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CONNECTIONSCONNECTIONS RESOURCERESOURCE GUIDEGUIDE BUILDING RESILIENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Department of Human Services Loddon Mallee Region June 2002 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Loddon Mallee Region, Department of Human Services, would like to thank the service providers and various other stakeholders whose suggestions at a workshop in August 2001 and since have guided the development of this Resource Guide. Thanks also to the service providers who contributed case studies and Inko Desktop Publishing for assistance with document layout. The early work on this document by Marnie Cassidy and Anne McCrae is gratefully acknowledged.

Department of Human Services, Loddon Mallee Region, Health, Housing and Aged Care Division (May 2002). Connections Resource Guide: Building Resilience in Your Community. www.dhs.vic.gov.au/regional/loddon/publications/publications.htm

For correspondence: Fred Wachtel Senior Project Officer Loddon Mallee Mental Health Program Department of Human Services PO Box 513 VIC 3552 [email protected] (03) 5434 5634

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY CONTENTS:

WELCOME STATEMENT 1

BACKGROUND INFORMATION 2

STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES 3 Mental Health Community Principles CASE STUDIES 4 Kyneton Secondary College 4 Lancefield Rural Fire Brigade Junior Development Project Foundation For Life 5 The Tall Poppies Project 6 Bendigo Men in Sheds Program 7 Kids With Confidence Peer Support Program For Children of Parent/s With Significant Mental Illness 8 The Story Of Shared Action A Community Development Project Of St Luke’s, Bendigo 9 Koori Students Behind Camera Makin Pitchas 10 Lead On 11 RESOURCES 12 VicHealth - How To Write A Media Release 12 Funding / Trust Bodies 13 Festivals 13 The Australia Council 13 Community Support Fund 13 VicHealth 14 How To Organise Special Events And Festivals 15 - A Practical Guide For Clubs and Associations SERVICE CONTACTS 18 Council Community Service Officers 18 Primary Care Partnership Executive Officers 19 School Focused Youth Service Coordinators 20 USEFUL INTERNET SITES 21

CONNECTIONS SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLAN SUMMARY 25

REFERENCES 27

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY WELCOME STATEMENT

Thank you for taking the time to look Some Case Studies of successful through this Resource Guide. Your initiatives have been included to interest reflects the growing demonstrate the possibilities. Some acknowledgement of the importance of were initiated by service providers; building resilience in our communities. others by interested community Resilience is about having the ability groups and individuals. to bounce back from difficult situations and circumstances that we may In this Resource Guide, you will find experience during our lifetime. One of information about where to go to the main sources of resilience lies in a receive support in your local sense of belonging to one’s community to achieve your aims. community, a sense of involvement in State and Commonwealth meaningful and worthwhile activity and Government Departments, Local social interaction with others. Government, Primary Care Partnerships, Community Health The need for a Resource Guide was Services and other primary service identified in the Connections: Suicide providers are a valuable resource for Prevention in the Loddon Mallee those engaged in community action. Region Action Plan 2001 (Page 28). Please make contact with local service providers for support with your ideas. The Resource Guide is a call to They can assist with the forming of action. It is a resource for any organising committees, providing individual wishing to make a venues, identifying funding sources contribution to improving the sense of and a range of other supports you can belonging and general wellbeing of draw on. people in their local community. It encourages individuals to consider This Resource Guide is expected to ways of engaging others to plan and further develop over time. You can run community-building events, work find it on the following website: towards the valuing of diversity within www.dhs.vic.gov.au/regional/loddon/ communities and decreasing publications/publications.htm. We disadvantage. It promotes the welcome your feedback to enable us importance of community spirit. to continually improve its usefulness. Please direct any comments you may Whether your interests lie in the area have to: of sport, commerce, the arts, education, the environment, health, Fred Wachtel leisure or any other community Senior Project Officer pursuit, there are opportunities to bring Mental Health Program people together to achieve benefits for Loddon Mallee Region the community. It is hoped this Department of Human Services Resource Guide can help to turn your PO Box 513 good ideas into reality. BENDIGO VIC 3552 Phone: (03) 5434 5634 Small initiatives often have a way of Email: [email protected] snowballing and achieving results well beyond those originally envisaged.

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page one BACKGROUND INFORMATION

There is growing awareness that the The Victorian Government Suicide burden of mental health problems in Prevention Taskforce released its the community is high and rising. report in July 1997. The Victorian According to a World Health Government’s response included Organisation (WHO) study, depression major funding initiatives and the alone will contribute the greatest inclusion of a suicide prevention focus disease burden in the developing in redeveloping existing service world by 2020. systems. A planned approach was required to ensure that a coordinated The Second National Mental Health and considered response to the issue Plan (1998) recognised the need to go of suicide prevention was developed. beyond existing treatment As a result of this the Loddon Mallee interventions, which alone cannot Region Department of Human reduce the burden of mental disorders Services (DHS) conducted a research and sought to shift the focus to mental project on suicide prevention in the health promotion, prevention and early Region in 1998/99. intervention. The main issues that were identified The Ottawa Charter for Health for the Region include: Promotion (WHO 1986) and the lack of consistency in a conceptual Jakarta Declaration (WHO 1997) approach to suicide and suicide provide a framework for mental health prevention; promotion. They call for: lack of developed and formalised building healthy public policy pathways among and between (emphasising the role of all sectors services and the general population; in health outcomes); social and geographical isolation of creating supportive environments in a number of groups within the all settings; region; and strengthening community action; importance of the continual training developing personal skills;and and education for health care re-orienting health services. professionals and communities. The National Action Plan for Promotion, Prevention and Early The recommendations developed from Intervention for Mental Health (2000) these issues concentrated on reducing states, “Mental health is influenced by the incidence of attempted and risk and protective factors that occur in completed suicide and the resultant the many different domains of impacts on communities. It was everyday life…Mental Health is an decided that a Regional Suicide issue for the entire community, Prevention Action Plan would be requires a whole of community developed to determine how the response and delivers benefits for the recommendations in the research whole community” (p1). report are to be implemented. The 13 Actions from the Plan are included at Whilst this Resource Guide seeks to the back of this Resource Guide. A encourage community action aimed at copy of the Research Report and promoting mental health in a broad Action Plan can be downloaded from sense, its development was the following website: specifically prompted by the www.dhs.vic.gov.au/regional/loddon/ Connections: Suicide Prevention in the publications/publications.htm Loddon Mallee Region Action Plan (2001).

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page two DEFINITIONS AND PRINCIPLES

MENTAL HEALTH

Mental Health is defined in the VicHealth Mental Health Promotion Plan (1999) as “the embodiment of social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Mental health provides individuals with the vitality necessary for active living, to achieve goals and to interact with one another in ways that are respectful and just” (p4).

COMMUNITY

Community is defined in the Connections: Suicide Prevention in the Loddon Mallee Region Action Plan (2001) as, “a specific group of people, often living in a defined geographical area, who may share common culture, values, and norms and are arranged in a social structure according to relationships which have been developed over time” (piii).

PRINCIPLES

Community resilience building must be inclusive of all sectors of the community. As defined in the Connections: Suicide Prevention in the Loddon Mallee Region Action Plan (2001), resilience is “the ability to ‘bounce back’ from difficult situations and circumstances. This involves the possession of positive personal traits (including social competence, problem solving, and self esteem) and external protective factors (including peer support, sense of belonging, and community resources)”(piii).

It is the right of every individual to feel socially connected to other members of their community. Social connectedness (Glover, Burns, Butler, Patten 1998) involves having someone to talk to, someone to trust, someone to depend on and someone who knows you well.

It is the right of every individual to live in an environment that promotes tolerance towards all individuals. The link between discrimination and mental ill health is clear. Living in a diverse community, some sub-groups experience a lack of respect and tolerance, resulting in social isolation. It is important that we value diversity in our communities and work against discrimination and towards social connectedness with one another.

Personal responsibility for the social and emotional wellbeing of people in the community stretches beyond the service system to each of us individually. We all hold a social responsibility to our fellow community members in ensuring that we facilitate an environment that promotes mental health to all individuals, in whatever capacity that we can.

It is the responsibility of all individuals engaged in promoting social and emotional wellbeing (in whatever capacity this may be), to coordinate their activities with others engaged in similar activities.

It is the right of every individual to participate in the economic life of their community to ensure they have access to money in order to survive.

‘Great ideas need landing gear as well as wings’ – C D Jackson

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page three CASE STUDIES The Case Studies outlined below Countless other worthwhile activities in provide examples of community the areas of sport, environment, the arts, building where individuals and education and commerce could have organisations have shown leadership in been added; this is by no means an engaging others to improve local exhaustive list. If you are aware of circumstances. The contact people activities which you think should be listed are keen to share their included, please send details to the experiences with anyone wishing to run contact listed on page one of this similar activities in their local document. communities.

KYNETON SECONDARY COLLEGE

Kyneton Secondary College has been based learning disabilities. researching the use of voice-activated It has been found that it takes up to software for use by students with about two intense periods to initially disabilities. This includes students with ‘train the computer’ plus another two both physical and learning weeks of normal usage to get it working impairments. The voice-activated with a high level of accuracy and software was first seen in 1996, and it’s reliability, as each user must train the potential for use within the school computer for their voice. The project so setting were recognised immediately. far looks promising, as the program Voice-activated software allows appears adaptable to a range of voice students to use their computer simply types. by talking to it. They are able to type articles and use other software with This program has the potential to minimal physical use of the keyboard increase participation of children with and other software. disabilities, facilitate greater interaction with their fellow class members and The benefits of this computer software increase self-esteem and social are limitless. Students who have connectedness within the school physical impairments, and who may environment. experience difficulties manipulating pen and paper are able to use the program Further Information: to write documents with the power of their voice. Mark Ridgeway Kyneton Secondary College Students who have learning disabilities Epping Street are able to use the program to read KYNETON VIC 3444 back their work, so that they are able to Phone: (03) 5422 1511 check that what they have written Website: sounds correct. www.Kyneton.net.au/~Kynsec/home

Trials for this project are occurring with students from year 7 to 12 who have a range of disabilities including language

‘The most effective way to cope with change is to help create it’- L.W Lynett.

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page four LANCEFIELD RURAL FIRE BRIGADE JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT – “FOUNDATION FOR LIFE”

The Junior Development Project came Lancefield’s junior team has received about when two 12-year-old boys invitations to visit and train with junior became involved in the fire brigade. members at Birmingham (UK), During this time the senior members Roeselare (Belgium) and Ingolstadt were training to participate in a team (Germany). The brigade at Roeselare event with other local fire brigades at has offered accommodation, a day of the Lancefield Agricultural Show, and competition with their junior members, the two boys asked if they could enter a an opportunity to meet the families of team. They then recruited another two the Flemish junior fire fighters, a civic young people to form a team. reception with the mayor of Roeselare Subsequently they were able to recruit and a visit to the Australian war a team of five people ranging in age memorial in Ypres. They have also from 12 to 13 years. At the Lancefield received an invitation to visit the Los Agricultural show the team won both Angles Fire Department training wing events even though they were and fire stations in the Los Angles area. competing against people who were four years older. The project has assisted the boys to achieve personal goals, develop All of the five people have remained confidence and skills through their active and are now registered as junior achievement and has seen various members of the brigade. They will groups come together to support the undertake formal training and attempt project, such as local Police, Local the basic fire fighter package provided Government, Parents, School Focused by the Country Fire Authority (CFA). Youth Service (Youth Suicide Prevention), Regional Youth Committee Since the junior members joined the and State and Federal members of brigade they have been corresponding Parliament. with volunteer fire fighters in Belgium, Germany and Britain. A competition is Further Information: being organised between junior members of Lancefield and the Aston Barry Barnett Fire Brigade in Birmingham, England. Sandhurst Centre Finn Street BENDIGO VIC 3550 Phone: (03) 5440 2200 Email: [email protected]

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page five TALL POPPIES PROJECT

The Tall Poppies Project Inc. is a youth an independent incorporated body. leadership and mentoring program that The Tall Poppies Project has offered a has a mission of changing the lives of program every year in Bendigo since its young people in powerful, positive and commencement in 1999. While there productive ways. are no immediate plans to run a Tall Poppies program in other towns, it is The Tall Poppies Project is open to anticipated that this will happen in the young people aged 15 to 25 who are near future. passionate about making a difference. Participants attend a number of skill The project is predominantly funded development workshops, and create through local sponsorship. The Tall and initiate their own personal Poppies Project received the 1999 community project. Premiers Award for most outstanding community project in the Victorian With a vision of “Youth leading Youth”, service clubs category. This award was participants are encouraged to lead self worth $1,500. Tall Poppies has also before leading others, and to lead been awarded a Queen’s Trust Award others by example. of $2,500.

The strategy of the project is experiential learning to provide knowledge and skills. Wise elders in the community serve as positive examples to the participants by facilitating the workshops. Each participant is also matched with a mentor from the local community to support them with their personal project.

At the end of each program, a Further Information: graduation ceremony and project expo is held, in which the participant Jan Hamilton presents their project to others. Project Facilitator PO Box 4040 The Tall Poppies Project was founded BENDIGO MARKET PLACE VIC 3552 by Val Wilkinson and established in Phone: (03) 5444 1133 1998 under the auspices of the Mobile: 0419 337 283 Combined Women’s Service Clubs of Email: [email protected] Greater Bendigo. Tall Poppies is now Website: www.tallpoppies.org.au

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page six BENDIGO MEN IN SHEDS PROGRAM

The Bendigo Men in Sheds Program The study also identified the Men in has operated from a central Bendigo Sheds Program as an ideal vehicle for site since late 1999. The Program men’s health promotion. Participants at provides a semi-structured setting for Bendigo Men In Sheds had received retired men to meet to make and repair education through the Program on a wooden and other items. Bendigo Men variety of health issues including diet In Sheds currently has around 50 regu- and diabetes, keeping fit in retirement lar members. and medication. The Program has reached out to socially isolated men The Program provides three 3-hour and provided them with the opportunity sessions each week for members of to make friends whilst educating them Bendigo Men In Sheds Inc. The Shed about how to better care for their is owned by the Salvation Army and is health. also used by other community groups. Funding support for the Program is currently provided through the .

The primary aim of the Program is to promote positive retirement for men by providing a large and well-equipped woodworking shed for retired men to make timber and other crafted items. Retired men do not always have the shed space or machinery needed to make and repair household and other items and, it is believed, men are traditionally hard to reach in relation to health promotion. Further Information: A recent study has identified that the Bendigo Men In Sheds Program is Ms Marilyn Bailey much more than the simple provision of City of Greater Bendigo a roofed dwelling. The Shed provides PO Box 733 an environment where men can meet to BENDIGO VIC 3552 share and receive knowledge in relation Phone: (03) 5434 6428 to their skills. Importantly, it is seen as a ‘blokes’ place - a place to share life Ms Kaye Graves stories, talk about worries and Community Health Bendigo concerns, and find out about other PO Box 169 services (particularly health services). EAGLEHAWK VIC 3556 The men reported that the most Phone: (03) 5441 9804 important reason for attending was to meet other blokes and make friends.

‘The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work’ - Arthur Brisbane

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page seven KIDS WITH CONFIDENCE: Peer Support Program For Children Who Have Parent/s With Significant Mental Illness

The “Kids With Confidence” - Pilot Peer community, assist children to Support Program is a rural replication of understand social behaviour and the the Children and Mentally Ill Parents setting of limits and provide an (CHAMPS) Peer Support Activity opportunity for normalising recreational Program developed by the Mental experiences. The program will provide Health Research Institute, Melbourne, relevant information about mental funded by the Commonwealth illness in a sensitive, age appropriate Government through National Mental way, and assist the children to Health Funding. The target group for understand the impact of mental illness this project is children aged between 9 on themselves and their parent/s. and 13 years (Grade 4 to Year 8) who have one or both parents diagnosed Emotionally, the project aims to build on with a serious mental illness. The the child’s current survival skills, parent and child must reside in the increase the child’s capacity to trust Loddon Southern Mallee region of rural appropriate adults, encourage a level of Victoria. independence that is age appropriate and assists the child to distance The aims and objectives of the program themselves from the mental illness as developed by the CHAMPS project when necessary (eg where the parent’s are to promote optimal social, mental illness may involve the child in a emotional and cognitive development complex delusional system) and to for children who have parent/s with a assist the child in identifying feelings, significant serious mental illness both his/her own and those of other (schizophrenia, bipolar affective people, and to separate them disorder and major depression) by appropriately. using a model of peer support. An outcome for this project is children Further Information: meeting other children with similar experiences, which assists them to Caitlin Fraser learn how to make friends in a safe PO Box 78 environment. The project will assist STRATHDALE VIC 3550 children to identify personal supports, Phone: (03) 5440 6500 identify the child’s strengths and coping Email: [email protected] mechanisms in their family and local

‘Most good ideas sparkle in simplicity, so much so that everyone wonders why no one ever did that before’ – Estée Lauder

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page eight THE STORY OF SHARED ACTION – A Community Development Project Of St Luke’s, Bendigo

St Luke's took the initiative to communities issues and needs. These implement a community building were to establish a sport and recreation program with the intention of preventing club and to build a family park. people reaching the stage that they needed the support of more intensive The community park was established services. According to reports from on a site that had been vacant for a child protection services, community number of years. By developing ideas policing, schools and community health on what to do with the site, it enabled services, a significant number of the community members to become families in the Long Gully area were familiar with local government and vulnerable. St Luke’s received funding safety legislation. The City of Greater from the Ian Potter Foundation, Bendigo assisted at every stage of the enabling them to work with families in park development and many local Long Gully for 3 years. businesses actively participated and donated to various causes. In order to The aim of the project was to work with assist the various activities, many the people living in Long Gully to assist community members underwent them to develop a shared vision and to training in other areas including first implement projects that worked aid, food handling and sports towards making that vision a reality. administration. Many of the children The Shared Action project used a got to know other locals through strengths-based community participating in the junior sports team, development approach which had the organising discos, holding children’s goals of promoting the wellbeing of the camps and the creation of football and children, promoting feelings of safety, netball teams. Activities such as mobilising support from within Long fundraising also strengthened their ties Gully and the wider community and with the community. drawing on the resources and strengths of the community. Community projects Participants reported that they felt engaged participation from local proud of the progress that had been residents, schools, parents, the made and had a closer relationship neighbourhood house, health and wel- with community members. They fare agencies, local government and recognised they had skills and values others. in common with other people which they previously had little positive The Shared Action project staff met contact with, such as politicians and over a period of time with community police. members to establish what the community members saw as a shared Further Information: vision of a healthy, safe and pleasant community. The community then Linda Beilharz identified priorities for action. The top PO Box 315 priority was to develop trust by BENDIGO VIC 3552 enabling people to get to know each Phone: (03) 5440 1100 other better. Two projects were decided Email: [email protected] upon that would address the

‘If you can dream it, you can do it’ - Walt Disney

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page nine KOORI STUDENTS BEHIND THE CAMERA – “Makin Pitchas”

Young Kooris from the Ballarat area A Koori actor from Ballarat, Myles embarked on a six-month filmmaking Walsh, was employed in the early adventure in 2001 to produce a film stages of the project to help develop featuring a series of short stories the young people’s acting skills. Film reflecting mental health issues that maker Richard Franklin was also given affect them and the people around the role of a mentor, teaching them. participants the technical skills of film making, camera use and editing. While Initiated by the Ballarat and District this project addressed mental health Aboriginal Cooperative and funded by issues, those involved also believe that VicHealth’s Rural Partnerships in it created new interests and possible Mental Health and Wellbeing Program, career options for the 16 participants. the project was coordinated by actor and director Verity Higgins. The stories The film, and the information gained featured in the film were researched from the project, was disseminated as and written by young Kooris involved in part of cultural awareness education the production. throughout Koori communities and mainstream organisations in Victoria. Sue Humphries, a youth worker with Sue remarked that the issues that were the cooperative, said the film project explored in the film may also have a explored issues affecting a young great impact on non-Aborigines who person’s mental health, such as have a limited understanding of some depression, suicide of friends and of the issues facing young Koori family, self-esteem and discrimination. people. Involvement in the project also impacted on each participant’s cultural Further Information: pride, sense of belonging and place in the community. Gwenda Freeman Ballarat and District Aboriginal Koori youth involved in the project Cooperative found new levels of emotional wellbeing PO Box 643 and raised self-esteem, as stories BALLARAT VIC 3353 contained in the film explored issues Phone: (03) 5331 5344 that affected the holistic health of Email: [email protected] Aboriginal communities.

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page ten LEAD ON

Lead On was launched in June 1999. The projects must be real and required, The Program seeks to link young not token. They must provide value for people in partnerships with businesses the youth involved and the and community organisations to business/organisation and ensure youth undertake practical projects with are contributing to the project at all tangible outcomes providing value to all levels. The young people select which involved. projects Lead On undertakes. They have a power of veto over anything Lead On is open to any person who Lead On does, ensuring relevance and wants to participate. Primarily, it ownership. attracts people aged 14 to 25 years, but uses a mentoring model with input from Lead On’s role is to ensure projects older people who assist, through the function properly, liaising with all facilitation of Lead On, with developing partners and measuring the results and real project outcomes. outcomes for the young people involved. Projects have included: The young people who become a Careers Expo attracting 7,500 involved are from varied backgrounds young people; and different levels of academic ability. LOOP – a weekly supplement to the The diversity of backgrounds is seen as Bendigo Advertiser, Sunraysia Daily a strength. Parents indicate Lead On and possibly the Riverina Herald, creates positive outcomes at home for written, designed and edited by those involved. young people for young people; Lead On Inc – a web page design Every school in the Bendigo region has and IT solutions business managed young people involved with Lead On. by young people; Over 40 businesses and organisations in the Bendigo community are partners Cinema movie promotions – over 50 young people involved in developing in Lead On – there is a waiting list of and implementing plans to promote businesses and community partners. movies; Over 500 young people in Bendigo, 80 in Mildura and 70 in Echuca participate Bendigo Community Telco – involvement in the start up phase of in the program. The Program also now this business; and operates in Swan Hill and Ipswich in Queensland. Bendigo Heritage Calendar – involvement in art work and design. Further Information: Lead On focuses on group participation, promoting inter- Chris DeAraugo dependence. It aims to expose young 114 Queen Street people to the opportunities within a BENDIGO VIC 3550 community to become involved in Phone: (03) 5442 3177 worthwhile activities. Email: [email protected]

‘Don’t be afraid to take big steps. You can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps’ – David Lloyd George

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page eleven RESOURCES

VICHEALTH – PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH (1999)

How To Write A Media Release

Always date the top of the media release.

A punchy headline will grab a journalist’s attention.

Use the KISS principle – Keep it short and simple. Try to limit the report to one page and only include the important details.

After the headline, the first paragraph is the most important. In this short paragraph, focus on keeping the readers attention on your story. Keep this paragraph between 20-25 words in length.

Who, what, where, why and how? Try to answer these most important questions in the first two or three paragraphs. Include more general information at the end of the release.

Include the necessary details – Dates, times and location highlighting them in bold.

Type the media release on a company letterhead for a professional image.

Newspapers and TV are always on the lookout for photographic opportunities. Be sure to draw their attention to these opportunities if there are any.

Journalists will often require additional information including name, company and contact details, include after hours numbers.

State your spokes person (two at most) and include quotable quotes from a relevant spokes person.

Use colourful language – suited to your intended audience.

The VicHealth Promoting Mental Health Kit is designed to support community groups and organisations involved in mental health promotion. It contains training materials to deliver key concepts relating to mental health promotion and tips on how to relate to the media to promote projects. It can be ordered by contacting:

Victorian Health Promotion Foundation PO Box 154 CARLTON SOUTH VIC 3053 Phone: (03) 9667 1333 Fax: (03) 9667 1375 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vichealth.vic.gov.au

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page twelve FUNDING / TRUST BODIES

If you require money to run your local event and need ideas on fundraising, some organisations are listed below which can be contacted to support you in your endeavour.

Further funding sources can be found at some of the Internet sites listed later in this document.

Festivals Australia Festivals Australia is a grants program within the Commonwealth Department of Communication, Information and Technology and the Arts.

Festivals Australia has the specific aim of providing assistance to regional and community festivals for cultural activities. Applications must come from incorporated not-for-profit organisations, with annual audited financial statements. Calls for applications take place twice a year, and funding rounds close in February and July with announcements usually in May and October.

Festivals Australia GPO Box 2154 Canberra ACT 2601 Phone: 1800 819 461 Fax: (02) 6271 1697 Program Officer Phone: (02) 6271 1661

The Australia Council The Australia Council has a range of grants available, and publishes a grants handbook each year. This handbook details each grants program and has a comprehensive reference section covering arts resource organisations.

The Australia Council PO Box 788 STRAWBERRY HILLS NSW 2012 Phone: 1800 226 912 Fax: (02) 9215 9111

Community Support Fund The Community Support Fund (CSF) was set up to ensure that a proportion of Government revenue from electronic gaming machines is made available for worthwhile projects which will benefit the Victorian community. It is a significant source of funding for projects at both the local community and statewide level.

The CSF provides the opportunity to fund projects which often do not fit within existing government funding programs but which have the potential to improve the wellbeing and lifestyle of the communities which they will serve. It aims to address specific needs within communities, particularly those experiencing social and economic disadvantage, by combining community and government resources to build community capability. The CSF will work with communities to develop positive outcomes which meet local needs.

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page thirteen Community Support Fund (Cont) The Fund was established through an Act of Parliament - the Gaming Machine Control Act 1991 - and funds projects in the areas of:

gambling research; preventing problem gambling and assisting problem gamblers; drug education, treatment and rehabilitation; financial counselling services and assisting families in crisis; youth, sport or recreation programs; community advancement; and arts and tourism.

Community Support Fund Department of Premier and Cabinet 1 Treasury Place MELBOURNE VIC 3002 Phone: (03) 9651 0071 Fax: (03) 9651 0098 Website: www.dpc.vic.gov.au/csf

VicHealth VicHealth is the major funder of mental health promotion activity in Victoria. Its central themes are social connectedness and the valuing of diversity. There are a number of different funding rounds available throughout the year targeting different priority groups, including rural communities, youth, indigenous communities, older people and new arrivals.

Victorian Health Promotion Foundation PO Box 154 CARLTON SOUTH VIC 3053 Phone: (03) 9667 1333 Fax: (03) 9667 1375 Website: www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page fourteen HOW TO ORGANISE SPECIAL EVENTS AND FESTIVALS

A Practical Guide For Clubs and Associations By Rob Tonge

This is a fantastic resource covering all the important things to remember such as:

Assessing the idea It is important to put the necessary thought into any proposal you have, and ensure you have done adequate research into your proposal, and you have considered all aspects, including public attitude towards your proposal.

Planning the event Ensure you clearly set objectives for your project, and are able to measure the outcomes of these objectives. You need to take into account the estimated time required, the event date and financial management.

Establish the organising committee It is essential for the success of your event/project that you develop an organising committee, divided into sub groups, in order to effectively manage your project.

Sponsorship & Promotion Thorough research and planning is required in order to gain sponsorship for your project, and to effectively promote it.

Cost: $38.50 GST INC

Copies of this book will be available through each Primary Care Partnership in the Loddon Mallee Region and Department of Human Services offices in Bendigo, Swan Hill and Mildura.

Further information and an order form are on the next two pages.

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page fifteen CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page sixteen CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page seventeen SERVICE CONTACTS

Local Service Directories are available from Council Offices throughout the Region. It is strongly recommended you consult with Local Government and local service providers when planning a community event or project. The contact details for Community Service Officers at each Council appears below:

COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS

BULOKE SHIRE COUNCIL CAMPASPE SHIRE COUNCIL Mr Bill Keane Mr Paul McKenzie Buloke Shire Council Campaspe Shire Council PO Box 1 PO Box 35 WYCHEPROOF VIC 3527 ECHUCA VIC 3564 Phone: (03) 5491 1755 Phone: (03) 5481 2200

CENTRAL GOLDFIELDS SHIRE COUNCIL GANNAWARRA SHIRE COUNCIL Ms Sandra Wright Ms Pauline Thorson Central Goldfields Shire Council Gannawarra Shire Council PO Box 194 PO Box 252 MARYBOROUGH VIC 3465 COHUNA VIC 3568 Phone: (03) 5461 0610 Phone: (03) 5456 5207

GREATER CITY OF BENDIGO COUNCIL LODDON SHIRE COUNCIL Ms Trish Stow Ms Iris Chapel Greater City of Bendigo Council Loddon Shire Council PO Box 733 PO Box 21 BENDIGO VIC 3550 WEDDERBURN VIC 3518 Phone: (03) 5434 6000 Phone: (03) 5437 8204

MACEDON RANGES SHIRE COUNCIL MILDURA RURAL CITY COUNCIL Ms Jill Barham Mr Martin Hawson Macedon Ranges Shire Council Mildura Rural City Council PO Box 151 PO Box 105 KYNETON VIC 3444 MILDURA VIC 3500 Phone: (03) 5427 8253 Phone: (03) 5022 2777

MT ALEXANDER SHIRE COUNCIL SWAN HILL RURAL CITY COUNCIL Mr Dean Curtis Ms Shirley Bourke Mt Alexander Shire Council Swan Hill Rural City Council PO Box 185 PO Box 488 CASTLEMAINE VIC 3450 SWAN HILL VIC 3585 Phone: (03) 5471 1700 Phone: (03) 5032 0333

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page eighteen PRIMARY CARE PARTNERSHIP EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Additional information on services available in local communities can be obtained by contacting staff from Primary Care Partnerships (PCPs). Contact details for PCPs appears below. PCPs would be able to point to the most appropriate agencies to assist people to organise local activities.

BENDIGO LODDDON PCP NORTHERN MALLEE PCP Ms Karen Riley Mr Michael Jobe Executive Officer Executive Officer Bendigo Loddon PCP Northern Mallee PCP PO Box 169 PO Box 2803 EAGLEHAWK VIC 3556 MILDURA VIC 3502 Phone: (03) 5434 4362 Phone: (03) 5021 4875

SOUTHERN MALLEE PCP CAMPASPE PCP Ms Megan Hosken Mr Collin Brady Executive Officer Executive Officer Southern Mallee PCP Campaspe PCP PO Box 1049 PO Box 164 SWAN HILL VIC 3585 ROCHESTER VIC 3561 Phone: (03) 5032 4479 Phone: (03) 5484 3299

CENTRAL VICTORIAN HEALTH ALLIANCE PCP Ms Lisa Delaney Executive Officer Central Victorian Health Alliance PCP PO Box 687 CASTLEMAINE VIC 3450 Phone: (03) 5472 5333 or (03) 5472 4827

The catchments of the PCPs are detailed on the map below:

Provided by DHS Loddon Mallee Region, Regional Data Unit CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page nineteen SCHOOL FOCUSED YOUTH SERVICE COORDINATORS

Another group of workers who have a sound knowledge of local service networks are the School Focused Youth Service (SFYS) Coordinators. These positions were established in 1998 in response to recommendations of the Victorian Suicide Prevention Taskforce.

The underpinning principle of the program is the coordination of preventative and early intervention strategies for children and young people aged 10 to 18 years, delivered through schools and community agencies.

The Program operates from 41 ‘clusters’, or sub-regional groupings of services, each of which work with a cluster of schools. Four such clusters are in the Loddon Mallee Region.

Contact Details for the School Focused Youth Service Coordinators are as follows:

Lindsay Maplestone Gavan Tompson Northern District Community Health Cobaw Community Health PO Box 523 PO Box 146 KERANG VIC 3585 KYNETON VIC 3444 Phone: (03) 5452 2770 Phone: (03) 5422 3011 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Jill Joslyn Trish Steel Rural Bendigo Community Health PO Box 105 PO Box 169 MILDURA VIC 3052 EAGLEHAWK VIC 3556 Phone: (03) 5022 2777 Phone: (03) 5443 0655 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION OFFICERS

Jenny Mitchell Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Bendigo Health Care Group Division of Psychiatry PO Box 126 BENDIGO VIC 3552 Phone: (03) 5400 6500 Email: [email protected] c/- Kerry Holland Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Mildura Base Hospital PO Box 620 MILDURA VIC 3502 Phone: (03) 5022 3500 Email: [email protected]

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page twenty USEFUL INTERNET SITES

Victorian Department of Human Services www.dhs.vic.gov.au This Internet site has examples of work being done within the Department of Human Services, and has links to other useful sites.

City of Greater Bendigo www.bendigo.vic.gov.au This site displays a number of events that are happening around the region as well as some local contacts.

Tourism Victoria www.visitvictoria.com.au This site shows a Calender of events that are going on in the state.

B-Central www.tops.telstra.com/asp/index.asp The Central Victorian Youth Internet Portal is funded by the Commonwealth Government’s Networking the Nation Program. It aims to provide internet access to young people, particularly those who are isolated. The portal will provide information about support services, programs and events.

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page twenty-one USEFUL INTERNET SITES (CONT)

CitySearch www.melbourne.citysearch.com.au Shows things that are going on in the city, and where to obtain state information about tourist attractions.

VicHealth www.vichealth.vic.gov.au This site contains information about funding possibilities for mental health promotion activities and links to more. The site also provides examples of current projects.

Vicnet www.vicnet.net.au/vicnet Victoria’s Community network.

Commonwealth Government www.mentalhealth.gov.au The Commonwealth Government’s Mental Health website contains major strategy documents including the 2nd National Mental Health Plan and the Action Plan for the Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health 2000.

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page twenty-two USEFUL INTERNET SITES (CONT)

Equal Opportunity Commission www.eoc.vic.gov.au This is the Equal Opportunity Commission’s web site, and provides useful information about individual’s rights within different settings.

Better Health Channel www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au The Better Health site has a very good calendar of events for Victoria, and also contains useful health information in a number of areas.

Our Communities www.ourcommunity.com.au (Funding) This is a fantastic site for the project beginner!! This site offers information about where to find funding for your projects. The site gives comprehensive advice about how to gain funding and how to write submissions to funding bodies.

Grantsearch www.grantsearch.com/ (Funding) This site too provides information about funding bodies, and lists different types of funding bodies and trusts. A data- base of over 2,900 entries.

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page twenty-three USEFUL INTERNET SITES (CONT)

Department of Premier and Cabinet www.dpc.vic.gov.au (Funding) The Victorian Government’s Community Support Fund – revenue from hotel gaming machines is made available for projects which benefit the Victorian community.

Victorian Multicultural Commission www.multicultural.vic.gov.au/index.htm (Funding) Homepage of the Victorian Multicultural Commission. It has details of the Community Grants Program and other sources of funding.

Grantslink www.grantslink.gov.au (Funding) This Commonwealth Government site allows you to search for a range of grants by subject, agency or grant name. It also provides useful information about writing and submitting applications.

Arts Victoria www.arts.vic.gov.au/index.htm Arts Victoria provides a range of programs which are designed to assist in the development and presentation of cultural projects, programs, and services which will benefit the Victorian arts industry and the community. These include funding programs, forums, research, and publications.

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page twenty-four CONNECTIONS Suicide Prevention in the Loddon Mallee Region Action Plan Summary

The Action Plan was developed to promote community resilience by fostering a consistent conceptual approach, identifying pathways to services; acknowledging the difficulties due to social and geographic isolation, and promoting the importance of on-going skills development for health care professionals and communities.

Action 1 The Connections: Suicide Prevention in the Loddon Mallee Region report and model was endorsed by the Department of Human Services (DHS) and made available to service providers and the community to develop a greater understanding of suicide prevention options.

Action 2 The DHS Region promotes the Model of Suicide Prevention and Service Provision, a population-based primary prevention approach, by raising awareness of the importance of this issue and preventative approach when funding service.

Action 3 Regional service providers are asked to adopt the population based prevention approach – also known as the resilience Model. This model seeks to develop the protective connections between individuals and groups within their community. Importantly this will include elements from the education, health and social support systems as well as groups and individuals significant to a community.

Action 4 The current DHS Primary Care Partnerships (PCP) networks are considered the most effective unit to provide population based prevention appropriate to each community and its people. Cooperation between agencies, groups and individuals within each PCP needs to be fostered and developed for optimum responsiveness. Examples of existing networks are given in the Connections Action Plan.

Action 5 The risk of suicide may be broadly viewed along a continuum. Agencies and support services may have varying mandates to respond. Suicide prevention pathways need to take into account and enhance formal and informal networks. Importantly, a directory of suicide related service’s is required. Examples of directories currently being developed and related information as well as relevant contacts are provided in the action plan.

Action 6 Local governments in the region will be encouraged to review their Emergency Management Plans to incorporate post-vention plans, appropriate preventative responses should a suicide occur to lessen the public threat of imitation suicide.

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page twenty-five Action 7 The region will encourage research into effective suicide prevention for “at risk” groups who may be unable to access, be service resistant or at higher risk than the general population. There are examples of existing regional programs in the Action Plan.

Action 8 The development of resilience information Kits is to be undertaken with broad service and community input. These kits are to provide a generic framework and specific information relevant to each PCP.

Action 9 Regional agencies and service providers are to develop strategies to increase community awareness of options to promote population based resilience models of suicide prevention. Mental health promotion officers will inform and assist other to develop coordinated and consistent suicide prevention approaches.

Action 10 The Purro Birik (Healthy Spirit) Strategic Plan was launched in June 1999. The report was developed in consultation with Aboriginal communities emphasising health promotion and preventative approaches. The report aims to strengthen links and partnerships between Aboriginal communities and mainstream services.

Action 11 A media resource kit for reporting suicide - Achieving the Balance: A Resource Kit for Australian Media Professionals is to be promoted and made available to media to lessen the public threat of imitation suicide.

Action 12 A working party of interested stakeholders is to be convened to participate in the promotion of uniformed classification and evaluative tools.

Action 13 The region is to review and evaluate suicide prevention strategies after 24 months.

Further Information:

Fred Wachtel Senior Project Officer Mental Health Program Loddon Mallee Region Department of Human Services PO Box 513 BENDIGO VIC 3552 Phone: (03) 5434 5634 [email protected]

The full report can be viewed or downloaded from: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/regional/loddon/publications/publications.htm

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page twenty-six REFERENCES

Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, National Action Plan for Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health, 2000 Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services, Second National Mental Health Plan, 1998 Community Health Bendigo, Shedding the Light on "Men in Sheds" 2001 Department of Human Services, Loddon Mallee Region, Connections: Suicide Prevention in the Loddon Mallee Region, Research Report 1999 Department of Human Services, Loddon Mallee Region, Connections: Suicide Prevention in the Loddon Mallee Region, Action Plan, 2001 Glover, Burns, Butler, Patten, Social Environments and the Emotional Wellbeing of Young People, 1998 VicHealth, Mental Health Promotion Plan, 1999 VicHealth, Promoting Mental Health, 1999 Victorian Government, Suicide Prevention, Victorian Task Force Report, 1997 World Health Organisation, The Jakarta Declaration on Leading Health Promotion into the 21st Century, 1997 World Health Organisation and Canadian Public Health Association, Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 1986

‘I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world’ - Albert Einstein.

CONNECTIONS RESOURCE GUIDE BUILDING RESILIANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY page twenty-seven