Am I A Mental Health Carer?
Mental health carers are people who are a family member or a friend that help to take care of and support a loved one living with a mental illness or a mental health condition.
About MHCN
As the peak body, MHCN works with and for mental health in carers NSW. We represent the voices and lived experience of carers which help us to advocate systemically for mental health reform.
As a peak body, MHCN provides a strong voice for mental health carers, families, and friends 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.
How We Do This
- Join our monthly Carer Connections Meetings online on ZOOM, run by our Carer Peer Facilitator!
- Join our monthly Central Coast Carer Connections Meetings, for carers on the Central Coast at ARAFMI (Association of Relatives and Friends of the Mentally Ill) in Narara.
- Join our Carers of Forensic and Correctional Patients Network, which holds monthly meetings online on ZOOM.
- Check out our monthly Peak Speaks Webinar Series, an online monthly webinar for carers on a range of topics.
- Quarterly News from the Network e-newsletter, with carer stories, the latest opportunities at MHCN, updates on what MHCN is currently working on, and carer service spotlight.
- Joining the Network is MHCN’s Membership Program – so you are also eligible to elect and vote for the Board of MHCN and come along to our Annual General Meeting.
- Eunice Lonergan Carer Respite Grants Program. If eligible, you can go into MHCN’s draws to win a $1000 travel voucher to use for a holiday from your caring duties.
Training and Education
We develop and run a number of free educational workshops for mental health carers, families and friends, that are designed to inform and support carers in their caring role, as well as to better support their loved one.
Currently, we run:
- User’s Guide to the NSW Mental Health System
- Recovery Oriented Practice
- Inclusive Care Planning
- Navigating Carer Support Systems
- The Caring Journey
- Carers and Advocacy: Foundations
- Purposeful Storytelling
- Healthy Boundaries
- Our Carer Peer Trainers run these sessions either in person at our office in Pyrmont, online on ZOOM, or you can watch the sessions as self-paced online modules that you can access for free, anywhere, anytime!
Advocacy and Policy
- MHCN regularly consults with NSW Health, the NSW Mental Health Commission, and other community managed organisations to advocate for the carer agenda and push for lived experience in service design and reform.
- We hold consultations and focus groups with carers to provide feedback and advice around key policy areas or projects that impact mental health carers and their loved ones in NSW.
- Join our Policy Advisory Committee, where we regularly meet with mental health carers to provide guidance around important policy issues that affect carers.
About MHCN Information Session
If your staff or the carers you engage with are interested in learning more about MHCN and contributing towards systemic improvements, our experienced Carer Peer Facilitator, Anne Stedman, can visit your organisation or provide an online information session.
Express Your Interest
Our Team
Meet the team behind MHCN.
Eunice Lonergan Carer Respite Grants
The Eunice Lonergan Carer Respite Grants is a program run by MHCN to provide mental health carers and families in NSW an opportunity to take a holiday break from their caring duties.
News
Keep up to date with the latest news!
Annual Reports
This is where you will find Mental Health Carers NSW (MHCN) Annual Reports throughout the years.
MHCN Strategic Plan 2021 – 2023
Our focus areas over the 2021-2023 period.