About MHCN

How We Do This

As a peak body, MHCN provides a strong voice for mental health carers to influence public and institutional policies and systems, such as:

• Conduct research and develop policy and advice to government and sector that is supported by aggregated and diverse experience.
• Advocacy and representation to government and decision makers.
• Distributing information within the sector and community.
• Sector and stakeholder consultation to understand on the ground knowledge and experiences.
• Sector capacity building to support better service delivery and community organisations.
• To help support and empower mental health carers, we also provide capacity building opportunities, educational events, webinars, and information.

What programs and activities does MHCN run?

Advocacy and Policy:
MHCN regularly consults with NSW Health, the NSW Mental Health Commission, and other community managed organisations to advocate for the mental health carer agenda and push for lived experience in service design and reform.

MHCN also hold consultations and focus groups with mental health carers to provide feedback and advice around key policy areas or projects that impact mental health carers and their loved ones in NSW. MHCN also runs the Disability Advocacy Futures Network Program.

Our advocacy and policy work

Disability Advocacy Futures Program

Mental Health Carer Advocacy Network (the MHCAN):
MHCN’s membership program, designed by mental health carers, for mental health carers – offering both individual and organisational membership, it is easy to join up and free.

Join the Mental Health Carer Advocacy Network

Training and Education Program:
Consisting of 8 different topics specific to mental health carers, delivered for free either in person, online, or as an online self-paced module you can access in your own time. We can also tailor sessions for organisations and services, at a negotiated fee.

Our Training and Education Program

Eunice Lonergan Carer Respite Grants Program:
Available to all members, where if you are eligible, you can go into the draw to win a $1000 travel voucher to use for a holiday from your caring duties.

Eunice Lonergan Carer Respite Grants Program

Community engagement and events:
We often hold events or webinars throughout the year, like during Mental Health Month and Carer’s Week, and attend conferences and other events to connect with people and the community, and provide information about MHCN’s programs, activities and projects. We can also attend services and organisations or carer groups to deliver an ‘About MHCN’ information session.

About MHCN Info Session – submit an Expression of Interest

What’s On

Communities of Practice:
We currently host the Mental Health Carer Peer Worker Community of Practice, Voice for Change – Systemic Advocacy Development Learning Series, and recently hosted the Voices for Reform – Community of Practice.