially disadvantaged and non-financially disadvantaged children in school readiness, achievement and adjustment. A full copy of the report can be downloaded from http://www.thesmithfamily.com.au/webdata/resources/files/HometoSchool_FullReport_WEB.pdf

7. Documenting Our Presence: Multicultural Experiences of Mental Illness: The National Alliance on Mental Illness New Jersey in the USA (NAMI NJ) has produced a documentary titled "Documenting Our Presence: Multicultural Experiences of Mental Illness”. This documentary looks at the experiences of people of CALD backgrounds living with a serious mental illness. It traces their lives through a cultural lens, focusing on the onset of mental illness, the process of coping and acceptance, and their journey to recovery. All these stories are linked together in segments that flow naturally through the video and bookmark the various stages along the journey towards wellness and recovery. This documentary was produced as a NAMI NJ Multicultural Outreach Initiative with the support of the National Alliance of Mental Illness and NJ Division of Mental Health Services. The mission of NAMI NJ Multicultural Programs is to improve the lives of people from all cultures who are affected by mental illness through support, education and advocacy. To view a trailer of the documentary, please visit: http://www.naminj.org/programs/mo/Documenting_Our_Presence.htm

8. Integration of Mental Health in Primary Care - A Global Perspective: This is a joint report released by the World Health Organization and the World Organization of Family Doctors. Drawing on both the latest evidence and on in-depth analysis of 12 case examples of successful integration, the report highlights 10 broad principles to guide countries in their efforts to successfully integrate mental health into primary care. This report identifies that integrating mental health services into primary care is the most viable way of ensuring people have access to the mental healthcare they need. It outlines how people can access mental health services closer to their homes, thus keeping their families together and maintaining their daily activities. The report states that mental health services delivered in primary care helps minimise stigma and discrimination, and removes the risk of human rights violations that occur in psychiatric hospitals. This report reveals that integrating mental health services into primary care generates good health outcomes at reasonable costs. It also features a chapter about the integrated mental health care for older people in general practices of inner-city Sydney.  To download a copy of the report, please visit: http://www.who.int/mental_health/policy/Mental%20health%20+%20primary%20care-%20final%20low-res%20120109.pdf

9. Issues in cross-cultural psychological assessment published on behalf of the Australian Psychological Society. Australian Psychologist, Volume 44 Issue 1 2009: The journal, Australian Psychologist, has released a special edition on Issues in Cross-Cultural Psychological Assessment, which is now available online. This edition was an outcome of the conference of the same name, convened by the Victorian Transcultural Psychiatry Unit in 2008. This edition is also a tribute to the late A/Prof Steven Klimidis, who played a key role in convening the conference and initiating this special edition. The edition features a paper by Yvonne Stolk from the VTPU titled: Approaches to the Influence of Culture and Language on Cognitive Assessment Instruments: The Australian Context and an article by Ida Kaplan from the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture titled: Effects of Trauma and the Refugee Experience on Psychological Assessment Processes and Interpretation. This edition is available online at http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=g907749141~db=all