

30 November 2021
Learning from Adversity
Bushfires, COVID and the lessons for mental health reform

Day One, 7 September 2021
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9.00am | Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country
Angus Clelland — CEO Mental Health Victoria
Sophie Scott — MC, National Medical Reporter ABC
9:10am | Welcoming Address
The Hon. James Merlino — Minister for Mental Health
9:40am | Keynote Address
Prof Patrick McGorry AO — Executive Director Orygen, Ambassador Mental Health Victoria
10:10am | Morning tea break
10:25am | Panel: Creating genuine partnerships
Community and clinical mental health service providers share practical tips and insights into how to deliver services through genuine partnership models.
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Sandra Keppich-Arnold — Director of Operations Mental and Addiction Health, Alfred Health
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Damian Ferrie — CEO Star Health
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Gill Callister PSM — CEO MIND
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Chris Vanstone — Chief Innovation Officer, TACSI
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Deb Carlon — Lived Experience Supervision Project Lead Centre for Mental Health Learning Victoria
11:10am | Showcase series: Incorporating lived experience
Rapid-fire presentations on the successful implementation of peer work models of care.
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Dr Louise Byrne — Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow RMIT
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David Butt — NCEO GROW
11:40am | Lunch break
12:25pm | Panel: Integrating across domains
Leaders from intersecting sectors discuss the barriers and enablers to integration with the new community model of mental health.
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Sarah Fordyce — State Manager National Disability Service
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Chris Hynan — Manager Victorian Dual Diagnosis Initiative
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Jenny Smith — CEO Council to Homeless Persons
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Dr Karen Price — President Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
1:10pm | Showcase series: Integrated models of care
Rapid-fire presentations on the successful implementation of integrated models of care.
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Patrick Lawrence — CEO First Step
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Jocelyn Bignold OAM — CEO McAuley Community Services for Women
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Charlotte Jones — General Manager Mental Health Legal Centre
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Clare Groves — Managing Director Clarity Healthcare
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Caroline Crosse AM — Director Innovation Mental Health and Employment WISE Employment
2:25pm | Afternoon tea break
2:40pm | Panel: Staffing community services
Professional associations discuss the needs, hopes and challenges in developing a workforce to deliver services in the new community model.
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Dr Kerryn Rubin — Deputy Chair Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, VicBranch
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Zena Burgess — CEO Australian Psychological Society
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Jade Chandler — Mental Health Nursing Officer Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, Victorian Branch
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Cindy Smith — CEO Australian Association of Social Workers
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Lyn English AM — Mental Health Consumer Advocate and Consultant
3:25pm | Fireside chat: Spotlight on the Aboriginal workforce
NSW Mental Health Deputy Commissioner Tom Brideson shares insights into growing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce.
3:55pm | Close
Day Two, 14 September 2021
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9.00am | Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country
Larissa Taylor — Deputy CEO Policy, Advocacy and Communications Mental Health Victoria
Sophie Scott — MC, National Medical Reporter ABC
9:10am | Keynote Address
Craig Wallace — CEO Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council Inc
9:40am | Reform implementation update
Katherine Whetton, Deputy Secretary for Mental Health in the Department of Health and Human Services, provides an update on the Department 's progress in implementing the Royal Commission's reforms
10:10am | Morning tea break
10:30am | Panel: Embedding safety and inclusivity
Peak body leaders discuss how to strengthen cultural safety and inclusivity across the new community model.
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Jackson Fairchild — Head of Policy and Programs Rainbow Health Victoria
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Mischa Barr — Policy and Health Promotion Manager Women's Health Victoria
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Rashmi Kumar — Executive Officer Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria
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Sheree Lowe — Executive Director Social and Emotional Wellbeing Centre of Excellence (VACCHO)
11:15am | Fireside chat: Spotlight on intersectionality
Adele Murdolo (Executive Director Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health) shares practical tips to operationalise intersectionality in service reform.
11:45am | Showcase series: Incorporating lived experience
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Belinda Caldwell — CEO Eating Disorders Victoria
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Rose Cuff — Executive Director Satellite Foundation
12:15pm | Launch of MHV/La Trobe University research project on recovery orientated practice and the NDIS
12:30pm | Lunch break
1:30pm | Panel: Providing crisis supports
Experts discuss ideas on how the new community model could respond to people in crisis.
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Wayne Gatt — Secretary the Police Association Victoria
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A/Prof Mick Stephenson — CEO Ambulance Victoria
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Tom Dalton — CEO Neami National
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Fran Timmins — Director of Nursing St Vincent's Mental Health
2:15pm | Fireside chat: Spotlight on suicide prevention and response
Simon Pont (Director Quality Systems and Practice Suicide Prevention Australia) on what suicide prevention and response could look like in the new model.
2:45pm | Afternoon tea break
3:00pm | Panel: Orienting towards recovery
Sector leaders recall conversations across the Symposium and look at how the new community model of care can ensure all the considerations line up with the ultimate goal of supporting the recovery of consumers.
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Nicole Bartholomeusz — Chief Executive cohealth
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Nikki Wynne — Director of Services Wellways
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Neil Turton Lane — NDIS Manager Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council
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Marie Piu — CEO Tandem
3:45pm | Closing Address
MC Sophie Scott summarises key learnings and issues identified throughout the Symposium.
4:00pm | Close