Working Together to Make a Difference

The Queensland Alliance For Mental Health reforms, promotes and drives community mental health and wellbeing services for all Queenslanders, through its influence and collaboration with its members and strategic partners.

The following aspirations for each of our Strategic Pillars for 2022 – 2024 are provided below along with examples of how we are achieving these.

Share

Share Expertise

QAMH is a reliable source of knowledge about the Community Mental Wellbeing Sector. Stakeholders will intentionally seek out the knowledge and expertise which has been developed by QAMH in collaboration with members and partners.

  • Connecting with our members and local communities through fortnightly state-wide forums to learn about new initiatives, research, training and services as well as important policy and legislative changes.
  • Member training such as the CEO Media Skills Workshop, and the Wellbeing First concept and vision was explored through an event series to strengthen knowledge and expertise in the sector.
  • Seeking input from members for our project work, including the Workforce Strategy Project and the NDIS Review to assist with the development of position papers and submissions.
  • Consulting with people with experiences of psychosocial disability in Queensland to ensure the lived experience perspectives of people with mental health concerns, their carers and families, inform the work that we do.
  • Leading the Peer Work Scholarships Program in Queensland, to strengthen and build the mental health and suicide prevention Lived Experience workforce through funded scholarships to support people to undertake the Certificate IV Mental Health Peer Work.
  • Coordinating the Peer Workforce Student Mentoring Project, supporting TAFE students studying a Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work with independent Lived Experience Peer Mentors.
  • Working with peak community mental health and wellbeing organisations in other states and territories, to plan national advocacy and share initiatives and information.
  • Stepping up our advocacy for the sector and engaging directly with the CEOs of our Member organisations on the issues that matter.
  • Sharing our knowledge and expertise with government to influence policy and reform on key topics including social isolation and loneliness, the National Mental Health Workforce Strategy and the Inquiry into the Opportunities to Improve Mental Health Outcomes for Queenslanders.
Facilitate connection

Facilitate Connection

QAMH is the peak body of choice for those wanting to grow and develop the Community Mental Wellbeing Sector. QAMH has strong and influential partnerships with key stakeholders (members, partners, and funders). QAMH facilitates diverse connections to strengthen the Community Mental Wellbeing Sector.

  • Fortnightly online forums with member organisations. Meeting agendas include industry relevant information, including consultation with members on submissions and reports, information on new mental health initiatives, important industry legislation changes and training and education. These forums are well attended with 70 people attending the Learning Exchange with Q Shelter, examining ways to improve housing outcomes for people experiencing mental health concerns.
  • Quarterly CEO forums and regional visits including state-wide consultations; opportunities to seek input, connect, share knowledge and expertise with members and celebrate and support community resilience and wellbeing. These events are also an opportunity for members to share service innovations and engage with other organisations in their region.
  • The policy and projects team work with the communications team to ensure up-to-date and relevant information is delivered to members in weekly e-newsletters, via socials, the website and Members Hub.
  • The Annual Alliance Meeting, held in November, is an opportunity to reflect on the past year, connect and celebrate with members and showcase a QAMH initiative – the Workforce Summit featured in 2023.
Foster innovation

Foster Innovation

QAMH is a key resource for community mental wellbeing, innovation, service design thinking and modelling. QAMH collaborates with partners and members to facilitate the delivery of innovative solutions to improving the Community Mental Wellbeing Sector. QAMH is recognised and resourced as an innovative organisation contributing to the growth and development of the Community Mental Wellbeing Sector.

  • QAMH Wellbeing First Innovation Hub is leading six member organisations in the development of new models of service with the aim of showcasing successes with sector stakeholders. The principles from the Wellbeing First report are at the very heart of creating new innovative and responsive models of service for the sector coupled with human-centred design.
  • QAMH has a strong connection with member organisation Primary and Community Care Services (PCCS), which leads the Australian Social Prescribing Institute of Research and Education (ASPIRE). QAMH will continue to work alongside PCCS to build widespread support for social prescribing.
Lead and influence

Lead and Influence

QAMH leads the vision for the community mental wellbeing sector in Queensland. QAMH influences stakeholders’ appreciation of the Community Mental Wellbeing Sector’s unique contribution within the mental health ecosystem and wider community. QAMH is a key driver of community mental wellbeing policy and service system reform in Queensland.

  • QAMH is working in partnership with the Queensland Mental Health Commission (QMHC) to undertake a systematic analysis of the mental health non-government community services sector in Queensland. Eight community mental health organisations have been recruited to be part of the reference group.
  • QAMH completed its first Reconciliation Action Plan in 2023, allowing the organisation to scope and develop relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and explore mental health and wellbeing opportunities.
  • Involvement in the cross-sector reference group for the renewal of the Queensland Mental Health Commission’s Shifting minds strategic plan – a whole-of-government approach to improving the mental health and wellbeing of Queenslanders.
  • QAMH CEO and other sector leaders are part of the Better Care Together Reference Committee which monitors and supports the implementation of initiatives across the state-funded service system.
  • QAMH presents at a range of conferences throughout the year, including the Rural and Remote Mental Health Symposium in Adelaide, the Queensland Mental Health Commissioner’s Leading Reform Summit and attending the National NDIS Conference in Canberra.
  • QAMH make submissions to government departments on behalf of our members to advocate for policy reform. Recent submissions include: the 2024 State Budget; Unleashing the Potential of the Health Workforce and A strong and Diverse Independent Community Sector. QAMH also provides evidence at hearing as part of government inquiries.