AASW Conference 2019 dinner speaker Debbie Kilroy

Have you booked to attend the dinner of AASW Conference 2019? We are excited to announce that Debbie Kilroy will be the dinner speaker at the conference in Adelaide. As the Chief Executive Officer of Sisters Inside, Debbie is a tireless advocate for the rights and interests of women and actively works to end violence and dismantle the prison industry. Debbie has spearheaded numerous ground-breaking programs to break the cycle of imprisonment. Debbie uses her position to empower criminalised women and girls to have their voices, interests and priorities heard. Debbie is passionate about supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls to become leaders.

She is a social worker and the first and only former prisoner to be admitted as a legal practitioner in Australia.

To hear Debbie’s inspirational story, register for our conference, as well as the dinner in Adelaide in November.

	AASW Conference 2019: Three weeks until early bird closes

The AASW Conference 2019 early bird rate finishes on 7 August - just three weeks away. Register today. 

• Be inspired by our enriching program
• Make a difference with new skills and knowledge
• Come together and find solutions
• View the latest products and services
• Network with like-minded professionals.

We look forward to seeing you in Adelaide in November.

	NAIDOC Week: July 7-14

Last week was NAIDOC Week with its theme Voice. Treaty. Truth. The Association recognised NAIDOC around the country, published a media release and updated the AASW website.

You would have received a special bulletin from us last week outlining the branch activities during NAIDOC.

	AASW Submissions and Inquiries

AASW's branches have social policy and advocacy issues they are pursuing and seek input from members. Be in touch with your AASW Branch to contribute to the policy areas that matter to you.

The AASW has recently made the following submissions:

• MBS Review
• Queensland’s Mental Health Commission consultation - Improving physical health for people with a lived experience of mental illness or problematic alcohol and other drug use: A Case For Change
• Victorian Royal Commission into Mental Health.

All submissions are posted to the social policy webpage when we have permission to make them public (as required).

We are currently working on a number of submissions.  If you would like to be part of the Association’s consultation process please contact us. More details are provided below.

	Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety update

We would like to thank our members who were able to participate in our consultation sessions, facilitated by the branches. Thanks to your input, we fostered some fantastic discussion and insight from our members, which we will use to inform our submission.

Submissions to the Royal Commission close on 15 September, and we are considering the next steps in our consultation process to enable as many members with experience of the aged care system as possible to provide input. If you were unable to participate in our consultation sessions, but would like to contribute to our submission, please contact socialpolicy@aasw.asn.au. 

	Victorian Royal Commission into Mental Health

The AASW submission was developed in extensive collaboration with our members who have significant experience in the field and the see the impacts of the current system every day. In our submission we argue that in order address our current mental health challenges, the Victorian government needs to ensure a person centred, rights based, multifaceted and systemic approach to service delivery. We will release the submission shortly.

	Department of Veterans Affairs – delay to changes announced

The Department of Veteran Affairs had announced that changes to its Treatment Cycle Initiative (TCI), would be introduced on 1 July 2019.

AHPA liaised with Minister for Veterans Darren Chester, following expressions of concern by its members, including AASW, on the short notice of these changes and the absence of preparation and guidance provided to the allied health sector to facilitate a successful transition to the TCI for both clients and providers.

Read more about DVA changes

	Rebate freeze on Medicare items lifted

As announced in the 2019 budget, the freeze on MBS items was lifted from 1 July 2019 with a 1.6% increase in rebates for 176 General Practitioners (GP) service items, including health assessments, chronic disease management plans, and mental health services provided by GPs. This means patients accessing a mental health service from an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker will receive a higher rebate. The rebate schedule is available on the AASW website.

The Minister’s media release is available.

More information is available on the Medicare website.

	Eating Disorders: AMHSWs eligible to deliver services under the new MBS items

The much-needed MBS items announced by the Minister for Health, Greg Hunt in December 2018  will come into effect on 1 November 2019 and will include:

• A dedicated single Medicare Benefits Scheme item number for eating disorder treatment for those with severe and complex illness, delivering up to 60 Medicare-funded sessions of treatment – 40 psychotherapeutic and 20 dietetic across the range of eating disorders – anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and atypical presentations
• Diagnosis by a GP and mental health practitioner recognising that these psychiatric illnesses have a significant physical impact and integrated treatment is essential.

Although it has not been formally reported, AASW can confirm that the Eating Disorder psychological services will mirror Better Access, and these services will be provided by AMHSWs, clinical psychologists, registered psychologists and occupational therapists as per the existing MBS items for focused psychological services.

The implementation of new MBS items for patients with anorexia nervosa and patients with other eating disorders who have complex needs will also provide for:

• the development of a treatment and management plan by a GP
• the development of a treatment and management plan by a paediatrician or psychiatrist
• review of the treatment and management plan by a GP
• review of a patient managed under a management plan by a psychiatrist or paediatrician
• dietetic services.

AASW is sitting on the Implementation Advisory Group for the new items.

	Horizon Career Centre

Are you looking to take the next step in your career? Do you have a role to advertise? Have a look at our Horizon Career Centre, for social work roles.

Members can create free locum listings.

	Australian Social Work - July 2019

The July edition of Australian Social Work is out now. Read the latest articles:

• Relationship Separation and Help-seeking: Reporting on an Agency Study by Robin Howard, Priscilla Dunk-West and Kristin Natalier
• Grandparent Carers, Child Protection Practice, and the Best Interests of Children: A Case Study by Susan Gair and Ines Zuchowski
• Working Across Borders: Care and Caring in a Complex World by Pam Joseph

Sign up to receive alerts whenever new articles are published.

	Grants for young cancer survivors

National children’s cancer charity Redkite has officially opened applications for their annual Redkite and Coles Dare to Dream Scholarships – a grant empowering young people aged 15 to 24 years to pursue their education, career or life goals that have been put on hold for cancer.

The grant, made possible by funding from Coles, has supported 234 young people in Australia over the last six years, helping them to achieve their dreams and get their lives back on track following their diagnosis.

If someone you know may benefit from this initiative, please visit the Red Kit website. Entries close Monday, 5 August 2019.

	Mental Health Week photography competition

Out from the Mist is a photography competition about mental health which aims to disrupt the dominant stereotypes of mental illness through showcasing photographs by people with mental illness, and those close to them, including friends, families and carers. The competition closes on 15 September, and aims to capture the breadth of people's diversity, from the experiences of pain and suffering, caring and empathy for loved ones, through to the elation of conquering obstacles. 

The competition is supported by groups including the Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia. The aim is to reduce stigma.

To find out more, see the website www.outfromthemist.com or email Michael at Michael@outfromthemist.com.