20th January, 2025

The imminent resignation of more than 200 psychiatrists from the NSW public health system, in addition to 140 existing vacancies, highlights the critical state of mental health care in NSW. This shortfall will further intensify the difficulties and distress faced by individuals with acute mental health conditions, as well as their families and carers. According […]

14th January, 2025

On November 28, 2024, Mental Health Carers NSW (MHCN, formerly ARAFMI) celebrated the organisation’s 50th Anniversary with a special awards ceremony at Parliament House, Sydney. Guests enjoyed a three-course meal, drinks, and lucky door prizes in a day filled with celebration, hope, and recognition. The event was MC’ed by Julie McCrossin, former ABC and Channel […]

15th November, 2024

Mental Health Carers NSW (MHCN) are having an election for the Board for the following positions: Voting closes next Friday 22 November at 4.00pm. Election results will be announced at MHCN’s Annual General Meeting on Friday 22 November at 4.40pm. Only members of MHCN can vote. Members can only vote once. Voting is not mandatory. […]

7th August, 2024

MHCN’s Policy and Advocacy Team has designed a survey to better understand the service experiences of carers of forensic and correctional patients. Carer feedback was included during the survey development to ensure the content covers key areas like communication from services, carer involvement, and the support received for carers and the person they care for. […]

12th July, 2023

We run a range of free education and training sessions, designed to inform, empower, and support carers and the people that they care for. Our training courses embody an appreciation for lived experience – all courses have been through a co-review or co-design process with mental health carers and are delivered by a carer peer, […]

29th May, 2023

On 28 March 2021, the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020 (MHCIFPA) replaced the Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990. We will explain:1.Changes under the new Act2.Carer’s Rights3.Victim’s Rights4.Terms in the new Forensic Provisions Act Modern language – changes in terms such as ‘suffering’ and ‘disease of the mind’ to describe mental […]

18th May, 2023

The Mental Health Branch (MHB) at the NSW Ministry of Health, has commenced a review of forms created to assist in the administration of the Mental Health Act 2007. The Forms were created when the Act commenced in 2007 and are used to assist clinicians communicate with consumers and carers and to meet the legal […]

18th May, 2023

ABOUT MHCN MHCN is the peak body for mental health carers in NSW. Founded as ARAFMI in 1974 by social worker Margaret Lukes, she believed there needed to be more support for families, friends and carers of people living with a mental illness. Mental health carers are people who support friends, partners, members of their […]

23rd March, 2023

People seeking help from the legal assistance sector often experience mental distress, but they have not had a say in shaping the services they use. Across Australia, the legal assistance sector is not well supported to work with people experiencing mental health issues or carers, even though this is a common part of their work. […]

22nd March, 2023

Last Tuesday, CEO Jonathan Harms and Board Treasurer Andrew Pryor represented MHCN at a press release outside Parliament House as part of the Alliance, made up of 8 leading mental health organisations and peak bodies that includes MHCN. Leading up to the state election, MHCN and the Alliance are calling for all parties to commit […]

22nd March, 2023

ABOUT MHCN MHCN is the peak body for mental health carers in NSW. Founded as ARAFMI in 1974 by social worker Margaret Lukes, she believed there needed to be more support for families, friends and carers of people living with a mental illness. Mental health carers are people who support friends, partners, members of their […]