This presentation shares findings from a qualitative study investigating how mental health nurses and social workers perceive the integration of chatbots as tools to support their mental health and wellbeing at work. Through interviews and thematic analysis, we explored both the perceived benefits and concerns surrounding chatbot adoption in clinical settings.

Participants highlighted chatbots’ potential for enhancing administrative efficiency, noting that automated support could alleviate time-consuming tasks, streamline documentation, and free up more time for direct patient care—thereby indirectly benefiting clinicians’ well-being. Resource accessibility emerged as another key theme, with chatbots providing rapid access to policies, risk assessment tools, and professional guidelines, thus supporting confident decision-making in dynamic clinical environments. Some participants also recognised professional development opportunities, valuing chatbots’ capacity to prompt learning, offer reminders, and enhance effectiveness.

However, respondents also voiced essential reservations. Concerns their understanding of empathy and trust; they were seen as limited in their understanding of complex, emotive human experiences. Issues regarding privacy and data security surfaced, with apprehensions about how sensitive information might be stored and used. To address this, we self-hosted the AI chatbot to ensure data ownership, enhance privacy, and support repeatability in clinical research settings. Questions of control, responsibility, and reliability arose, highlighting the importance of robust human oversight to mitigate risks of AI error or unintended consequences. Further points included the need for adequate training and assurances that chatbots are reliably accessible across multiple devices and work environments, all while respecting boundaries between professional and personal life.

Overall, the findings suggest that mental health nurses and social workers see value in chatbots for administrative and resource support, but emphasise the necessity of trust, privacy, empathy, and human supervision in implementation. This presentation will discuss practical recommendations for designing chatbots that genuinely enhance clinician wellbeing while maintaining professional integrity and safety.

Directions Health Services is a not-for-profit organisation providing free, integrated support for people affected by alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, mental health concerns, and complex health issues across the ACT and regional NSW. Within its ACT programs, Directions delivers holistic, multi-tiered care through a blend of primary healthcare services—including general practitioners, nurses, psychiatry and a non-dispensing pharmacist—and non-medical supports such as counselling and peer work.
In November 2023, the organisation introduced a dedicated Mental Health Clinical Coordinator to strengthen mental health care integration across internal services and external systems. This role focuses on enhancing communication, collaboration and continuity of care for clients whose needs span multiple service levels. Core responsibilities include regular liaison with tertiary mental health services to ensure shared understanding of clients’ presentations, risks and goals, as well as joint care planning aimed at reducing barriers to timely, evidence-informed treatment.
The Mental Health Clinical Coordinator also provides episodic, client-directed clinical support. These episodes of care may involve mental health assessment, brief therapeutic interventions, support to engage with psychologists and psychiatrists for diagnostic clarification or medication review, and assistance navigating access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Internally, the role facilitates multidisciplinary team meetings to strengthen communication between medical, counselling, peer and community programs, promoting coordinated, person-centred pathways.
Three key learnings have emerged from this role to date. First, curious scepticism is essential for understanding each client’s unique healthcare journey and identifying the most effective collaborative approach. Second, balancing client autonomy, peer perspectives and medico-legal responsibilities requires thoughtful, transparent practice. Third, shared care—internally and externally—significantly enhances client outcomes and staff sustainability.
This model demonstrates how a dedicated mental health coordination role within a primary care-based AOD service can improve communication, access and integration across complex service systems.

Background

Peer workers are a central component of the mental health sector in Australia as the role of lived experience is recognised for its unique contribution to recovery-focused care. Given the increasing profile of peer work and the challenges involved with developing a peer workforce, Open Minds (a non-profit organisation active since 1912) decided to survey their initial cohort of peer workers to determine what has worked well and what changes need to be implemented.

Method

A seven-item survey was designed based on input from Open Minds leaders. The items on the survey were then reviewed by representatives from Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Queensland (MHLEPQ). A consent form was also designed and reviewed. Subjecting the survey to external review was judged to be an ethical approach that prioritised worker safety. The MHLEPQ review led to two additional questions being added to the survey (final version of the survey had 9 questions on a 5-point Likert scale). After the survey, each participant was interviewed to gain further clarity on their responses, with those responses undergoing qualitative analysis from two members of the research team.

Findings

Six of the peer workers consented to participate, revealing high satisfaction with team support and supervision (mean scores > 4.5), but lower scores for role clarity (mean 2.67) and perceived equality within teams (mean 3.33). Interviews reinforced these findings, identifying two major themes: strong relationships with managers and coworkers, and significant concerns about role clarity.

Conclusions

This project is informing corporate strategy about how to define peer worker roles clearly, revise position descriptions, develop targeted resources and supervision structures, and create a training plan aligned with role expectations. These steps aim to support the sustainable integration of peer workers into mental health teams and contribute to the growth of lived-experience expertise within the organisation.

Depression and anxiety are among the most prevalent mental health conditions globally, yet the demand for treatment continues to outpace available resources. This treatment gap highlights significant unmet needs within the community, driven by barriers such as cost, long waiting times, and stigma. To address these challenges, the MOH Office for Healthcare Transformation (MOHT) has developed an Internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT) programme to be piloted at select community-level mental health agencies from 2026. This transdiagnostic eight-module programme is designed for adults experiencing symptoms of depression and/or anxiety and can be used as a self-guided or therapist-supported intervention.

International literature (Duffy et al. 2023) emphasizes that provider experiences, as well as organisational factors such as workflow integration, digital literacy, and clarity of roles, are critical determinants of successful iCBT adoption in routine care. Given the absence of localised iCBT protocols within Singapore’s community mental health landscape, understanding service provider perspectives is essential for effective implementation and long-term sustainability.

This qualitative study will explore the experiences, expectations, and implementation considerations of community mental health professionals participating in the upcoming iCBT pilot. Participants (n=10) will include counsellors, therapists, and administrative staff from the partnering agencies in the pilot. Semi-structured interviews guided by frameworks, will examine perceived usefulness, feasibility, confidence in guiding clients, training needs, and organisational readiness. Interviews will be audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically using an inductive approach to identify themes that shape provider engagement and adoption.

This study’s findings are expected to yield insights into key enablers and barriers influencing iCBT uptake, including provider attitudes toward digital tools like iCBT, clarity of responsibilities, alignment with existing workflows, and broader system-level factors affecting implementation readiness. These insights will inform programme refinement, provider training frameworks, and future implementation strategies of the iCBT tool within Singapore’s community care ecosystem.

Digital mental health tools are reshaping access to care by reducing barriers and stigma while offering support that is convenient, on-demand, and responsive to diverse needs. Apps and web-based platforms can complement existing services through therapy, self-tracking, and education. Yet, beyond treatment-focused tools, navigational supports are emerging as critical in helping people find the right care at the right time.

MIRA, a virtual assistant developed by the Mood Disorder Society of Canada and the University of Alberta, is one of the first digital navigational tools in Canada. Unlike therapeutic apps, MIRA does not provide treatment; instead, it connects individuals to appropriate services across the mental healthcare system. Free, bilingual (English and French), and powered by machine learning, MIRA improves user experience while safeguarding privacy.

Its resource database is community-driven—submissions from users, volunteers, and developers are reviewed by an expert advisory committee to ensure accuracy and relevance. MIRA demonstrates how digital navigation can strengthen accessibility, cultural responsiveness, and trust. We will discuss how MIRA can offer a framework for expanding navigational tools across cultural groups and even broader healthcare systems, empowering individuals while easing systemic pressures.

‘Family violence is a significant global public health, social and human rights issue’ (ranzcp, 2021).

With increasing evidence that highlights the intersection of Family Violence (FV) and mental wellbeing, there is a need to expand services response to mental illness beyond a medical lens to a model that emphasises the social factors influencing mental health.
In 2016, Victoria’s Royal Commission into Family Violence recommended that authorities, health and human sector collaborate to improve the way systems and services response to family violence. The State Government’s Multi Agency Risk Management (MARAM) framework and Specialist Family Violence Advisor (SFVA) positions in Mental Health (MH) services, play a crucial role in embedding a FV lens and building workforce capability, to ensure victim survivors are supported and aid recovery.
10 years on, this presentation reports on the challenges and inspirations of embedding a FV lens within a regional mental health service and provides an insight into the pivotal role of collaboration and lived experience in this transition. It highlights the importance of education and awareness among mental health professionals to effectively recognise and respond to signs of FV, emphasising the crucial role of assessing FV experiences in understanding mental health presentations. Concluding with the significance of trauma-informed care and culturally competent approaches in addressing the complex dynamics of family violence and mental ill-health, and the importance of authentic co-design as essential for fostering recovery and mental wellbeing.

RANZCP. (2021). Family violence and mental health.

Steering Healthy Minds (SHM) delvers Mental Health First Aid training, tailored to the Transport Industry, and advocates for a fundamental shift in how organisations address psychological hazards, moving from reactive measures to proactive, worker-led strategies that prioritise safety, dignity, and wellbeing as core workplace rights.

SHM champions collaboration at every level, ensuring mental health is not treated as a compliance issue but as a shared responsibility. By engaging workers directly in shaping programs, from raising awareness to co-designing solutions, initiatives become more than policy; they become part of the organisational culture. When supported by adequate resources, these programs foster genuine impact.

The cost of ignoring mental health risks is significant: high turnover, reduced productivity, and increased compensation claims. SHM’s approach demonstrates that investing in preventative, inclusive strategies is not only ethical but also a sound business decision. Empowering people where they work builds stronger, more resilient teams and workplaces.

Recognising that mental health challenges are not one-size-fits-all, SHM emphasises diversity and inclusion. Culture, gender, and professional experience shape how individuals experience wellbeing. By involving voices from varied roles and backgrounds, particularly within the Transport Industry, SHM ensures strategies are culturally sensitive, gender-aware, and tailored to real-world needs.

This presentation explores how peer-driven, inclusive approaches create meaningful change. Through collaboration and lived experience, SHM delivers a richer, more empathetic understanding of mental wellbeing, designing support that meets people where they are. This is not diversity for its own sake; it’s about building solutions that work for everyone.

Evaluation of government delivered and commissioned mental health services is critical for ensuring responsiveness in changing service landscapes and workforces. Evaluation was tabled as a priority in the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement, and as one of the projects funded under the Agreement, the Youth at Risk of developing mental ill health Project has led ACT Government in embedding evaluation into all its activities.

Focused on improving outcomes for young people with trauma, the Project adopted a Try, Test and Learn approach to drive innovation and adaptability within the ACT child and youth mental health system. Two key streams of work were implemented: (1) co-design, delivery and evaluation of a 12-week trauma-informed practice training package for professionals in 2024–2025; and (2) design and establishment of Australia’s first Youth Trauma Service in 2025-2026, including a developmental evaluation.

Evaluation examined the impact of trauma-informed approaches to working with children and young people for practitioners, organisations, systems, and the lived experiences of young people, families, carers and kin, and communities. Findings have informed strategies for building resilient workforces and sustainable service systems, highlighting evaluation as a catalyst for continuous improvement and sector development.

This presentation will share the Project’s trauma-informed approach to evaluation, the methodology and design of various evaluation activities, co-design processes, support mechanisms and resources, and mechanisms for embedding evaluation in real-world mental health service settings. It will explore the barriers and enablers encountered, and demonstrate how evaluation has shaped continuous improvement in service delivery and sector development. Our goal is to make evaluation feel achievable while illustrating its essential role in addressing workforce and system challenges in mental health care.

Online gambling turnover reached $75.4 billion in 2023 (↑166% year-on-year), with one in five regular gamblers experiencing moderate–severe harm, particularly among young and lower-income Australians. Despite regulatory requirements for operators to offer spending-limit tools and perceived benefits of these, voluntary uptake is under 15%, drive by lack of perceived relevance, personalisation, and cross-operator functionality. My research shows that gamblers systematically underestimate losses and overestimate outcomes. Online gambling uses data asynchronously; detailed personal data is used to segment customers and send targeted promotions encouraging spend without transparency enabling customers to easily monitor their wins, losses, and net outcomes.

This presentation will outline preliminary research to develop new digital tools to help Australians make more informed and confident online decisions about their online gambling spend. The tool is being co-designed with consumers and professionals to ensure it is practical, accessible and relevant, especially for young people who are highly engaged in online betting. It shows users their own spend data in a clear dashboard which makes the information relevant to a user’s personal context to enhance awareness and includes a psychoeducational quiz to enhance relevant knowledge and building behavioural skills. Unlike existing financial apps, the tool is designed for both individual users and professional practice (e.g., financial counsellors and welfare services), broadening its reach and scalability.

The intervention is grounded in behavioural science, human computer interaction, and psychology, joining principles such as self-referential feedback, framing effects, and motivational interviewing. This research brings an innovative, preventative approach to inclusive consumer protection policy and practice, aiming to advance translational digital capability and financial wellbeing.

One of the most common issues raised by family members and other supporters of someone experiencing mental health challenges is feeling excluded from healthcare information and decision making. This can impact significantly on their lives and their ability to support the person they care about.
Numerous reviews and inquiries have made recommendations along the lines of “All mental health services should be required to consider family and carer needs, and their role in contributing to the recovery of individuals with mental illness” (Productivity Commission Mental Health Inquiry 2020). However, healthcare professionals often tell us that they don’t know how to do this - especially within the context of consent and privacy legislation.
Arafmi, on behalf of the Queensland Carer Advisory Council, has developed a guide for healthcare professionals that provides highly practical information and resources on how to better include carers, family and kin. This includes questions to ask, language to use and tips for navigating consent and confidentiality.
Join Arafmi CEO, Irene Clelland as she presents an overview of the guide and how it is being used to make the mental health system more inclusive of carers, family and kin.
You will then have the opportunity to workshop:
• how to use one or more of the resources from the guide in practice
• how to use the guide in your own local context to help create a mental health system that is more inclusive of carers, family and kin.

You can find a copy of the guide at workingwithcarers.com.au

While much of the current public conversation is about whether AI can replace therapists and other frontline workers, the more practical question for most providers is how to begin applying AI in a way that is safe, effective and aligned with their purpose. This presentation will outline a clear, risk-aware approach for doing exactly that. A framework will be introduced for identifying appropriate AI use cases and building the long-term organisational capabilities needed to deliver impact at scale. Real life case studies will be provided.

Lived experience among mental health care providers is increasingly recognised as central to recovery-oriented, person-centred services. Seeking Safety is a well-established, evidence-based, manualised model supporting individuals with trauma and/or addiction, using present-focused, strengths-based coping strategies. This Australian pilot was the first to evaluate the implementation of peer-led Seeking Safety within Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling.
The study assessed the feasibility of delivering peer-led Seeking Safety in a real-world organisational setting, informed the development of an addendum to the manual for the Australian military context, and examined its cost-effectiveness as a scalable delivery model.
Peer workers and clinicians were trained to deliver an eight-week group intervention to veteran clients at two locations, combining standard and additional context-specific preparation. The mixed-methods evaluation included staff surveys, focus group interviews, and self-reported fidelity assessments as well as client feedback, psychosocial data, and economic evaluation.
Preliminary findings suggest that Peer-led Seeking Safety is feasible and acceptable for Australian veterans. Peers rated the training positively, self-reported strong fidelity, and described the model’s flexibility as supporting adaptation to client needs. Clinicians emphasised the credibility and trust peers brought to this trauma-specific intervention. Clients reported positive engagement, satisfaction, and perceived benefits, with initial data suggesting positive trends in PTSD symptoms, coping, stress, and substance use. The economic evaluation indicated potential cost-effectiveness across clinician-, peer, and co-led scenarios.
With training and organisational support, peers were able to safely deliver Seeking Safety. Peer-led Seeking Safety shows potential as a scalable, cost-effective method that may enhance the peer workforce, complement clinician-led service, and provide veterans with authentic, recovery-oriented care that fosters trust, group connection, and adaptability to client needs. However, given the small sample size in this pilot, these findings should be interpreted cautiously and confirmed in larger, more diverse cohorts.

The presentation showcases a cross-sector Mental Health Community of Practice (CoP) at a large not-for -profit organisation providing aged care and a wide range of community services providing for children and families in New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory. Our NGO services provide for clients across all ages. The CoP was formed to address the complex mental health needs that arise across extended lifespans. Our vision brings together clinicians, care managers, allied health professionals, peer workers and researchers to translate evidence into practice. We look at how we can share knowledge and resource across programs to uplift MH outcomes.
The presentation will describe how the CoP supports three core initiatives (1) workforce capability-building through sharing knowledge and experience in providing mental health care from a wide range of disciplines working in a variety of services within the organisation, (2) involving peer workers and lived experience representatives in designing how the organisation provides mental health care, (3) improving psychological safety within the organisation by providing a safe, structured and regular space for reflective practice, shared learning and improving the mental health literacy of staff.
The presentation will outline what is required to establish a successful and productive mental health CoP aligned with our organisation’s governance systems and through inclusive membership which has secure leadership and management support.

Mental health systems often emphasise clinical treatment, yet a significant proportion of psychological distress stems from social determinants – isolation, housing, insecurity, unemployment, and financial stress. Traditional counselling and medical interventions support system management, but without addressing these underlying factors, the cycle of distress often persists.
In 2024, Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) introduced Journey Coordinators (JCs) within the MyndKind – Stepped Care Program – a non-clinical workforce designed to bridge the gap between clinical services and the social realities shaping mental wellbeing. JCs assist clients to navigate social systems, connect to housing, employment, and community resources, and build sustainable coping networks.
This presentation shares real-world insights from the implementation of the JC model across regional Queensland. Drawing on service data, case observations, and client feedback, findings reveal that many clients engaging with JCs did not require escalation to traditional clinical services, highlighting the preventive potential of early, socially grounded intervention.
Beyond outcomes, this model demonstrates a workforce redesign approach that strengthens stepped care efficiency, reduces service demand, and empowers clients through social reconnection rather than clinical dependency. The JC initiative offers a replicable framework for integrating non-clinical roles into mental health systems, aligning with national goals for prevention and early intervention.
This session aims to inspire service leaders, policymakers, and practitioners to reimagine mental health beyond the clinic, where recovery begins not just with therapy, but with addressing the root social conditions that shape mental health outcomes.

Mental health challenges affect individuals across all stages of life, often shaped by social and environmental circumstances rather than clinical factors alone. While the mental health sector continues to face growing demand, workforce shortages, funding limitations, much of the system burden arises from unaddressed social determinants of mental health including housing insecurity, unemployment, poverty, discrimination and social isolation.
Adopting a public health approach that addresses these determinants can lead to sustainable and equitable improvements in mental wellbeing. The World Health Organization (2022) and Marmot Review (2010, 2020) emphasise that reducing inequalities in income, education, and living conditions enhances mental health outcomes. Australian evidence (AIHW, 2023; VicHealth, 2021) shows that addressing social drivers could prevent up to one in four mild-to-moderate mental illness cases, reducing reliance on tertiary services.
Under the MyndKind Stepped Care program, the Journey Coordinator (JC) role bridges this gap by supporting clients to address barriers like housing instability, financial stress, and social disconnection. Through navigation, advocacy, and linkage to community supports, JCs enable early recovery and reduce escalation into clinical systems.
This presentation explores how models like JC demonstrate the value of a whole-of-society mental health approach moving beyond symptom management to prevention, early intervention, and systemic equity. It invites policy dialogue on embedding social determinants frameworks into future mental health strategies.

Health and wellbeing are largely dependent on positive relationships and interactions (Safer Care Victoria, 2023). The School of Health and Biomedical Sciences at RMIT University interfaces with multiple industry partners regarding work-integrated learning, where classroom and simulated learning translate to supervised clinical practice. Despite the shared purpose of preparing the future nursing workforce, a persistent theory–practice gap continues to challenge both sectors (Greenway et al., 2019). This gap, historically viewed as a student issue, may also reflect a broader imbalance in the collaboration between academia and industry.

Calls have been made to build new ways of working between academics and industry (Sebastian et al., 2018). Similar studies investigating the relationship between industry and academia, undertaken in engineering, have found that improving the relationship between parties can improve the mental health and wellbeing of each workforce respectively (Awasthy et al., 2020).

This presentation will describe the first stage of this research, aiming to identify, discover and define the successes and challenges experienced by both parties, using the Double Diamond co-design framework, and Focus Groups. This model cycles through both divergent and convergent thinking during the distinct phases of ‘discover’, ‘define’ and ‘develop’. Banbury et al., (2021) believe that co-design approaches create social capital and empower people to take personal responsibility during a process of problem identification, as well as being an efficient way to reach a jointly beneficial solution.

Depression and anxiety are among the most prevalent mental health conditions globally, yet the demand for treatment continues to outpace available resources. This treatment gap highlights significant unmet needs within the community, driven by barriers such as cost, long waiting times, and stigma. To address these challenges, the MOH Office for Healthcare Transformation (MOHT) has developed an Internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT) programme to be piloted at select community-level mental health agencies from 2026. This transdiagnostic eight-module programme is designed for adults experiencing symptoms of depression and/or anxiety and can be used as a self-guided or therapist-supported intervention.

International literature (Duffy et al. 2023) emphasizes that provider experiences, as well as organisational factors such as workflow integration, digital literacy, and clarity of roles, are critical determinants of successful iCBT adoption in routine care. Given the absence of localised iCBT protocols within Singapore’s community mental health landscape, understanding service provider perspectives is essential for effective implementation and long-term sustainability.

This qualitative study will explore the experiences, expectations, and implementation considerations of community mental health professionals participating in the upcoming iCBT pilot. Participants (n=10) will include counsellors, therapists, and administrative staff from the partnering agencies in the pilot. Semi-structured interviews guided by frameworks, will examine perceived usefulness, feasibility, confidence in guiding clients, training needs, and organisational readiness. Interviews will be audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically using an inductive approach to identify themes that shape provider engagement and adoption.

This study’s findings are expected to yield insights into key enablers and barriers influencing iCBT uptake, including provider attitudes toward digital tools like iCBT, clarity of responsibilities, alignment with existing workflows, and broader system-level factors affecting implementation readiness. These insights will inform programme refinement, provider training frameworks, and future implementation strategies of the iCBT tool within Singapore’s community care ecosystem.

Australia has an ageing population, 50.7% of whom are women; women have a median age of 39
- Perimenopause typically starts when women are in their mid 40s, but can begin as early as mid 30s
- Australia's rural and regional areas have growing CALD/migrant populations. This population has particular, and at times unique, sets of presentations and challenges regarding Perimenopause and Menopause
- Awareness of Perimenopause and Menopause among diverse communities is low. This includes presentations, symptoms and management of the conditions, and the mitigation of stigma and self-limiting perceptions and beliefs
- The silence regarding Peri and Meno in CaLD and migrant communities is culturally normalised and knowledge transfer between generations is stymied
- Clinical expertise and treatment calibrated for diverse women is non-existent or limited, with many barriers to access to services and resources
- There is a plethora of barriers to the effective management of these conditions in rural and remote settings
- CaLD led, evidence-based, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive and multigenerational intervention options are lacking, although an important element to distress minimisation and optimised clinical outcomes.
- Innovative, inclusive, collaborative, co-designed and accessible modalities and pathways providing support at individual, couple, family and community level are key to meeting the Perimenopause and Menopause health and mental health needs of women in rural and regional areas
- Exploration of modality options including Clinician-led and specialised visiting clinics, Telehealth, focused community-based workshops, Expert led and evidence-based support groups, peer support groups/networks, online groups and appropriate referral pathways and resources are vital
- Targeted collaborative research projects and data collection on Peri and Meno experiences of CALD/migrant women and their families can explore links between these presentations and trauma, Family Domestic Violence, relationship discord/divorce and cultural aspects and the evidence can strengthen interventions and outcomes.

When lived experience and clinical skill converges in the workforce — the system should recognise it, not break it.

Early-career programs promise sustainable mental-health workforces. Yet often, structures built to retain clinicians struggle to sustain them — particularly those bringing the strength of lived experience into clinical spaces, a rapidly growing workforce.

In my experience, that reality became clear at twenty-four, during early clinical practice, when a young person I supported presented to an emergency department less than two days after disclosing suicidal distress — a reminder that even when care is appropriate, systems can fail the people within them.

The clinical team commended the response. A few weeks later, my pace was questioned against organisational processes that relied on projected caseloads rather than present clinical reality. Praised for safe practice, then cautioned for its pace — a contradiction revealing deeper governance failure. Integration fatigue — the burnout that happens when systems invite lived experience into professional spaces without the frameworks to hold it — is not a supervision gap; it’s a governance failure that multiplies risk at every level: clinical, psychological, financial, and organisational — from Commonwealth to local systems, down to me and to you.

Conservatively, 70% of lived-experience peer workers report psychosocial hazards, often describing shame or guilt when systemic pressure, not error, causes harm
— a feeling that resonated deeply with me. The young person I supported is still here, and that matters — but integration fatigue blurred any relief. It was a personal cost I should never have had to bear. I left.
When clinicians burn out, consumers fall through the cracks — and the cost of care should never fall solely on the clinician, regardless of competence or commitment.

Rates of mental ill-health among children and young people continue to rise, despite increasing awareness, resources, and professional interventions. These challenges are further intensified in rural communities, where families experience isolation, stigma, and limited access to health and social services. Parents* play a central role in creating environments that promote children’s mental health and wellbeing, yet many rural caregivers face heightened stressors and have restricted access to timely or appropriate support.

Sustainable improvements in rural mental health outcomes require holistic, preventative, and community-centred approaches. Emerging evidence highlights the need to move beyond service-led models toward strategies that strengthen connection, resilience, and local capacity. While research increasingly recognises the influence of the home environment on child and adolescent mental health, far less is understood about the lived experiences of rural parents and the unique constraints shaping their ability to provide safe, supportive, and nurturing environments.

Professional services alone cannot meet the scale or complexity of mental health needs in rural areas. Strong social connections, peer support, and community-led initiatives have been shown to provide protective benefits; however, significant gaps remain in understanding the conditions that enable— or hinder—communities to effectively support parents and families. This gap represents a critical opportunity to explore new, community-driven frontiers in rural mental health.

To address this need, a Participatory Action Research (PAR) project is being developed to work collaboratively with rural families, community members, and local organisations. The project will co-design a practical, community-informed framework aimed at strengthening family supports, enhancing local capability, and fostering collective wellbeing. Through iterative cycles of consultation, reflection, and action, the project seeks to generate locally grounded insights and scalable strategies that can inform rural mental health practice and policy.

*The term parent is used inclusively to refer to all caregivers of children and young people.

Microgreen Growing as a Therapeutic Intervention for Older Adults with Early Alzheimer’s Disease

Microgreen cultivation is emerging as an effective, simple, and engaging non-pharmacological intervention for older adults experiencing early Alzheimer’s disease. Microgreens—young vegetable and herb seedlings harvested within 7–10 days—are easy to grow indoors with minimal materials, making them accessible for elderly individuals with limited mobility or cognitive fatigue. This paper outlines the therapeutic value of incorporating microgreen growing into geriatric care routines.

The activity involves a short, structured sequence: preparing a tray, spreading seeds, misting daily, observing growth, and harvesting. These predictable steps support cognitive functioning by reinforcing attention, sequencing, and daily memory cues. The rapid growth cycle provides immediate visual feedback, increasing motivation and emotional satisfaction.

Microgreen growing also engages multiple sensory pathways. Touching the soil, smelling the greens, and watching them sprout helps anchor attention, reduce agitation, and promote sensory integration—key goals in dementia care. Fine-motor coordination is naturally exercised during sowing and watering, supporting functional independence.

Emotionally, nurturing plants fosters a sense of purpose and responsibility, which can counteract helplessness, low mood, and anxiety often observed in early Alzheimer’s. When implemented in small groups, it encourages social interaction and reduces isolation, offering opportunities for shared routines and conversations.

The intervention is safe, culturally familiar, and easily adaptable across care settings including homes, geriatric centres, and day-care programs. Given its low cost and high engagement value, microgreen growing represents a promising addition to non-pharmacological strategies for early-stage Alzheimer’s patients. Further controlled studies may help quantify its long-term cognitive and emotional benefits.

Background:
People living with mental health conditions (hereon referred to as mental health consumers) experience markedly poorer physical health and a life-expectancy gap of up to 30 years. The Physical Health Nurse Consultant service was introduced to translate policy into practice by supporting consumers to co-develop and pursue personalised physical health goals. This study examined how collaborative goal-setting with a Physical Health Nurse Consultant contributed to addressing physical health inequities.

Methods:
In a qualitative exploratory study, 14 mental health consumers who engaged with a Physical Health Nurse Consultant between November 2020 and April 2021 completed semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to capture experiences of goal co-development, implementation and outcome.

Results:
Three themes emerged: (1) the collaborative process of health goal-setting; (2) barriers and enablers to implementation and sustained behaviour change; and (3) the impact of achieving health goals. Participants described Physical Health Nurse Consultants as delivering mental health sensitive and person-centred support that mitigated motivational, systemic and capacity-based barriers. Reported outcomes included improved health literacy, greater engagement with preventive care, enhanced self-efficacy and increased agency in managing health.

Conclusions and implications:
The Physical Health Nurse Consultant service shows promise for narrowing physical health inequities by operationalising co-design and goal-setting within routine care. Embedding Physical Health Nurse Consultant roles can strengthen workforce capacity, advance equity-focused practice and improve holistic outcomes for people with mental illness supporting targeted and responsive interventions aligned with national equity priorities.

Evaluation of government delivered and commissioned mental health services is critical for ensuring responsiveness in changing service landscapes and workforces. Evaluation was tabled as a priority in the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement, and as one of the projects funded under the Agreement, the Youth at Risk of developing mental ill health Project has led ACT Government in embedding evaluation into all its activities.

Focused on improving outcomes for young people with trauma, the Project adopted a Try, Test and Learn approach to drive innovation and adaptability within the ACT child and youth mental health system. Two key streams of work were implemented: (1) co-design, delivery and evaluation of a 12-week trauma-informed practice training package for professionals in 2024–2025; and (2) design and establishment of Australia’s first Youth Trauma Service in 2025-2026, including a developmental evaluation.

Evaluation examined the impact of trauma-informed approaches to working with children and young people for practitioners, organisations, systems, and the lived experiences of young people, families, carers and kin, and communities. Findings have informed strategies for building resilient workforces and sustainable service systems, highlighting evaluation as a catalyst for continuous improvement and sector development.

This presentation will share the Project’s trauma-informed approach to evaluation, the methodology and design of various evaluation activities, co-design processes, support mechanisms and resources, and mechanisms for embedding evaluation in real-world mental health service settings. It will explore the barriers and enablers encountered, and demonstrate how evaluation has shaped continuous improvement in service delivery and sector development. Our goal is to make evaluation feel achievable while illustrating its essential role in addressing workforce and system challenges in mental health care.

Bridging Care: A Mental Health Community of Practice for Longevity and Wellbeing
The presentation showcases a cross-sector Mental Health Community of Practice (CoP) at a large not-for -profit organisation providing aged care and a wide range of community services providing for children and families in New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory. Our NGO services provide for clients across all ages. The CoP was formed to address the complex mental health needs that arise across extended lifespans. Our vision brings together clinicians, care managers, allied health professionals, peer workers and researchers to translate evidence into practice. We look at how we can share knowledge and resource across programs to uplift MH outcomes.
The presentation will describe how the CoP supports three core initiatives (1) workforce capability-building through sharing knowledge and experience in providing mental health care from a wide range of disciplines working in a variety of services within the organisation, (2) involving peer workers and lived experience representatives in designing how the organisation provides mental health care, (3) improving psychological safety within the organisation by providing a safe, structured and regular space for reflective practice, shared learning and improving the mental health literacy of staff.
The presentation will outline what is required to establish a successful and productive mental health CoP aligned with our organisation’s governance systems and through inclusive membership which has secure leadership and management support.

Narrative-Based Insight Reporting (NBIR) offers a consumer-led lived-experience approach intended to transform how mental health services understand and communicate insight. Government mental health services often rely on diagnostic, behavioral or risk-focused reporting, which describes what a person does in the context of a diagnostic framework. This leaves gaps in how insight, values, meaning and personal internal drivers are conveyed to teams. NBIR aims to address this by integrating structured, reflective conversations that centre the person’s voice and narrative within clinical and operational communication.

The model draws on principles from Narrative Formulation, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. It uses guided reflection to explore patterns, meaning-making, internal reasoning and shifts in insight over time. Its intended purpose is to create richer, person-centred reporting that improves how teams understand the client’s internal world and supports clearer, more collaborative planning across disciplines.
The methodology uses 3-4 structured interview 60-minute sessions in a natural setting exploring meaning making, internal reasoning and shifts in insight. The discussion is synthesized with the NBIR framework. It’s expected that self-understanding and insight communication is improved, and non-clinical recommendations are offered to support engagement, recovery planning, and multidisciplinary decision-making.
This presentation outlines the design and development of the NBIR model within a community mental health service that works with people who experience complex and acute mental health needs. It outlines the rationale and structure of the model and explains why placing consumer-led lived-experience perspectives at the centre of insight communication is expected to strengthen personal insight, trust and engagement, and adherence to treatment planning – all of which has been measured.
NBIR may have the potential to be adapted for private practice, specialised services and forensic environments. Its narrative framework aims to complement behavioural reporting and provide a scalable approach that strengthens person-centred practice across different service systems.

Depression and anxiety are among the most prevalent mental health conditions globally, yet the demand for treatment continues to outpace available resources. This treatment gap highlights significant unmet needs within the community, driven by barriers such as cost, long waiting times, and stigma. To address these challenges, the MOH Office for Healthcare Transformation (MOHT) has developed an Internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT) programme to be piloted at select community-level mental health agencies from 2026. This transdiagnostic eight-module programme is designed for adults experiencing symptoms of depression and/or anxiety and can be used as a self-guided or therapist-supported intervention.

International literature (Duffy et al. 2023) emphasizes that provider experiences, as well as organisational factors such as workflow integration, digital literacy, and clarity of roles, are critical determinants of successful iCBT adoption in routine care. Given the absence of localised iCBT protocols within Singapore’s community mental health landscape, understanding service provider perspectives is essential for effective implementation and long-term sustainability.

This qualitative study will explore the experiences, expectations, and implementation considerations of community mental health professionals participating in the upcoming iCBT pilot. Participants (n=10) will include counsellors, therapists, and administrative staff from the partnering agencies in the pilot. Semi-structured interviews guided by frameworks, will examine perceived usefulness, feasibility, confidence in guiding clients, training needs, and organisational readiness. Interviews will be audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically using an inductive approach to identify themes that shape provider engagement and adoption.

This study’s findings are expected to yield insights into key enablers and barriers influencing iCBT uptake, including provider attitudes toward digital tools like iCBT, clarity of responsibilities, alignment with existing workflows, and broader system-level factors affecting implementation readiness. These insights will inform programme refinement, provider training frameworks, and future implementation strategies of the iCBT tool within Singapore’s community care ecosystem.

Asian communities has quietly risen, often going unseen by mainstream services. In response, Asian Family Services undertook a qualitative study to give voice to the stories behind these shifts and to shape more culturally grounded pathways to wellbeing.

From 24 in-depth interviews with Asian New Zealanders who have experienced AoD-related challenges, three powerful themes emerged: the complex interplay between cultural norms and coping behaviours; the tension of generational identity; and the ambition for support that truly sees the whole person.

First, many participants described how alcohol is woven into social and professional life, expected and accepted in some cultures, even while illicit substance use remains taboo. Second, generational differences shaped use and harm: first-generation migrants often concealed their use to save face, while younger, NZ-born participants navigated peer pressure and bicultural identity conflicts. Third, judgment made seeking help fraught, particularly in the absence of culturally safe and identity-affirming spaces. Across stories, recovery began to take shape when services were both affirming and holistic, where cultural, linguistic, and identity needs were not obstacles but foundations for connection.

Key Learnings for youth, clinical, and community professionals:

Cultural context matters: AoD perceptions and harms are deeply rooted in cultural norms and stigma.

Generational identity matters: patterns of use and help-seeking vary sharply across migrant generations.

Safe spaces foster resilience: recovery flourishes when support systems are culturally, linguistically, and queer-inclusive.

These narratives challenge us to create mental health systems where identity and healing coexist, and where Asian young people and their whānau can be seen, heard, and supported in full.

How to discover the key points in a psychological counselling case and find various connections with other aspects of the clients’ life is one of the keys to determining the effectiveness of the counselling.

A practical and effective approach to this is a holistic, systematic, and connected framework for human health, with psychological or emotional feeling as the centre point (i.e., the BMSE model). In this model, there are six basic sub-systems, including “body, mind, and spirit” (internal) and “people, activities, and materials” (external). Four “H” areas can also be distinguished, namely Health, Happiness, Hope, and Harmony, referring respectively to the physical, mental, spiritual, and environmental domains. Finally, a soul point of view of this model is that all the health within and between the different levels can essentially be described by one word, namely, “through”, which refers to the idea that the flow states (including material flow, cognitive or emotional flow, and consciousness flow, etc.) are active, positive, mutually facilitating, and balanced.

The practical significance of this model for psychological counselling lies in its capacity to allow counsellors to easily identify the key problems or challenges currently faced by the client. At the same time, it facilitates an understanding of the underlying connections or mutual influences between the problem and other aspects of the client’s life under various time and space conditions, as well as the context and reasons for the occurrence and development of the problem. Ultimately, the correct direction and specific solution to the problem can be sought within the framework of the system.