Arafmi Visits Charleville – May 2023
Arafmi Visits Charleville – 2023 Earlier in the year, Arafmi’s Carer Support Team were invited to Charleville to explore the possibility of developing another support group for mental health carers in the region. Our visit was jam packed with activities, so we were grateful for the support of a great guide and friend of Arafmi who works with vulnerable communities in Charleville, Irene F. Irene helped us to connect with a number of services there and enabled us attend other events, connect with the community, and learn a lot more about the mental health supports on offer in the area. For example, we attended a Reconciliation event hosted by the local First organisation CWAATSICH and participated in activities such as learning how to make Australian sandalwood smudge sticks for smoking ceremonies. Talking with residents there deepened our understanding of their connection to country and of their approach to mental health supports in the community. We also presented at a Biggest Morning Tea event run by the community group Healthy Aging on the outskirts of town at Red Lizard Camping Ground. Connecting with the elders of that community gave us a good history of the town’s development and icons like the…
Arafmi Staff Conference 2023
Arafmi Staff Conference 2023 On Thursday, 22 June Arafmi held the annual staff conference in the Marquee at Victoria Park in Herston. It was a beautiful, clear winter day and the venue provided a perfect spot for the meeting as well as lots of delicious food. Over 100 staff came together on the day to hear from a range of speakers. Irene Clelland, CEO opened the conference with an outline of where the organisation is and the achievements we have made. We also met our new Executive Manager – Systems & Advocacy, Katie Acheson who elaborated on her role in the exciting space of providing systems advocacy on behalf of mental health carers. Robert Bland who was instrumental in the beginning of Arafmi in Queensland spoke to our staff about the origins of our organisation and the great progress we continue to achieve. People & Culture Business Partner, Ross Mountford provided helpful sessions covering professional boundaries, resilience and the new HR program, Employment Hero. We were fortunate enough to have a mental health carer join Katie on stage for a Q&A where she shared her carer journey and how she came to find Arafmi. Simon Moore lead the next session…