Arafmi Mental Health Carer Forum – Brisbane 2025
Arafmi Mental Health Carer Forum – Brisbane 2025 On Thursday 18 September 2025, Arafmi hosted our annual Mental Health Carers Forum at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, with carers also joining online. More than 110 mental health carers took part, alongside 30 community organisations and government bodies hosting stalls that provided valuable opportunities to connect with services and resources. Our Mental Health Carer Forum provided an inspirational and positive event for mental health carers to hear from leaders in the mental health system, connect with other carers and learn how to utilise their Lived-Living Experience to advocate for better support. The program featured guest speakers, Q&A panels, round-table discussions, an art space, free massages, dance performances, professional headshots, self-care gifts and shared meals, with generous prizes from Queensland Ballet, QPAC and Loving Loudly adding to the celebration. Feedback from Carers The feedback that carers provided about the forum was that they valued: space to pause and reflect on their caring role learning about their rights and available supports building confidence to advocate for themselves and those they care for connecting with others who “get it.” Some of the carer attendees stated: It reminded me that I am not alone…
Shaping the Future of Mental Health – Arafmi at TheMHS Forum 2025
Shaping the Future of Mental Health – Arafmi at TheMHS Forum 2025 Arafmi was proud to be a gold sponsor at the TheMHS Forum 2025 in Brisbane (2–5 September), where sector leaders, carers and advocates came together to imagine a better mental health system. A big thank you to TheMHS Learning Network for creating such an inspiring space. Envisioning a Better Future This year’s theme, “Envisioning 2050: Towards a Better Mental Health System,” painted a bold vision of what mental health could look like in the future including: early intervention is routine and universally accessible support is holistic, skilled, culturally aligned, respectful and kind support from those with lived experience is valued and common short-term respite is available and hospitalisation is rare lived experience informs policy and shapes system culture mental ill-health is no longer a barrier to health, citizenship or employment everyone has a home, meaningful work, loving relationships and strong social connections. The Forum asked us to consider: What will the world be like in 2050? What steps must we take now to move towards this vision of an ideal mental health system? These ideas came to life through networking, presentations and panel discussions where delegates shared insights,…
New policy and advocacy staff: welcome Sasha and Farina
New Policy and Advocacy Staff: Welcome Sasha and Farina Our Policy and Advocacy Team welcomes two new staff members – Sasha Ong (Engagement and Advocacy Officer, Lived Experience) and Farina Murray (Policy and Research Officer) – both bringing a wealth of experience and passion for supporting carers and shaping mental health systems. Sasha Ong – Engagement and Advocacy Officer (Lived Experience) “I’ve grown up in the mental health world, with parents that were trained in psychiatric nursing; working in institutions in the 80’s and 90s. It embedded a view that everyone should have the right to be treated with dignity, empathy and respect. I’ve worked in the carer space for over 12 years in roles varying from carer advisory (phone intake), family carer support, education and community development. Outside of work hours I’m a mum that loves visually pleasing design, permaculture design principles, growing and using medicinal herbs, being by the water and learning electronics and survival skills. I’m excited about working with Arafmi. It is my hope that we can move towards recognising carers as holders of valuable knowledge and history of the people they support. I hope that mental health carers that come after us, have a more inclusive experience navigating our…