NEWSLETTER
Issue No . 1
December 2015
Mentis Assist acknowledges that we provide our services on the land of the Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. The Boon Wurrung are the traditional
owners and caretakers of these lands and we pay our respect to them.
Inside this
Issue
Mentis Assist up
and Running
CEO Message
NDIS Update
Getting through
Christmas
Peer Workforce
Participants Advisory Group
(PAG)
Important Dates
Important Numbers
MENTIS ASSIST UP AND RUNNING
Mentis Assist launched its new identi- reception area also has a new design and
signage.
ty in August 2015. Some may now
ask, Peninsula Support Services, Who?
So seamless it appears that the change
of identity has happened. At a successful launch, Peninsula Support Services
officially announced its new name and
identity to staff, PAG members and service providers at Manyung Gallery in Mt.
Eliza. On display was Mentis Assist’s
new user-friendly website, brochures
and promotional material and each person received a ‘goodie bag’ to take
home filled with a sample of our marketing material.
We are very proud of our new name,
Mentis Assist, and identity which will provide us with the opportunity to reinvigorate our brand, especially with the impending implementation of the National
Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) .
While this is an exciting time for Mentis
Assist, it is important to remember that
nothing else about the organisation will
change. Our purpose, vision, services,
staff and location at 23-25 Yuilles Road
Mornington, will all remain the same.
We can also be contacted on our new
If you visit our Mornington office, you
may think you have come to the wrong number 1300 MENTIS (1300 636 847) or
visit our website www.mentisassist.org.au
place because our office frontage has
also received a facelift with new branding, and it doesn’t stop there. Once you
walk inside, you will notice the
www.mentisassist.org.au
MESSAGE FROM MENTIS ASSIST CEO
Terry Palioportas
2015 was another exciting year with Peninsula
Support Services undergoing a major rebranding
exercise to change its name to Mentis Assist.
As part of this change, the Board felt it was also an
opportune time to transfer its company status
from an Incorporated Association to a Company
Limited by Guarantee which was a decision passed
at a special resolution meeting held in May this
year, where all existing members were invited to
attend.
While this was underway, it was business as usual
at Mentis Assist, having introduced a Peer Workforce and being actively involved in the establishment of a regional mental health ‘Peer Workforce
Hub’ located at Mentis Assist, 19 Yuilles Road,
Mornington. The hub provides mental health
peer workers from across our catchment, a place
to network with each other and provides a
platform for sector development and reform opportunities.
Mentis Assist is also a signatory to the Creating
Safety, Equality and Respect in our Community; a
catchment wide strategy to prevent violence
against women and their children, focussing on primary prevention.
Preparation for the rollout of the National Disability
Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has been a focus of the
past year ensuring Mentis Assist is ready for the
changes that will come with its implementation.
The start date for the Peninsula region now being
April 2018 has allowed more time to bed down organisational changes.
Thank you again to all our staff, volunteers, clients,
members and everyone associated with Mentis Assist for their ongoing support throughout the year
and I look forward to sharing new opportunities
with the Mentis Assist community in the coming
year.
I would like to wish everyone; their families, friends
and loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a happy
and successful 2016.
Terry Palioportas
CEO
NDIS UPDATE
Recently, the Government announced that the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will be rolled out in the
Frankston Mornington Peninsula catchment area from April 1st 2018. Although this is more than two years away, Mentis Assist is already preparing for the transition to the NDIS to ensure a smooth transition as possible for clients, carers
and the organisation.
Over the next 12 months the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has committed to consider how mental illness is treated within the NDIS and we expect to hear more on this as time progresses.
“The sharing of ones
lived experience in
order to enhance anothers recovery journey is one of the
most rewarding
things you can do”
(Peer Support Worker)
GETTING THROUGH CHRISTMAS
Self-Help Workbook. Christmas is a happy time for many, but sadly it can also
be a difficult time, particularly for those who suffer from a mental illness. To
help ease the many emotions that Christmas brings, Indigo Daya has produced a
self-help work book to help you get through Christmas. In her workbook, Indigo
says “ I used to find Christmas very difficult myself. People singing about peace
and joy just made me want to scream because inside my head was more like a
war zone. ….. I discovered that I wasn’t alone.” Indigo Daya’s workbook can be
downloaded from http://www.indigodaya.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/
Getting-Through-Christmas-Workbook-v3.pdf
PEER WORKFORCE
Sherie Stiefler, Peer Services Coordinator
What is a Peer? A Peer Worker goes by many names,
the most common being a Consumer Consultant or Carer Consultant. These workers have a lived experience
of mental illness or of caring for a person with mental
illness and demonstrate that recovery is indeed possible. A Peer Worker uses their experience to enhance
another’s recovery journey by enabling equality and
mutuality within the peer relationship.
This year The Peninsula Model for primary health planning made great strides towards establishing a Mental
Health Peer Workforce in our region.
July saw the opening of the Peer Hub, which brought
together; Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS), Frankston Mornington Peninsula Medicare Local (FMPML), Frankston Mornington Peninsula Primary
Care Partnership (FMPPCP), Headspace Frankston,
Mentis Assist (formerly Peninsula Support Services),
MiFellowship, Mind Australia, Neami National, Peninsula Health, Salvo Care Eastern and Stepping Up.
“To develop a sector wide commitment to enhancing clients
and carers participation to promote a recovery approach in
mental health services through the development and expansion of a Peer Workforce”.
With this goal in mind, Mentis Assist now employs a Peer
Services Coordinator, Peer Practitioner and Peer Carer Family Support Practitioner.
As others look toward entering into Peer Work, Mentis Assist is in the process of formulating pathways towards this
goal.
The Certificate IV Mental Health Peer Work will begin in
Victoria in February. This course is for Peer Workers who
have not had the opportunity to gain accredited qualifications in their area of expertise.
Next year will be an exciting time for
Peer Workers on the Frankston
Mornington Peninsula as the ground
work has now been laid. We will
post new developments and
opportunities as they arise.
For now MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!
PARTICIPANTS ADVSIORY GROUP (PAG)
Established in 2009, the Participants Advisory Group
or PAG for short, aims to provide a voice for all participants at Mentis Assist.
PAG consists of up to 10 members who have had experience working on their recovery with Mentis Assist, the
group is tasked with making recommendations and advising on matters that will help improve the services delivered by Mentis Assist.
PAG meetings are held on a monthly basis in a formal,
yet friendly and respectful task focussed environment
which is both enjoyable and rewarding; the goal being to
generate meaningful outcomes for other Mentis Assist
Participants.
The role of the PAG is highly valued by staff and management and is as a source for receiving feedback from participants.
Not only is PAG of great benefit to Mentis Assist, it can
instil hope and confidence in those involved with the
group while still having lots of fun!
For further information please contact Karen at Mentis
Assist on 1300 MENTIS (1300 636 847).
DATES & CONTACTS TO REMEMBER
Mentis Assist will be closed for the Public Holidays over the Christmas / New Year period, however please
contact one of the numbers below if you require assistance during this time, or call 000 in an emergency.
If you wish to add anything to the next newsletter please feel free to email info@mentisassist.org.au
Important Dates
Important Numbers
Monday 24th December to Wednesday 6th January, 2016
HACC Groups closed over Christmas period
Emergency
000
Peninsula Mental Health Triage
1300 792 977
Friday 25th December 2015
Christmas Day— Office Closed
Life Line
13 11 14
Suicide Call back Service
1300 659 467
Monday 28th December 2015
Boxing Day Holiday— Office Closed
Friday 1st January, 2016
New Years Day— Office Closed
23-25 Yuilles Road, Mornington VIC 3931
p 1300 MENTIS (1300 636 847) f 03 5970 5000
e info@mentisassist.org.au w www.mentisassist.org.au