Commissioner's update
On 14 April I hosted the much anticipated inaugural meeting of the Queensland Mental Health and Drug Advisory Council in Brisbane.
Our first meeting was a great success and a fantastic beginning for the Council, who were very enthusiastic about meeting and shaping the program of work ahead.
We discussed and agreed a shared vision and talked about practical solutions that will make a positive impact to people living with and recovering from mental health and substance use difficulties, their families and carers.
We also talked about the work of the Commission to date, the role of the Council going forward and had initial discussions around the direction of the whole-of-government strategic plan.
We are meeting again on 12 May, where we’ll be focusing on the elements of the strategic plan.
In the month ahead, I will continue meeting with agency heads and other key stakeholders as we finalise the strategic plan. The proposed elements of the plan are included in my presentation to senior mental health leaders on 29 April.
This month I also visited Emerald to continue discussions around how to improve access to mental health services in rural Queensland.
I met with people working in all areas of the sector including public, private and non-government.
It was a good opportunity for local people to get together and discuss how, as a community, they could work together and make the best use of their combined skills and resources.
My visit to Emerald has also contributed to the ongoing work program that began with the Ministerial Roundtable held in Charleville in March to discuss the impact of the drought.
Work on this rural and remote mental health agenda continues to progress, with the Commission taking the lead on co-ordinating the work being undertaken in this area.
Until next time.
Lesley van Schoubroeck
Queensland Mental Health Commissioner
Youth Week 2014
The theme of National Youth Week this year was ‘our voice, our impact’.
Commissioner Dr Lesley van Schoubroeck visited headspace Inala where she was presented with a piece of artwork which was developed during a consultation with young people in December 2013.
Two reviews announced
Commissioner Dr Lesley van Schoubroeck recently announced two new reviews that are being undertaken on behalf of the Queensland Mental Health Commission.
The University of Queensland’s Institute for Social Science Research has been appointed to complete a review of social housing for individuals with complex needs, including mental health and substance misuse and the University of Melbourne has been appointed to undertake a review of locked wards.
Read more about the review of social housing
Read more about the review of locked wards
TheMHS conference 2014
Join the discussion in 2014 at one of Australasia’s longest running and premier mental health conferences from 26-29 August in Perth.
Keynote speakers include Dr Pat Bracken, Clinical Director of the Mental Health Service in West Cork, Ireland and Melody Riefer, Senior Associate and Director in Training at Pat Deegan, PhD & Associates
Visit www.themhs.org for more information
QMHC joins Twitter
The Queensland Mental Health Commission has joined Twitter.
We’ll be tweeting:
- media releases and statements from the Commission
- events and consultations
- our latest news as it happens.
Follow us on Twitter @Qld_MHC
New appointment to QMHC
The Queensland Mental Health Commission has recently appointed Carmel Ybarlucea in the role of Executive Director.
In her role as Executive Director, Carmel will be responsible for strategy, policy and research.
Carmel brings extensive expertise in justice, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and whole-of-government policy and strategy in a wide range of areas including alcohol reform, economic participation and funding reform.
Carmel has worked in the community legal sector, Legal Aid Queensland and more recently in the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs.
