Mental Health Carers Voice

28/10/2026

A huge congratulations to Anna Foxcroft, recipient of the Outstanding Contribution - Carer Award at the 2026 ACT Mental Health Sector Awards!

Anna's lived experience, advocacy and research contributions are helping strengthen carer inclusion and improve mental health services for young people and their families across the ACT.

We're especially proud to see Anna acknowledge the support of Mental Health Carers Voice in her advocacy journey.

Congratulations also to Professor Michelle Banfield, recipient of the Outstanding Contribution - Consumer Award.

Read more about their achievements in this wonderful article from ANU: https://nceph.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/nceph-researchers-recognised-2026-act-mental-health-sector-awards

Professor Michelle Banfield and Anna Foxcroft have been recognised at the 2026 ACT Mental Health Sector Awards, receiving the Outstanding Contribution – Consumer and Outstanding Contribution – Carer awards, respectively.

09/10/2026

World Mental Health Day 💚

This World Mental Health Day, we recognise the important role carers play in supporting the mental health and recovery of the people they care for.

This year’s theme for Mental Health Month, Together We Thrive, reminds us that recovery doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens through connection, understanding and the people and communities around us.

Carers are an essential part of that picture. By recognising their experiences, listening to their voices and ensuring they have the support they need, we can build stronger and more connected communities.

Because when carers, consumers, services and communities work together, we all thrive. 💚

08/10/2026

💚 Together We Thrive | Mental Health Expo & Sector Awards 2026
Yesterday, our Carers ACT and Mental Health Carers Voice teams had a wonderful time connecting with the community at the ACT Mental Health Expo and Sector Awards.

It was a great opportunity to connect with new and familiar faces, hear directly from people sharing their lived experiences and personal journeys with mental health challenges, and strengthen relationships with organisations doing important work across the ACT mental health sector.

While much of our work happens behind the scenes through policy, advocacy and systemic reform, days like these remind us of the importance of getting out into the community, listening to lived experiences and strengthening the relationships that inform our work.

🏆 A huge congratulations to Anna Foxcroft, recipient of the Carer Award, and to all the nominees and award recipients recognised for their outstanding contributions to mental health and wellbeing in the ACT.

We were proud to play a small part in celebrating and showcasing the incredible work happening across our mental health sector.

Together, we thrive!

07/10/2026

07/10/2026

If you missed the carer consultations with the chief psychiatrist but you’d still like to contribute to the MH Act review, here are some ways you can:

Public consultation through Your Say opened on 27 August 2026. You can also contact the Mental Health Act Review project team at [email protected].

https://yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/

If you would like your experiences and ideas to be included but do not want to make your own submission or attend a consultation session, Carers ACT will be preparing a group submission. If you have feedback about mental health or forensic mental health orders, information sharing, ACAT decision-making, participation in hearings, or any other aspect of the Mental Health Act, please contact Em Newton-Elliott at [email protected].

06/10/2026

We’ll be at the Mental Health Expo this Thursday! 👋

As part of Mental Health Week ACT, Carers ACT’s Mental Health Carers Voice team will be joining local mental health services and organisations at the Mini Mental Health Expo at Belconnen Arts Centre.

Come by our stall, say hello and have a chat with us about the support available for mental health carers in the ACT. 💚

📅 Thursday 8 October
⏰ 12 pm – 3 pm
📍 Belconnen Arts Centre
✨ Free and everyone is welcome

This Mental Health Week, we’re celebrating Together We Thrive, because better mental health and recovery happen when people, carers, services and communities work together.

See you there! 👋💚

04/10/2026

Carers, your experience can help shape the Mental Health Act Review. 💬

The ACT Government is reviewing parts of the Mental Health Act 2015 and wants to hear directly from carers about their experiences of the mental health system. Pasted markdown

Join us this Wednesday 7 October from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm at Carers ACT in Holt for a dedicated carer consultation session.

This session will focus on information sharing and how information can be shared with carers more effectively to support them in their caring role.

📩 To register, email [email protected]

Your voice and lived experience matter.

21/09/2026

🏆 Do you or someone you know work in the ACT mental health sector?

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Mental Health Sector Awards, celebrating the individuals, teams, groups and organisations making an outstanding contribution across the ACT mental health sector.

From frontline workers and peer workers to advocates, volunteers, leaders and community organisations, there are people across our sector doing incredible work every day.

The Awards are an opportunity to recognise that work and celebrate the people helping to strengthen mental health services, supports and outcomes across our community.

MHCV is proud to partner with the Mental Health Community Coalition ACT and ACT Mental Health Consumer Network to celebrate the achievements of our sector during Mental Health Week.

There are 12 award categories recognising contributions from across the sector.

Know a colleague, team, organisation or someone in your professional network who deserves recognition? Nominate them!

📅 Nominations close 25 September 2026
👉 View the categories and nominate - https://mhccact.org.au/mental-health-sector-awards/

18/09/2026

The National Su***de Prevention Office's new Community Toolkit is now available!

Designed for communities across Australia, the Toolkit includes a Facilitator Guide, slides, an animation, video explainers and templates to help spark conversations and local action on su***de prevention.

The toolkit is an extension of the National Su***de Prevention Strategy 2025-2035, empowering communities to play an active role in su***de prevention.

👉 Download the Toolkit: https://ow.ly/qBLt50ZO6f7
National Mental Health Commission

16/09/2026

📣 ACT Policing’s Correct Agency, Right Engagement (CARE) model – Information and Feedback Session

Consumers and carers are invited to learn more about the CARE model, ask questions and provide feedback directly to representatives from ACT Policing, Canberra Health Services and ACT Ambulance Service.

📅 Wednesday 23 September 2026
🕥 10:30 am–11:30 am
📍 Attend in person at Carers ACT or join online via Microsoft Teams.

👉 Swipe through for more information.

💻 Join the session online via Microsoft Teams: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/496795095369985?p=VBU85fBCBT4k5D7k1E