NDIS Transition Leaving People With Severe Mental Illness Behind
A report recently released by Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA) highlights some of the difficulties and barriers which are being experienced by people with a psychosocial disability in applying for the NDIS. MHACA is one of two organisations in the Northern Territory that have contributed data to the research being conducted by CMHA in conjunction
Mental Health Worker of the Year
MHACA has been busy celebrating 2018 Mental Health Week. A highlight this year was recognition of the wonderful contribution Kath Broadbent has made to the mental health sector over many years. She was awarded Mental Health Worker of the Year by the Hon. Vicki OHalloran, Administrator of the Northern Territory at Government House on the
Join us for World Suicide Prevention Day
Come and visit us at the Town Council Lawns on the 12th of September for World Suicide Prevention Day. Help us promote this important event by downloading the flyer.
Day to Day Living December/January 2017/2018 Calendar
Calendar December 2017-January 2018
October 2017 D2DL Calendar!
Calendar October 2017
AUGUST 2017 DaytoDayLiving Calendar OUT NOW
Calendar August 2017 Check out what is on at MHACA this month, Participant planning day August 9th.
June 2017 D2DL Calendar OUT NOW!!
check out what’s new at MHACA! lots of activities including Drama, Gardening and crafts! Calendar June 2017
February D2DL Calendar Out Now!
Check out the February Calendar jam packed with fun things to do. As usual, please book into activities at least one week in advance where possible. D2DL Calendar February 2017
Forming new habits
Do you make New Years resolutions? Statistics show that although 75% of New Years resolutions are kept for the first week of January and less than half make it through the first 6 months. Let’s talk about this topic during at our regular Tuesday talk. Helpful or harmful? You make the call! Are you interested
Carer Burnout!
The busy holiday period is over, which usually means it’s time that when burnout hits us. During this live chat we look at the warning signs of burn out and explores ways manage it.
Ending the Stigma of Mental Health Illnesses.
It is just a mental illness – I can help you understand….
Suicide Story wins the NT Fitzgerald Human Rights Award for Social Change
Our Suicide Story program was honoured to receive The Northern Territory Fitzgerald Human Rights award for Social Change last week in Darwin. We would like to extend a big thanks to the officials and judges for acknowledging the program with this prestigious award, among so many incredible nominations. We are very proud of ‘Suicide Story – Our
Launch of Watchful Eyes painting by Akeyulerre Healing Centre
We were very happy to have the ladies from the Akeyulerre Healing Centre visit yesterday, to celebrate the launch of a beautiful painting called “Watchful Eyes.” “Watchful Eyes” was commissioned by MHACA to celebrate Mental Health Week in 2016, and sponsored by a grant from the Northern Territory Government Community Benefit Fund. This painting was created by Margaret Turner, Patricia
Rosie Batty visits MHACA
We were very pleased to host Rosie Batty, domestic violence campaigner and the 2015 Australian of the Year, on Tuesday 8 November. Participants and staff were thrilled to hear Rosie speak and draw parallels with our own work to support victims of domestic violence. “Personal safety is vital to good mental health” according to our CEO Sabine Wedemeyer. A person
Stress Less in the Park – a fun morning out in Mental Health Week 2016
‘Stress Less in the Park’ was a fabulous morning celebrating Mental Health Week on the Alice Springs Hospital Lawns on Friday 14 October. The atmosphere was fantastic – everyone was smiling and soaking up the sunshine and the CAAMA live broadcast. The feedback from the public was really positive, and there was the best attendance from
Beautiful exhibits from The Art of Our Healing
The Art of Our Healing was an exhibition by participants of the Mental Health Association of Central Australia to celebrate Mental Health Week from 9-15 October 2016. Mental Health Week is Australia’s way of raising community awareness about mental health and celebrates World Mental Health Day which falls on 10 October every year. It’s a chance
Day to Day Living November 2016 Calendar Released!
MHACA offers a fantastic range of activities as part of our Day to Day Living program. Click on the calendar link below to see what’s on offer in November 2016. D2DL November 2016 Calendar Please contact us on 8950 4600 for further information, or if you would like to attend an activity.
New Mental Health Tenancy Support Program
MHACA is excited to announce a new program with a focus on supporting participants to obtain and maintain secure housing. The program emphasises a client centred approach with an aim to deliver a holistic and tailored plan for the individual. Along with the new program we also welcome the two new Tenancy Support Workers who
Media Release: The Art of Our Healing
There’s something more than just art and craft happening in the art groups on Thursdays at the Mental Health Association of Central Australia. For the past four months, participants of MHACA have sat together in the Drop in Centre on Lindsay Avenue creating art for an exhibition. Tender hands have lovingly crafted felt, papier mâché,
Day to Day Living October 2016 Calendar Released!
MHACA offers a fantastic range of activities as part of our Day to Day Living program. Click on the calendar link below to see what’s on offer in October 2016. D2DL October 2016 Calendar Please contact us on 8950 4600 for further information, or if you would like to attend an activity.
Olympic festivities at MHACA
Our Day to Day Living Program and Drop In Centre were buzzing through August with a special atmosphere celebrating personal achievement and cultural diversity, coinciding with the Olympic Games. We kicked off the festival with a pancake breakfast on the 5th August, where the MHACA Olympic torch was lit. Thanks to Mike our Training Co-ordinator
MHACA – a Finalist in the 2016 Telstra Business Awards
MHACA are thrilled to have been nominated and recognised as a finalist in the Inaugural Charity Category of the Telstra Business Awards. Entering its 24th year, the Telstra Business awards celebrate the contributions and achievements of the small and medium business sector. In 2016, a new category for Charities has been added to recognise the
MHACA is now Open for Business
We’re pleased to announce that our Day to Day Living activities and the Drop In Centre will resume normal opening hours – 8:30am to 3:00pm – from Monday 25 July. Please continue to use the rear entrance to the building while the front half of our building undergoes repairs over the next 8 to 10
MHACA Beanie wins at Alice Springs Beanie Festival 2016
CONGRATULATIONS To our Participants and Staff on winning the Inaugural Nancy Hall Mad Cap Prize at the 2016 Alice Springs Beanie Festival! Thanks to Jude Mapleson for guiding us to our win.
MHACA staff complete Certificate IV in Mental Health
Congratulations to our staff – Sharon Harris, Shannon Toombs, Samantha Alampi, Be Ward, Daniel Tavai and Mike Cassidy – for successfully completing Certificate IV in Mental Health at Charles Darwin University. At MHACA we are committed to excellence and proudly support staff and participants to achieve their goals and aspirations. Pictured below are Ashesh Patel
Changed services at MHACA due to Storm Damage
Our premises have suffered damage from the storms that hit Alice Springs on Friday 17th June 2016. MHACA continues to offer limited services as a result. From Wednesday 29th June MHACA will open its Day to Day Living activities and Drop In Centre at its premises from 9am to 2pm Monday to Friday. Our Support
Schizophrenia Awareness Week Wellness Walk
Some shots of our Wellness Walk on Sunday 22 May 2016. We had about 80 people walk with us. Thank You all for your support.
MHACA Awarded Gold Mental Health First Aid Skilled Workplace Accreditation!
MHACA has been awarded a Gold badge for the Small Workplaces category, for having maintained a ratio of 40% of staff with a current Mental Health First Aid Certificate! We’re proud to report that currently 16 of our 21 staff have completed Mental Health First Aid in the last three years.
MHACA delivers a Suicide Story Workshop in Tennant Creek
Suicide Story was delivered in Tennant Creek earlier this year. A record number of people completed the program, with 24 people receiving certificates of attainment. Everyone who participated in this workshop found it to be worthwhile. According to Tennant Creek based Facilitator Valda Shannon ‘It really lit my fire being at this workshop among my
International Women’s Day – Tuesday 8 March
MHACA attended a fantastic International Women’s Fair Day event on the Alice Springs Hospital Lawns on Tuesday 8 March. An initiative of Tangentyere Council and the Alice Springs Women’s Shelter for International Women’s Day, the fair celebrated the talents and hard work of women from Alice Springs and town camp communities. The MHACA stall asked
NT Police learn about MHACA’s Suicide Bereavement Service during February and March 2016
Around 55 Northern Territory Police Officers attended mandatory information sessions about MHACA’s StandBy Response service over a period of five weeks in Alice Springs recently. Sessions were supported by MHACA staff talking about mental health first aid, StandBy Response team members sharing their experiences and Headspace School Support providing additional information about their role in
SANE (Australia) Bereavement and Mental Illness Workshop
MHACA is pleased to announce that we will be hosting the Bereavement and Mental Illness Workshop that SANE is delivering across Australia, here in Alice Springs on Thursday 19 May 2016. The workshop is aimed at providing participants with knowledge and skills to better support family and friends of people with mental illness who have
New Mental Health Training Dates for 2016
MHACA will once again be offering a range of accredited, targeted and bespoke training courses to organisations, professionals and community members. Please click on the calendar link to see what training is available for 2016. MHACA External Training Calendar Please contact us for further information or to register for one of the above programs.
MHACA participants feature in the Centralian Advocate
MHACA held a range of events during the week of 5-10 October to celebrate Mental Health Week. We were very fortunate to take up several opportunities to promote Mental Health Week in the local media, with three of MHACA’s participants speaking to the Centralian Advocate about their personal experiences. MHACA CEO Paul Tomaszewski was also
Mental Health Week 2015: Media Release
MEDIA RELEASE MENTAL HEALTH WEEK 2015 October 4th to 10th is Mental Health Week. In fact, October is designated as Mental Health Month. This years’ theme for Mental Health Week is “Mental Health Begins With Me” with three objectives – to reduce stigma, encourage help seeking behaviour and foster connectivity in communities. “This is a
MHACA Annual Report 2013/4
Earlier this month MHACA held its Annual General Meeting and released the 2013/4 Annual Report. It was a busy year for MHACA and you can read all about what we have been up to here.MHACA Annual Report 2013-4