Carer Support Line 1300 554 660

Communication Skills Workshop (face-to-face)

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The Communication Skills Workshop provides mental health carers with an opportunity to increase their awareness of how people communicate and what skills are needed at different times. It also discusses what skills are needed with different relationships eg with the person you care for, other family members, clinicians. A range of communication strategies will be explored to build carer’s confidence and skills which will assist them to improve relationships now and in the future. Date: Wednesday, 16 February 2022 Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm Venue: Arafmi Head Office, 6 Ambleside Street West End QLD 4101 To book a spot at this workshop, please visit our Eventbrite page.

Arafmi Carer Information Session: Your Caring Way and Carer Employment Opportunities

Your Caring Way and Carer Employment Opportunities

The Arafmi Carer Information Session: Your Caring Way and Carer Employment Opportunities our guests Rod O’Donohue and Andrea Cooper from Your Caring Way will provide information about Your Caring Way, benefits, what can be offered and examples of what has been successful so far including:

Tips for returning to the workforce and changing careers 
Tips for building a CV with carer gaps 

Carer Coach – Navigating the NDIS

Carer Coach - Navigating the NDIS

This is the first in a series of three workshops for mental health carers about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). This session is designed to assist carers to understand what the NDIS is, who is eligible to apply and how to apply for an NDIS package.

Arafmi’s Response to COVID-19

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In order to help alleviate any questions or fears you may have about our supports and services during the Coronavirus Pandemic, we have put together some frequently asked questions for you. The overall message we would like to convey is: please don’t worry. We will keep you updated if anything changes.  What happens if my regular Support Worker becomes ill?  All support workers have been instructed not to come to work if they become ill. Currently, all Arafmi staff are healthy and well and are aware of all the protocols around staying well and reducing infection. Arafmi have got a large pool of staff so we will endeavour to find you alternative support. We may need to change your shift time to provide this but please bear with us if this occurs. We will place priority on clients who are at risk of abuse or neglect. If we need to change your shift, we will communicate directly with you.  Once your regular support worker has medical clearance to return to work, they can continue to provide you with your required supports.  What if I become ill?  If you are experiencing any flu like symptoms, please advise your support worker and notify the Arafmi office staff as soon as practical.  Please also advise…

You are not alone this Christmas

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Christmas is a festive and joyful time for some, but unfortunately it can be a difficult and challenging time for others. Loved ones and carers may have unpleasant memories of previous Christmas seasons or they may feel surrounded by triggers such as alcohol and noise. Not everyone has a family or close friends to spend Christmas with and loneliness may be felt more strongly than usual. Carers have to deal not just with their own expectations and hopes for Christmas but also with their loved ones. If you are one of those carers, we understand that this can be stressful, so it’s important to be kind to yourself and look after yourself. Please remember that there are services out there still operating during the Christmas period and if it all gets too much, please call the Arafmi support line and we will welcome and support you. You are not alone. Here is a link to some available services in Brisbane over the Christmas period. 24 Hour Helpline If you have any questions about this article or need someone to talk to, you can call Arafmi any time of the day on 07 3254 1881. It’s comforting to know that when you…

We are moving

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It’s true! After many moons in New Farm, Arafmi is off to a new home – albeit just around the corner. We’re a little sad, but very excited about moving to our new place. We wanted to share this news with you and answer any questions you may have.\ Where is it? Our new address will be 24 Chermside Street, Teneriffe. It’s not far from our current location, but here’s a map so you can check it out. Where can I park? |ur new premises has quite a lot of 9h carparks around us, as well as a couple right in front of the door. We may also be able to utilise some carparks at Kui down the road. Where’s the nearest bus stop? There are quite a few bus stops close to 24 Chermside Street. The closest one would be Harcourt Street (Stop ID 010351), at Hough Lane Teneriffe. For TransLink Public Transport options visit TransLink website or Call 13 12 30, 24 hours a day. Will the workshops still be inhouse? Yes, our workshops will continue to be held within our offices, it just means you’ll travel to 24 Chermside Street, Newstead. When are you moving? Our moving…

Imrana’s Carer Story

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At our recent Mental Health Carer Retreat, one of our carers penned this letter to us and we were so moved, we asked her if we could share it on our website. She has very kindly given us permission, so we have shared it with you below. “To whom it may concern, On our road to recovery from unimaginable trauma and tragedy, we came across, or rather had the privilege of being introduced to Arafmi. My three beautiful children had suffered at the hands of a toxic tyrant who almost got away with murder – in some ways he did actually as we lost the will to live. I reached out in frantic desperation and sent out a multitude of emails to various organisations, crying for help. I did the best I could but my children required specialised support. Arafmi held my hand on this journey to help me recover and are still doing so. Carers and their loved ones, at times of crisis, rely heavily on organisations like Arafmi. The support workers provide a safe, loving environment allowing carers to be human again. The gravity of my stress levels hit me hardest during, ironically, a meditation session organised by…

RUOK?

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This Thursday is RUOK Day and we want you to take a minute to consider whether someone you know might be struggling. Sometimes we get a gut instinct that something isn’t quite right with a friend, loved one or colleague. Don’t stay silent. Reach out and ask them if they’re okay. RUOK have shared a video that explains it best. As carers our lives can become all about the people we support and sometimes we can develop a mental health illness ourselves. When this occurs we can tend to lose interest in things that we would normally enjoy. Our usual happy demeanor may slip and we could find ourselves withdrawing from our normal activities. However, it might be you that’s noticing changes in your friend’s behaviour – suddenly your reliable gym buddy doesn’t show up on the usual day, or the person who calls you religiously to chat about life, just stops calling. These might be signs that your friend is struggling. If you’re worried, we would encourage you to  call your friend and see how they’re going. That one gesture of kindness could make all the difference for someone who is suffering in silence. As the RUOK website notes,…

Narelle’s Carer Story

Narelles Carer Story

We are regularly calling for our carers to share their story with us and where we can, we like to share them with you. Below are the words from one of our carers who has bravely shared their journey with us. We respectfully and gratefully pass it on to you. “When I really think about my life, I have always been a ‘carer’. From a tiny tot when I use to save stranded cats, to a teenager sticking up for the kids being bullied, to as an adult working with people with physical and intellectual disabilities, to now being my 40-year-old son’s unpaid carer, which started when he became unwell at 25. I tell people, that I should be fitter than I am, as I do a lot of dancing – two steps forward, 1 step back, as I have travelled this mental health road with my son. Nothing prepared me for this, and all I had going for me, was my love for my son, and my spiritual belief. Hope is steadfast in my daily life, without it I may have given up, and I know hope is what keeps my son from giving up. I am amazed at…

10 Things To Remember When Communicating With People Who Have A Mental Illness

10 Things To Remember

Communication is a two-way street. It involves a sender (the person speaking), a receiver (the person listening) and the message (what you’re trying to say). When communicating with our loved ones who have a mental illness, it’s imperative that we show empathy and understanding to their needs. Communication is key in interacting with someone with a mental illness and if we demonstrate a lack of empathy, then we risk isolating them or hurting their feelings. To ensure this doesn’t happen, we have put together the following 10 tips that will be a start for you to improve communications with your loved one. 1. Use short, clear direct sentences Long, involved explanations are difficult for people with mental illness to handle. If it goes on too long, they will tune you out. 2. Set boundaries Set limits with the person, as you would with anybody. “I only have five minutes to talk to you”, or “If you scream, I will not be able to talk to you”. 3. Keep it simple Cover only one topic at a time. One direction at a time. Simplicity is key. 4. Know when to back off If the person is becoming agitated, it’s best to…

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