The Disability Information and Resource Centre

A  NATIONAL voice for families

MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL

Expressions of interest are invited from parents, families and carers interested in exercising a leadership role on the National Council of the National Federation of Parents Families and Carers.

This National Council is the key policy-making body for the Federation. The Federation has an ambitious agenda for 2010 in creating a national voice for families in public life, with campaigns in health, education, social support and privacy legislation reform. Additional members of the Council are sought to help drive this agenda.

The Federation’s interests cover many areas which are usually treated as segmented fields. Expressions of interest are invited from people who have strong interests in at least some of the following areas:

• Early years
  ·         Child care
  ·         Education and school
  ·         Work and family
  ·         Stay-at-home supports
  ·      Disability
  ·      Mental illness
  ·      Learning difficulties
  ·      Behavioural issues
  ·      Youth support
  ·      Alcohol and drug issues
  ·      Sole and separated parents
  ·         Blended and step families
  ·         Chronic and acute illness
  ·         Senior years

Expressions of interest should include:

Personal and professional history (please attach a CV).
Previous and current involvements in advocacy on family and family member issues.
Evidence of skills in advocacy, initiative-taking, public speaking, community organisation or policy work.
Names and contact details for two referees.

Applicants should be capable in using online communications, since membership of this Council is dispersed around Australia.

Register your Expression of Interest at www.civilsociety.org.au/NationalCouncilEOI.htm

Please forward expressions of interest to:

Vern Hughes
Secretary
0425 722 890
vern@civilsociety.org.au

PO Box 159 Yarraville Vic 3013

Go to our website at www.civilsociety.org.au/NFPFC_membership.htm to join the National Federation of Parents, Families and Carers. There is no cost.

For immediate release   16 June 2009

SANE Australia today launches a new website – itsallright.org – to support the half a million Australian teenagers affected by mental illness in their family.

Executive Director of SANE Australia Barbara Hocking says, ‘this is often the untold story of mental illness – the impact on teenagers who have a brother, sister or parent with a mental illness such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar or an anxiety disorder.

‘These teenagers are a high risk group – they’re not only managing the confusion and powerlessness of a family member’s mental illness but, without support, are also more likely to experience mental illness themselves. This can be a vicious circle that can be difficult to escape. Many may feel they are the only ones this is happening to and that they cannot ask for help.’

itsallright.org aims break this cycle by giving control back to teenagers through information and reassurance. The website centres on the stories of four teenagers, told through online diary entries, who have a family member with a mental illness. The website also provides factsheets and podcasts about mental illness and treatment as well as an online helpline for teenagers to ask their own questions or seek support.

Ms Hocking says, ‘itsallright.org aims to help these teenagers regain control and feel less isolated. The website was built specifically for teenagers and has been designed to help them access the information they want, in a format they want.’

A recent study* by the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that one in five Australians had a mental disorder within a one-year period, leading SANE to estimate that half a million teenagers are managing the impact of the mental illness of a brother, sister or parent every year.

The impact on teenagers with mental illness in the family can be profound: often leaving them feeling distressed and isolated. They often experience confusion, loneliness, shame, embarrassment, or guilt. Their home life may be impacted by poverty, periods of homelessness or the hospitalisation for their relative.

Features of itsallright.org:

• A key feature of the service is the stories of four teenagers with a family member affected by mental illness: Sarah, Rani, Jenna and Brett. The characters are based on the real-life experience of teenagers who helped create the site.
• An online helpline for teenagers to ask questions about mental illness and related topics
• Factsheets on everything from antidepressants to suicide prevention, cannabis and psychosis; family support to treatment and recovery
• Podcasts which provide information about the full range of mental health problems and treatment.

* National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of Results, 2007 (Australian Bureau of Statistics)

Siblings Australia will host the conference at Adelaide University on 18-20  November 2009.

The focus of the conference will be on creating connections to ensure quality sibling support now and into the future, and is for anyone interested in families of children / adults with special needs – providers, researchers, policy makers and families themselves.

For submission details for presentations and to register your interest in attending go to www.sapmea.asn.au/siblings09