9th Australian Rural and Remote Mental Health Symposium
We warmly welcome you to Albury, NSW from Wednesday 11 – Friday 13 October 2017 for the 9th Australian Rural & Remote Mental Health Symposium. This year our theme will be Impacts & Outcomes, Putting People First. The symposium is designed for consumers, carers, clinicians, managers and all those working in rural mental health. It is applicable to those from Primary Health Networks, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health, non-government organisations, government health services and private providers. It is a great conference to establish and develop links across these service types and work together to advance rural mental health.
The National Mental Health Commission, in its review, recognised the importance of rural mental health with 6.9 million (29%) Australians living in remote, rural and regional communities. The number of Australians experiencing mental health problems in rural and remote areas is comparable to that in Sydney and Melbourne combined. However, rural and remote communities face challenges with limited access to support services, and high suicide rates.
Anxiety, depression, stress, grief and other mental health problems can often occur with many rural communities being affected by environmental threats and economic downturn. In recent years we have endured severe drought, flooding, bushfires and cyclones, which puts stress on rural and regional farming and business communities.
Thanks to the work of this Symposium, its delegates, and the National Alliance for Rural and Remote Mental Health the profile and the importance of rural mental health is receiving more recognition than ever. The anticipated establishment of a Rural Health Commissioner offers further opportunities to influence and improve the mental health of rural communities.
With the launch of the 5th National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan, the Equally Well National Consensus Statement on the physical health of people living with mental illness, and the roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the Symposium presents and invaluable opportunity to learn, network and collaborate as we seek to understand and apply these initiatives into rural mental health practice.
This year we will examine new and innovative approaches to care, recovery oriented practice, ageing communities, meaningful consumer and carer participation, current academic research, service integration, capacity-building, suicide prevention, physical health and mental illness, E-mental health and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing.
The symposium will include keynote speakers, concurrent sessions and workshops that develop skills related specifically to the mental health needs of our rural and remote communities, and ways to effectively prepare mental health and other rural human service professionals to meet future challenges.
The symposium last year was our best ever: high quality presentations and great comradery. The symposium has developed in the premier rural mental health meeting in Australia. This year’s two day symposium will be held at the Commercial Club, Albury, with optional half day of workshops on Wednesday 11 October. On behalf of the organising committee we invite you to join with us and be part of this great event in Albury, NSW.
Sincerely
Associate Prof Russell Roberts
Charles Sturt University
Symposium Chair.
What you will gain from the Symposium
- Be exposed to new and innovating ideas and ways of thinking
- Network with your peers and leaders in their fields
- Be inspired
- by an optimistic, action orientated group of people
- by profound and positive speakers
- Learn key skills needed for ensuring the future
- Learn how to make a positive difference
The 9th Australian Rural & Remote Mental Health Symposium is an initiative of The Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association, a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation.
2016 Symposium
The 2016 symposium wrapped up with a moving speech by Susan Moylan-Coombs the Founder and Director of The Gaimaragal Group. Susan spoke about The Lurking Variable and what we can learn from the oldest surviving living culture on the planet. She talked about the philosophies and teaching of Australia’s First Peoples and the connection and wellbeing for all Australians – in particular the link between mind, body and soul.
Susan’s presentation was preceded by Scientia Professor Helen Christensen discussing suicide prevention and David Butt CEO of the National Rural Health Alliance. Delegates at the conference were also involved in the consultation process of the Fifth National Mental Health Plan with a presentation by David McGrath and Q&A opportunity.
The symposium involved three days of workshops, feature speakers, panels and session presentations. Feedback by delegates was extremely positive regarding presentations and speakers, especially our Keynotes which also included Dr Vahid Saberi, CEO North Coast Primary Health Network; Professor Nickolai Titov from the MindSpot Clinic; Professor Jane Farmer from Swinburne University; Alison Fairleigh Area Manager, Mental Illness Fellowship; and Associate Professor Philip Ward, University of NSW.
Delegates had beautiful warm weather and relaxed surroundings at the Mantra on Salt at Kingscliff, very conducive to positive networking. The Symposium Advisory Committee is looking forward to seeing everyone again in 2017.
The Program Committee would like to thank the featured speakers:
- Mr David Butt, Chief Executive Officer, National Rural Health Alliance, (Immediate past Chief Executive of the National Mental Health Commission)
- Scientia Professor Helen Christensen, Director & Chief Scientist, Black Dog Institute, Chair, Centre of Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention
- Professor Jane Farmer, Research Professor of Health & Social Innovation, Deputy Director, Centre for Social Impact, Swinburne University, Melbourne
- Ms Alison Fairleigh, Area Manager, Mental Illness Fellowship NQ Inc
- Mr David McGrath, Principal, David McGrath Consulting
- Ms Susan Moylan-Coombs, Founder and Director, The Gaimaragal Group
- Dr Vahid Saberi, Chief Executive Officer; North Coast PHN, Adjunct Professor, School of Health & Human Science, Southern Cross University, Senior Research Fellow, Sydney University
- Professor Nick Titov, Professorial Fellow, Project Director, MindSpot Clinic, Macquarie University
- Associate Professor Philip Ward, Associate Professor, School of Psychiatry, University of NSW
Sponsors & Exhibitors 2016
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