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 in my journey or my anxiety and worry for the person I care for. Time at the Forum gave me space to think about how I’ve been living my life for others – and not always for myself.

Thank you for an amazing forum – I really appreciated the opportunity to connect with others, and hear more about the amazing work of Arafmi.

Thanks you so much. This was my first Arafmi event/activity and it was such a great experience.

The forum this year was wonderful, speakers and topics were fantastic. I appreciate all the effort, time, laughter and tears that goes into arranging a forum like this. I found the talk from Dr Christian Heim brilliant; I will certainly be added the notebook DOG AND CAT to my interactions with my young person’s team. Loved the variety of stall holders, would be happy to see more in the future.

When asked about the benefits they gained from attending, the top three responses from carers were: connecting with others (84% of respondents); learning something new (79%), and gaining information to help them as carers (83%).

Overview of the Day

Session 1
The day began with a Welcome to Country by Tribal Experiences, followed by a welcome and introduction to Working with Carers, Family & Kin: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals by Emma Griffiths, Senior Advisor – Policy & Advocacy.

Sue Goodwin, Arafmi’s Lived Experience Advocacy Team Lead, shared progress on the issues carers prioritised at last year’s forum.

Alex Tyson, Arafmi General Manager for Carer Support and Advocacy outlined: the breadth of carer supports provided over the last year; highlighted new resources like the Young Carer Fact Sheet and discussed Arafmi’s partnership with Wellways Carer Gateway to expand supports for carers across Queensland.

Session 2

A panel and Q&A featured:

Hon Emma McBride MP, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health
Ivan Frkovic, Queensland Mental Health Commissioner
De Backman-Hoyle, Mental Health Carers Australia
Irene Clelland, CEO Arafmi

Carers also joined round-table discussions exploring how to build allies and support networks.

Session 3

The afternoon featured:

An introduction to MHLEPQ by CEO Simon Katterl
A presentation from Dr Christian Heim, Getting the Most Out of Your Psychiatrist, followed by a Q&A session.

The Forum was a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of mental health carers and of the importance of creating spaces where their voices are heard, valued and supported.

Presentations

2025 Arafmi Carer Forum – Brisbane Overview

Missed the Event? Watch it now

Carer Event

The hidden role of young carers

“I just thought it was normal” – the hidden reality of young mental health carers For many young people, caring doesn’t have a name. It’s something they do as part of everyday life, being there when someone needs them. As Tanya Boge from our Carer Support Team explains: “Many young mental health carers don’t identify with the word ‘carer’ they see what they do as just helping out.” What often goes unseen is everything that sits behind that. The mental load, the worrying, the responsibility, and the feeling like they have to stay strong, even when things are uncertain. Over time, that can begin to shape how young people see themselves and where their own needs fit. “Many also grow up without clear boundaries, which can make it harder to balance their own needs alongside supporting someone else.” For Tanya, this understanding comes from her own experience. “It’s important to me because I was a young mental health carer myself, even though I didn’t have that language at the time. I just thought it was normal to take on that level of responsibility and not have clear boundaries.” Looking back, she can see how those early experiences shaped her. “Without

April 2, 2026 No Comments

Arafmi Staff

Meet the Carer Gateway Team: Carol from Townsville

Support where it didn’t exist before Meet Carol, supporting mental health carers in Townsville When Carol Sheeren sits down with a carer for the first time, she notices the same moment. “You can actually see it… they relax and just exhale.” She calls it “the great exhale”, that instant when someone realises they finally have space just for them, and someone who will listen without judgement. Carol is Arafmi’s Carer Gateway Carer Facilitator in Townsville. Since starting last August, she’s been quietly building connections, supporting carers one-on-one, linking them with resources, and offering support where it hasn’t always been available. Her work is part of Arafmi’s partnership with Wellways Carer Gateway, bringing support into regional and remote communities. Meeting carers where they are Without a dedicated hub in Townsville, Carol meets carers where they feel most comfortable, a park, a café, or a quiet space away from home. She also spends one day a week at the Medicare Mental Health Centre, where she meets carers and connects them with other supports. That choice gives carers a chance to step out of their role, even briefly, and focus on themselves. “People often need that first… just to feel supported before they’re

March 27, 2026 No Comments

Arafmi Mental Health Carer Forum – Brisbane 2025