COVID-19 information
For multilingual information about COVID-19 and maintaining your mental health during the pandemic visit our COVID-19 and mental wellbeing - Resources for CALD communities webpage here.
Family experiences supporting people with mental health challenges during COVID-19 in Australia
The National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF) and Monash University are seeking participants to participate in a survey about understanding family experiences supporting people with mental health challenges during COVID-19 in Australia. The survey is available online, and will take around 30 to 45 minutes to complete. All mental health carers are welcome including those from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, diverse cultural backgrounds, LGBTIQA+ community, young and aging carers, and those in rural and regional areas. The research will be used to inform a report to the National Mental Health Commission, policy advice to governments, non-government organisations and peak bodies and further future projects relating to the health of mental health family carers. Click here for more information and to participate in the survey.
Welcome to the new Multicultural Youth COVID-19 Ambassadors 2022
Research has shown that young people have been significantly socially and economically impacted by COVID-19. The Multicultural Health Communication Service (MCHS) is supporting young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds through the co-design of a COVID-19 social media campaign. This social media campaign will showcase videos co-produced with the youth ambassadors on platforms that are relatable and engaging to a diverse range of young people from multicultural backgrounds.
The Multicultural Youth COVID-19 Ambassadors Project is co-led by MHCS and the NSW Ministry of Health, and supported by Multicultural NSW and the NSW Department of Customer Service.
For further information about the project visit the Multicultural Youth COVID-19 Ambassadors Project webpage.
Emergency Relief for Newcomers
Settlement Services International (SSI) has been funded by Multicultural NSW to provide emergency relief and caseworker support to vulnerable Temporary Visa Holders, who are not eligible for Commonwealth Government income support, during the COVID-19 pandemic. SSI can provide limited financial assistance for essential needs such as rent and utilities, food, health, telecommunications and transport.
Download a flyer about this service here (PDF 319.4KB)
Visit the SSI website to complete an enquiry form
NSW Humanitarian Awards
The NSW Humanitarian Awards are your chance to nominate someone who deserves to be recognised for their excellent work supporting refugees, in whatever field they are working. Every year STARTTS holds the Humanitarian Awards to acknowledge and thank those people who have made an exceptional positive contribution towards refugee issues in NSW. Individuals and organisations in various fields who are doing outstanding work to support refugees are eligible for the Awards. The award ceremony is held at the launch of Refugee Week in June each year. Nominations for the awards close 31 May 2022.
For more information and to make a nomination click here.
TheMHS Awards now open!
The Mental Health Service (TheMHS) Awards of Australia and New Zealand recognise innovation, research excellence, best practice and lived experience leadership in mental health services. They also aim to reduce stigma by acknowledging responsible media reporting of mental health issues and encourage others to promote the importance of mental health and wellbeing. Awards are presented in six categories: Early Career Research Awards; Exceptional Contribution Award; Media Journalism Awards; Service and Program Awards; Tom Trauer Evaluation and Research Award and Wellbeing in the Workplace Award. Award winners are honoured at a prestigious ceremony each year, as part of TheMHS Annual Conference.
For more information and to apply for the awards visit the TheMHS website. Applications close 18 May 2022.
New TMHC multilingual resources now available!
The Transcultural Mental Health Centre (TMHC) is excited to announce the release of our new translated wellbeing booklets. These booklets have been translated into a number of emerging community languages, and we warmly thank community members who contributed to their development. We hope these resources will be of benefit to you and your community.
The new translated resources now available are:
A practical guide about: A good night’s sleep in Burmese (PDF 740.6KB), English (PDF 642.8KB), Farsi (PDF 595.1KB), Nepali (PDF 651.3KB), Swahili (PDF 665.8KB), Tamil (PDF 652.2KB) and Tibetan (PDF 636.5KB).
A practical guide about: Stress and stress management in Burmese (PDF 774.8KB), English (PDF 607.3KB), Nepali (PDF 657.3KB), Swahili (PDF 625KB), Tamil (PDF 667.7KB) and Tibetan (PDF 650.6KB).
For more information about these new resources click here.
Mental Health Carers and the Mental Health Act
Mental Health Carers NSW has been asked by the NSW Ministry of Health to produce new material to inform mental health carers of their roles, rights, and responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 2007 (NSW), and in relation to the Mental Health Review Tribunal. The first stage of this project is to collect information on how carers are informed about the Mental Health Act. Mental Health Carers NSW is interested in finding out the experience of carers when the person they care for is taken to hospital and provided with treatment without their consent.
If you are a carer of someone who has been an involuntary consumer of mental health services within the last five years, you are invited to complete a survey based on your knowledge about what, and how, information was provided to you. Those who take the survey will go into the draw to win a $50 e-gift card! Click here to complete the survey.
Join the BEING – Mental Health Consumers CALD Communities Advisory Committee
The BEING Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Communities Advisory Committee is looking for new members who identify as being part of Cultural and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities and live in NSW. The committee is open to people who live with mental health issues (consumers) and who are actively engaged with their community. Previous experience participating in committee work is desirable though not essential. This is a paid opportunity.
This newly established committee will share community perspectives and provide input to assist us with our broader policy and advocacy work as well as other programs, some of which include: BEING Leadership Academy, BEING Lived Experience Network and BEING Suicide Support and Awareness Program.
For more information or to apply, please click here. Applications Close 2 May 2022.
Bereavement during COVID-19
Researchers at the University of Technology Sydney are inviting Australian transcultural health workers to take part in a research study that explores the experiences and support needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations bereaved from any cause during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are an Australian transcultural health worker who has supported someone who has experienced a death from any cause during 2020, the researchers would like to hear from you. Participation involves a 30-minute interview or focus group. The researchers hope to use this information to help develop a national plan for bereavement support during the COVID-19 pandemic and any future pandemics. For further information, please contact the project manager Dr. Serra Ivynian (Serra.Ivynian@uts.edu.au) or the project lead Professor Liz Lobb (Liz.Lobb@health.nsw.gov.au)
National Consumers Art Competition
The Mental Health Foundation Australia (MHFA) is calling for entries for its National Consumer Art Competition 2022. The theme for this year’s competition is Resilience and Mental Health. Entry is open to all mental health consumers/service users living in Australia. Artwork can be in any format, be it painting, drawing, mosaic, photo, computerised image or other art medium. Winning artwork will be selected by a panel of judges for virtual showcase at the Mental Health Month Launch in each state on the 1st of October 2022. Open to all members of the community. The winning artist in each state will be awarded with prize money of $500 and a trophy. Applications close 31 July 2022.
For more information and to submit an entry click here.
Ramadan Mubarak - Wishing you a COVID safe, peaceful and holy month
NSW Health is urging everyone to stay COVID safe during Ramadan. When you go to a place of worship, wear a mask if you can't physically distance from others. Stay home if you are unwell and take a COVID-19 test and encourage family and friends to stay home if they are sick. Stay connected with your family and friends online if you are unwell. Remember during Ramadan it is safe to get the COVID-19 vaccine and booster while fasting. Download information about staying safe during Ramadan in Arabic, Bangla, Bosnian, Burmese, Dari, English, Farsi, Hazaragi, Indonesian, Somali, Swahili, Turkish and Urdu.
Multicultural Health Week 2022 Community Engagement Grants
The Multicultural Health Communication Service (MHCS) is inviting Expressions of Interest for the Multicultural Health Week 2022 Community Engagement Grants.
Multicultural Health Week will be celebrated in September 20022 and the theme for this year is cancer screening. Small grants of up to $1,500 are being offered to local health districts and non-government/community organisations to support community engagement activities with CALD communities that focus on increasing knowledge of and confidence in participating in cancer screening. Click here for more information and to apply for a grant.
Call for participants - Mental health workforce research
ORIMA Research is currently conducting research commissioned by the National Mental Health Commission (NMHC) to understand the things that mental health professionals need to know and do to provide the best possible care to people of all cultures.
ORIMA is looking to speak with people with a range of cultural backgrounds who have experience using mental health and wellbeing services. Participation in this research involves a small group discussion of up to 1.5 hours or a one-on-one interview of up to 1 hour. Participants will be reimbursed for their time.
Click here for more information about participating in this research. (DOCX 7.3MB)
Supporting Communities Impacted by the Invasion of Ukraine
Many people from Ukrainian and Eastern European communities in Australia, including both newly arrived refugees and longstanding communities, may experience stress, anxiety and other mental health issues following the recent invasion of Ukraine. To assist service providers in better understanding and meeting the mental health needs of communities impacted by the invasion of Ukraine, the Transcultural Mental Health Centre (TMHC) has developed an online resource 'Supporting Communities Impacted by the Invasion of Ukraine'.
Access 'Supporting Communities Impacted by the Invasion of Ukraine' here.
Download a flyer about the resource here (PDF 236.5KB)
International Women's Day: The Mental Health Reformers
Women who have led the way in mental health reform across NSW over the past 50 years have been recognised in a new book released by the Mental Health Commission of NSW to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March 2022.
As Catherine Lourey, Mental Health Commissioner of NSW said of the book “It’s full of individuals who broke down dual biases. They faced the bias and discrimination of being a woman, but also of working to reform and change the stigma and discrimination which plague mental health.”
The reformers featured in the book come from all walks of life, with unique experiences that fuelled their mental health advocacy and reform efforts. Among the many admirable women featured in the book is our own Transcultural Mental Health Centre Manager, Maria Cassaniti.
For more information and to view and download the book click here.
Floodwater can make you sick
NSW Health is warning the community that floodwater can make you sick. Floodwater can have sewage, chemicals and rubbish that can cause serious illness and injury. Never swim in floodwater. Protect yourself when cleaning up after and wear masks, boots and gloves. Wash your hands with soap and water after contact with flood water to prevent disease. Download social media tiles about flood water in your language here.
If you have any health concerns and need language support, call TIS 131 450 and ask for Health Direct (1800 022 222).
Calling all Australian men! Research into Men's Mental Health During COVID-19
The Australian Men’s Health Forum and Western Sydney University would like to hear from Australian men about their experiences of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers are particularly interested to hear about the experiences of men who are fathers and/or family providers. The researchers
are currently looking for participants 18yrs and older to complete in an online survey and an online interview.
For more information about the study and to participate click here.
Youth Mental Health Nursing Workforce Needs Assessment
Orygen Youth Mental Health Australia is conducting a needs assessment for the youth mental health nursing workforce. The needs assessment aims to explore the workforce development needs of Mental Health (MH) nurses. It also provides an opportunity to contribute to the development of a strategy for the MH nursing workface with the aim of increasing skills, knowledge and identity of MH nurses working with young people in Australia. There are two surveys, one aimed at nurse leaders/senior clinicians and one aimed at clinicians, feel free to complete both surveys if you are a clinician and are in a leadership role. The survey closes 18 March 2022.
Complete the survey here
Celebrate Lunar New Year in a COVID safe way
We would like to wish you and your family a happy and prosperous Lunar New Year!
NSW Health is encourging everyone to celebrate Lunar New Year in a COVID safe way. Ensure that you wear a mask wherever it is required and check in with the Service NSW app when it is required. If you are unwell, stay home, and celebrate with your loved ones virtually. Get tested if you have symptoms, even if mild, and if you are full vaccinated. Get your booster if you are eligible to protect you and your family against COVID-19.
For more information visit the NSW Health website.
Download this information in Chinese-Simplified (简体中文), Chinese-Traditional (繁體中文), English, Indonesian (bahasa), Japanese (日本語), Korean (한국어), Lao (ພາສາລາວ), Thai (ภาษาไทย) or Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt Nam).
Gambling support for NSW’s culturally diverse communities expanded!
Gambling support for NSW’s culturally diverse communities have now been expanded to reach more people. The Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) is now working with GambleAware to step up counselling and support services for people experiencing gambling harm across NSW’s culturally diverse communities.
The Transcultural Mental Health Centre (TMHC) has been tasked with upskilling existing counsellors around cultural competency and how to deliver services to different cultures, as well as stepping in to provide in-language support themselves where gaps occur.
For more information about this expanded service visit the SBS News website.
For immediate support please visit the GambleAware website or call 1800 858 858
Survey on Marriage Payments and Associated Abuses
Researchers from Western Sydney University and Deakin University are conducting an online survey aimed at investigating the nature of marriage payment and its overall impact on domestic violence, mental health and quality of life among Middle Eastern, African and South Asian immigrants in Australia. Participation in this study will help generate critical knowledge of marriage practices, and will inform policies and actions to promote stronger marital relationships, mental health and quality of life.
Eligibility criteria:
- Middle Eastern, African and South Asian immigrants in Australia (permanent residents or citizens)
- 18 years or older
- Ever been married (currently married or have previously been married)
The survey will take approximately 45 minutes to complete and is open until 28 February 2022. Click here for more information and to complete the survey.
Translations of s77 Rights of Appeal Form
The Rights of Appeal Form under section 77 of the Mental Health Act informs patients of their rights after the Mental Health Review Tribunal orders them to be detained, following either a mental health inquiry, or after a breach of a community treatment order.
The Form has been translated into fifteen community languages: Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Greek, Italian, Hindi, Spanish, Korean, Tagalog, Nepali, Punjabi, Bengali, Persian and Indonesian.
Download the translations here.
Go to News for 2021