Maggie Toko has spent decades raising the voice of those who live with mental heath issues and emotional distress, using her own living experience of mental illness and professional work in homelessness, sexual assault, and youth services.

At the time of recording this chat with Maggie at the Complex Needs Conference in 2025, she was the consumer commissioner for the Victorian Government's Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. Now, she is the Chair Commissioner.  

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission is an independent statutory authority that holds government to account for the performance, quality and safety of Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing system. The Commission operates under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022.

New Zealand-born Maggie, who is of Ngāpuhi – Ngāti Whātua descent, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) earlier this year for her significant service to mental health governance and awareness.

We mention Voices Vic in this episode. Hear our conversation with Voices Vic here.

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Chelsea Troutman is a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst and Clinical Supervisor, and Director of a Behaviour Support Practice Elements ABC.

Chelsea has extensive experience working within Government and Community Service Sectors with expertise in disability services, children and family services, out of home care, and forensic disability. 

She presented at the Complex Needs Conference last year on the topic Promoting 'enabling environments' in restrictive settings to progress treatment and meaningful outcomes for all. 

 Enabling environments are defined as "places where good relationships are upheld and facilitate well-being for all participants, staff and service users alike, and where new ways of relating can be learned through mutual respect and recognition, nurturing a sense of belonging". 

Karenza Louis-Smith spoke with Chelsea after the presentation and the pair spoke more about this, particularly in the context of custodial settings, like prisons and youth justice centres - and why it is so important.

More info:

• Hear from Chelsea about Elements ABC's approach
• enabling environments (ee) resources Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK)
•  Architectures of Harm or Architectures of Hope? - The effects of carceral space on the wellbeing of prisoners 

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

OVA is a matter for everyone to understand and report but in particular for frontline support workers who work with NDIS participants and provide mental health support in community programs.

Awareness of, education about and the importance of reporting Occupational Violence and Aggression (OVA) has been a concerted focus for ermha365.
Our work on OVA reduction was recognised in a big way in October 2025 at the Australian Workplace Health and Safety Awards with our OVA taskforce named Team of the Year.

Our guest for this episode is Clare Hutton, ermha365's Manager Work, Health and safety and Emergency response to explain more about what we've been doing about OVA and why. 

More info:

Incident-reporting education critical to WHS outcomes (OHS Alert, 2 December, 2025 and republished by ermha365 with permission.)

Workplace violence and aggression - why training is crucial (Podcast episode)

Australian Work Health and Safety Award Winners 2025 

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Dr Astrid Birgden is a consultant Forensic/Clinical Psychologist and NDIS Behaviour Support Specialist who has years of experience working in corrections and disability settings. 

Astrid's career is quite extraordinary. She is a trailblazer in behaviour intervention support in Australia and worked overseas on international projects. She has even been an assistant sheriff/warden of a remand centre in New Orleans.

We caught up with Astrid at the Complex Needs Conference in March 2025 where she was part of a panel discussion on Integrating mental health, disability, and human rights for comprehensive support.

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Hearing voices is often assumed to be a symptom of a mental health condition. However this is not always the case and up to 1 in 10 people hear voices, making it not an uncommon human experience. 

The Voices Vic program is led by peers with lived and living experience in hearing voices, seeing visions or having other sensory experiences. This program offers recovery groups, mentoring and support across Victoria.

Our guests for this episode are Janet Karagounis, Senior Peer Mentor and Tali Brash, AOD & Mental Health, Lived & Living Experience for Uniting Vic Tas.

We spoke at the Complex needs conference in March 2025 after they gave a presentation "Overcoming barriers and simplifying support for people who hear voices and experience unusual sensory events".

More info (not an exhaustive list):

Voices Vic support for hearing voices 

The Voices Clinic (Swinburne University)

Hearing Voices (QLD)

Hearing Voices Network (WA)

Hearing Voices Community Group (Darwin, NT)

Voices and Visions peer support group (Sunshine Coast, Qld)

Hearing Voices Network (UK) 

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Our guest for this episode is Dr Matt Frize, Director of Forensic Disability Services, which sits within The Victorian State Government's Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH).

Co-host Karenza Louis-Smith and I were lucky to catch some time with Matt at the Complex Needs Conference earlier this year.

The sold out conference was co-hosted by ermha365 and ACSO Australia and funded by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

We talk to Matt, a senior specialist psychologist, about how Forensic Disability Services addresses the needs of people with a cognitive impairment who come into contact with the criminal justice system in Victoria.

In this episode Matt mentions the ARMIDILO-S Assessment - the Assessment of Risk and manageability of Individuals with Developmental and Intellectual Limitations who Offend. More info at armidilo.net

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

We’re diving into the topic of conspiracy theories for this episode, particularly on the impacts these beliefs have on an individual and the ripple effect on others. 

Our guests for this episode are Ariel Bogle and Cam Wilson who have written a book called CONSPIRACY NATION: Exposing the dangerous world of Australian Conspiracy Theories. 

Ariel is an investigative journalist at the Guardian Australia who specialises on technology, extremism and internet policy.

Cam is an Associate Editor at Crikey and his reporting and investigations focus on the intersection between internet culture, extremism and politics.

Conspiracy Nation is published by Ultimo Press and available online and in bookstores now.

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Our guest for this episode is Dr Yvonne Maxwell, a forensic psychologist who specialises in working with individuals with a disability who come into contact with the criminal justice system.

Get Real spoke with Yvonne at the Complex Needs Conference 2025 where she presented on the use of Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics assessment (NMT) to understand the interplay between factors like disability, trauma, and the current circumstances of a person with complex needs. 

if you are not a clinician or familiar with this, like me, listen on because Yvonne, who is the Portfolio Manager, Forensic Practice for SAL Consulting explains what it is and broadly about the impact of trauma on brain development, especially in early childhood. 

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

The mental health system in New South Wales has been in the spotlight of recent months. ABC’s recent Four Corners episode “Emergency” about the state’s mental health system highlighted the extreme system failures that happen when there is underinvestment in community-based mental health care. The program highlighted that people in deep psychological distress are being left in emergency departments for days, health workers are exhausted and the “missing middle”— those too unwell for a GP but not sick enough for hospital — are being left behind.

Our guest for this episode is Dr Evelyne Tadros, CEO of the Mental Health Coordinating Council in NSW, a peak member-based organisation for the community mental health sector.

We’ll be talking with Evelyne about where Mental Health system reform is at in NSW.

You can also listen to our previous episode with Mental Health Victoria CEO Pip Thomas about the system in Victoria and federally.

More info:

MHCC submissions

Course in Mental Health Peer Navigation

 MHCC News

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

The basis for this conversation is an important pilot service in Victoria called Assertive Outreach and Support (AOS), funded by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing under its Multiple and Complex Needs Initiative.
ermha365 and ACSO Australia deliver the service in parts of Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Our guests for this episode are Cassandra Turnbull from ermha365 and Psychiatrist Dr Debra Wood, from Clarity Healthcare, who provides clinical governance for the team.
As well as hearing about why there is a need for this program, you'll also hear about what it takes to work in this space and Cass and Debra's experiences.
We recorded this at the Complex Needs Conference in March 2025. 

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

In this episode we are discussing the importance of provider-family partnerships for people with complex needs.
Cheryl Jameson is our guest and she was in conversation with Emily Webb, host of this podcast, at the Complex Needs Conference in late March for the lived experience stream.
A mental health support worker of many years, Cheryl found herself on the other side of systems when her eldest child Josh was 16 and developed psychosis. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia, which was drug-resistant for many years.  
We discover how her family has navigated systems and worked with providers to ensure Josh has the support he needs and wants. 
Josh gave his consent for his mum to speak to us about their journey so far.

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

We are a few weeks on from The 2025 Australian federal election (May 3) which resulted in a more than convincing victory for the incumbent Labor government led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. So, as the federal government begins its new term, and we await the Victorian Government's State Budget next week (May 20),  ermha365 CEO Karenza Louis-Smith  thought it was a good time to catch up with Mental Health Victoria's CEO Phillipa Thomas to talk about what mental health reform and investment will look like for Australia.

Mental Health Victoria website.

Subscribe to Mental Health Victoria's fortnightly newsletter 

Follow Mental Health Victoria on LinkedIn

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

This is another conversation from the Complex Needs Conference 2025 and our guest is Adjunct Associate Professor Danny Sullivan, Consultant Forensic and Adult Psychiatrist.

Dr Sullivan gave a keynote at the conference about the prescribing of psychotropic medications, which are namely drugs that influence a person's mood, thoughts, and behavior - for people with complex needs.

He is the Board Director of ACSO Australia and Director of Victoria's Sentencing Advisory Council.

This episode was recorded at the Complex Needs Conference in Melbourne  co-hosted in March 2025 by ermha365 and ACSO Australia with support from Swinburne University's Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science and funded by the Victoria State Government's Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. 

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

ermha365 CEO Karenza Louis-Smith has a thought-provoking conversation with Clinical Forensic Psychologist Dr Lisa Warren, Clinical Director of Code Black Psychology about the Stable Bases Model that the organisation developed to support young people involved in serious youth-to-youth violence to guide their developmental journey and foster long-term positive outcomes. 

This episode was recorded at the Complex Needs Conference in Melbourne  co-hosted by ermha365 and ACSO Australia with support from Swinburne University's Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science and funded by the Victoria State Government's Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. 

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Sophie Harrington is our guest for this episode. Sophie is the CEO of NOFASD Australia, the nation’s peak body supporting people and families living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

NOFASD presented at the Complex Needs Conference 2025 on the complexities of this hidden disability, sharing research, therapeutic strategies and resources, in particular for health care professionals and support workers.

NOFASD Helpline 1800 860 613

ermha365 co-hosted the conference with ACSO Australia on behalf of Victoria Government’s Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), which funded the 2-day conference.

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Andrew Radford lives in New South Wales and is a long-time advocate for people with intellectual disability and autism.

Andrew himself has autism and a mild intellectual disability and has recently taken his advocacy to the next level with his appointment to the board of The Disability Trust. The trust is not-for-profit registered NDIS provider of supports and services and  last year it celebrated its 50 years!

The Disability Trust has been part of Andrew’s life for more than 20 years in many ways, including education and employment support.

Andrew was also a part of the ABC series The Assembly where one of Australia's most renowned interviewers, Leigh Sales, mentors Autistic journalism students as they learn their craft and interview well known Australian personalities.

Andrew is making history with The Disability Trust, which is the first major not-for-profit organisation in Australia to appoint a person with an intellectual disability to its Board.

More info:

VALID - the Victorian peak advocacy organisation for adults with intellectual disability.

The Assembly (ABC)

Andrew Radford Joins TDT Board

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

The Complex Needs Conference 2025 on March 26-27 in Melbourne is co-hosted by ermha365 and ACSO – Australian Community Support Organisation. The conference is funded by the Victorian Government’s Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

BOOK NOW

 Both ermha365 and ACSO deliver the pilot program Assertive Outreach and Support on behalf of the DFFH. This service is for people with complex needs who are experiencing significant service barriers. 

Our guest is Associate Professor, Dr Armon Tamatea who will deliver the closing keynote address at the conference - ‘We must remember, these people’s history follows them’: Maori, marginality and the Complex Needs of Gang Communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Armon is a clinical psychologist and the Director of clinical psychology training at the School of Psychology at the University of Waikato in the North Island. 

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

A restrictive Intervention is any practice or intervention that has the effect of restricting the rights or freedom of movement of a person with disability. 

The Research Report Restrictive Practices: A Pathway to Elimination, which is available on the Disability Royal Commission website states: "Restrictive practices are at odds with the human rights of people with disability and represent a significant form of violence and coercion".

What are the obligations of NDIS providers and practitioners and the path to elimination? 

Our guest is Maddy Bilal, who is a Behaviour Support Practitioner/Senior Clinician at ermha365. 

ermha365 provides client-centred, evidence-based specialist behaviour support for people who experience a range of complex and high-risk presentations as a result of their disability and/or mental health condition.

 INFO:

Regulated Restrictive Practices Guide (NDIS Commission) 

Behaviour Support and Restrictive Practices

Recognising Restrictive Practices: Guide (National Disability Service)

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

This is a short episode revisiting some tips for wellbeing over the so-called festive season.
The Christmas and New Year period can be an emotional rollercoaster. Things like complicated family dynamics and the absence of loved ones can heighten feelings of loneliness. 
Not everyone feels happy and bright at this time of the year. In fact, Christmas is considered as one of the six most stressful life events, along with divorce, moving house and changing jobs. 
Our special guests for this episode is Belinda Ellis. Belinda is a registered psychologist, specialising in forensics and she is ermha365s Chief practice officer. 

If you need to speak to someone:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

MORE SUPPORT
MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
Free nationwide service providing 24/7 phone and online counselling to people affected by suicide
SuicideLine Victoria 1300 651 251
24/7 telehealth service that offers free professional phone and online counselling for people living in Victoria
QLife (LGBTI peer support and referral)

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Participants, families and providers across Australia are trying to make sense of what the latest NDIS Price Guide means for them – and this is in addition to the changes slated in the Federal Government’s Getting the NDIS Back on Track Bill. 

ermha365 is right behind the #4aBetterNDIS campaign that’s in response to the latest NDIS Pricing Review. 
This campaign is a joint effort of peak bodies – National Disability Services, Disability Intermediaries Australia, CEO Collab and Allied Health Professions Australia and their member organisations.

There are changes that particularly impact the NDIS support and services that the organisations of each of these Peak Bodies provide.   

For us at ermha365 the biggest impact is high intensity supports for people with complex and challenging behaviours being downgraded to standard supports category.  

This is a reduction in the funding available and a downgrading in recognition of the skill and experience of the workers in this area. 

For this special episode we are going to hear from ermha365 CEO Karenza Louis-Smith and Melbourne mother Anne, whose adult son James is supported by ermha365 as part of his NDIS plan. He has a diagnosis of schizophrenia and experiences other psychosocial conditions. James relies on daily, intensive support for daily living, including for complex and challenging behaviours.

MORE INFO

• ermha365 response to consultation on draft lists of NDIS Supports 
• Disability sector organisations raise the alarm on NDIS market failure (media release)
• 4 a Better NDIS - A campaign for a better NDIS for people with a disability through the delivery of services from a safe, quality focused and a vibrant service market, underpinned by fair and transparent pricing.

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Our guest for this episode is Dr Michelle Lim, Scientific Chair and CEO of Ending Loneliness Together - a national network of organisations that work together to address the loneliness in people living in Australia. This is done through evidence-based research, advocacy and public information and awareness.

MORE INFO
Find out more aboutEnding Loneliness Together and Loneliness Awareness Week.
 

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

This is an edited version of our 2020 two-part podcast Celebrating PARCs, hosted by Chief Marketing Officer Robyn Haydon.
Prevention and Recovery Care services (PARCs) are short and extended residential and day programs that provides 24-hour support in a “home-like” environment to people experiencing mental ill health and whose recovery can be supported without hospital admission. PARCs also supports people discharged from hospital who are not quite ready to return home.
ermha365 delivers PARCs in South Yarra, Barwon and Warrnambool for partners Alfred Health, Barwon Health and Southwest Healthcare.
Guests: Karenza Louis-Smith (ermha365 CEO), Sally Wall, Senior Manager, Mental Health, Forensic and Community Services, Kez and Sharon (PARC participants).

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Kimberley Irwin and Ian Graham from Change Mental Health in Scotland to talk about the Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) Programme, which was developed and first piloted in 2016 in parts of Scotland to respond to the needs of people experiencing distress.

DBI is now an established part of mental health support in Scotland.  The program was highlighted as a model for a similiar service in Victoria in recommendation 27 of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health system.

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

MORE INFO
Find out more about Change Mental Health's origins and journey to where the organisation is today.

More about the DBI Programme in Scotland

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

Helplines in the UK
Samaritans  116 123 

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

This is a special episode in recognition of International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) which happens every year on March 31. This day is for learning more about and celebrating the lives and achievements of transgender people.  Our theme for this episode is inclusion for transgender and gender diverse people and why it matters.  And what does meaningful inclusion really look like when it comes to things like community participation, health services, human rights and policy development, to name just a few. 

Our guest for this episode is Tara Laursen who is ermha365’s Chief Operations Officer. Tara is bringing her own living experience as a member of the transgender community to this conversation.

General information and basic concepts:
Transhub 101
Minus18: Trans 101 – The Basics (youtube)

Support for transgender and questioning people:
Transgender Victoria
Queerspace

Support for family members/parents:
Transcend 

Information for allies
GLAAD: Tips for allies of transgender people
Minus18: How to be a trans ally
Trans Justice Project: Conversations for Trans Justice

Information entioned in podcast
Equality Australia research
Banning trans women from sport ignores so many inconvenient truths by Natalie Feliks (online article)
Australian Human Rights Commission national project mapping threats to trans and gender diverse (TGD) human rights in Australia.

Helplines:
Lifeline on 13

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Our first guest for 2024 is Jodi Rodgers. Jodi is a sexologist, counsellor and special education teacher and has a Masters in Sexual Health. For Jodi, connection, intimacy and relationships are a basic human right and this drives her work, in particular with autistic people to support developing their social skills and understanding their emotions. Jodi’s appeared on the series Love on the Spectrum Australia, working with some of the show’s participants. Her new book, Unique: What autism can teach us about difference, connection and belonging has just been released and draws on her 30 years’ of experience.
Find out more about Jodi at birdsandbees.com.au

More info:
Aspect - Aspect is Australia's largest national service provider for people on the autism spectrum.
Yellow Ladybugs - Yellow Ladybugs is a non-government organisation, dedicated to the happiness, success and celebration of autistic girls, women and gender diverse individuals.

CREDITS
Produced, hosted and edited by Emily Webb, ermha365 Advocacy and External Communications Advisor with Karenza Louis-Smith, CEO ermha365.
Follow ermha365 on social media:
FACEBOOK - @ermhaorg
TWITTER - @ermha365
INSTAGRAM - @ermha365

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.
ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength,

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

This is our final episode for 2023, and we thought it would be timely to talk about self-care, especially during Christmas and the New Year period with, as always, a focus on mental health.  Donna Markham is our guest. Donna is a qualified occupational therapist, an adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University and also a member of our ermha365 board, and chairing the Practice Governance, Quality and Safety Committee. Donna is Victoria’s former Chief Allied Health Officer and is now focused on entrepreneurship, using her allied health leadership experience to coach professional women, many in allied health, around career transition, among other things with her business Disequilibrium.

 Donna joined us on Get Real for our last episode of 2021 and since then a lot has happened in Donna’s life, including the honour of being the recipient of the medal of the Order of Australia in 2022 for her contributions to healthcare administration and the diagnosis of her young son as autistic/ADHD.

CREDITS
Produced, hosted and edited by Emily Webb, ermha365 Advocacy and External Communications Advisor with Karenza Louis-Smith, CEO ermha365.
Follow ermha365 on social media:
FACEBOOK - @ermhaorg
TWITTER - @ermha365
INSTAGRAM - @ermha365

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Our guest for this episode is Dr. Jakqui Barnfield,  Lifeline Direct's Executive Director of Service Delivery.
Jakqui is a registered nurse with a passion for mental health and suicide prevention. She tells us about the power of reaching out to Lifeline Australia's services and that you are not alone.

Helplines:
Lifeline on 13 11 14
13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)
MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
Free nationwide service providing 24/7 phone and online counselling to people affected by suicide
SuicideLine Victoria 1300 651 251
24/7 telehealth service that offers free professional phone and online counselling for people living in Victoria
MORE INFO about the Safety Plan mentioned in this episode.

CREDITS
Produced, hosted and edited by Emily Webb, ermha365 Advocacy and External Communications Advisor with Karenza Louis-Smith, CEO ermha365.
Follow ermha365 on social media:
FACEBOOK - @ermhaorg
TWITTER - @ermha365
INSTAGRAM - @ermha365

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Our special guest, veteran court reporter and author, Megan Norris talks about her book 'Look What You Made Me Do' which examines revenge killings by estranged fathers during marital breakdowns.

This episode of Get Real comes with a strong content warning. Topics discussed include family violence, suicide and the murders of children. Listener. Discretion is advised.

Domestic Violence and Family Court Lawyer Kathleen Simpson, who was named the Queensland Solicitor of the Year in 2022 said Megan's book is "A must read for all domestic and family violence professionals, DFV frontline workers, educators, judiciary, police, lawyers and students, as an important resource to guide in what could be done, or should be done, to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future".

Find out more about Megan at her website megannorrisauthor.com
 
FURTHER READING/LISTENING
When Parents Kill (ABC News)
Fathers who kill (ABC Radio Local)

If you need help phone 1800 RESPECT - Australia's national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service on 1800 737 732.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger phone Triple Zero 000 in Australia or the emergency number in the country you are listening from.

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:
Lifeline on 13 11 14
13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodi

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Our guest for this episode is Abuzar Mazoori, who came to Australia from Afghanistan as a refugee in 2017.
Abuzar, who has a law degree and worked as an advocate for human rights in Afghanistan, currently works for Foundation House in Melbourne. Foundation House is a specialist refugee trauma agency supporting survivors of torture and other traumatic events.
Abuzar speaks with us about his experience coming to Australia, starting a new life and the challenges that refugees face in their new home.

MORE INFO:
Foundation House - The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture
Refugee Council of Australia - the national umbrella body for refugees and the organisations and individuals who support them.
 Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre - a for-purpose community-based agency providing services to migrants and refugees living in the southern region of Melbourne.

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:
Lifeline on 13 11 14
13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together. 

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Our guest for this episode is Isabelle Oderberg. Isabelle is a Melbourne-based journalist and author who  joins Get Real to talk about her book Hard to Bear: Investigating the science and silence of miscarriage. It’s an in-depth investigation about miscarriage – the world’s most common pregnancy complication and she brings her own living experience, as well as that of many others to this book.

MORE INFO:

• Early Pregnancy Loss Coalition - https://eplc.au
• Unrecognised and underestimated: the fight to get Australian women proper care after miscarriages (The Guardian, 9 August 2023)
• Understanding miscarriage and pregnancy loss with Prof Dame Lesley Regan and Lucy Bannerman (YouTube)
• Miscarriage Australia 

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:
Lifeline on 13 11 14
13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

How can a support worker establish a supportive relationship in recovery-oriented practice? In the world of mental health, there's no one-size-fits-all approach.  This conversation offers versatile strategies and insights to understand how to interact with clients for build supportive relationships.
In this episode we discuss:

• Strategies to aid the establishment of a supportive relationship 
• What do you need to know about your clients?
• Techniques for fostering a supportive relationship 
• Treating people as individuals 
• Tips for new workers 
• Framework for Recovery-oriented Practice

This episode is part of our Skills for Support Workers training podcasts, available on our website and produced as  part of the Developing the growing new NDIS (psychosocial disability) Workforce Project, supported by the Victorian Government.

Host - Ellen, Trainer and Project Manager
Guests -Dr Melissa Petrakis, Senior Lecturer of Social work, Monash University, Tamara, Trainer and Lynne, Practice Leader.

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:
Lifeline on 13 11 14
13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

This is an episode recorded during Homelessness Week 2023, live from Harmony Square Dandenong in Melbourne's south east at an event on 8 August co-hosted by Wayss and City of Greater Dandenong.

We speak with ermha365's Rosie Taylor, Practice Leader for Pathways and Dannie O'Leary, Mental Health Support Facilitator, Pathways.

Rosie and Dannie work with people experiencing homelessness in Melbourne's south east who are referred to Pathways from Monash Health and Councils and assist clients with support.

For more information on ermha365's Pathways program: https://www.ermha.org/community-connect/

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:
Lifeline on 13 11 14
13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

CREDITS
Produced, hosted and edited by Emily Webb, ermha365 Advocacy and External Communications Advisor with Karenza Louis-Smith, CEO ermha365.
Follow ermha365 on social media:
FACEBOOK - @ermhaorg
TWITTER - @ermha365
INSTAGRAM - @ermha365

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Our guest for this episode is Nicole Madigan. Nicole is a writer, author and investigative journalist. Nicole has written her first non-fiction book called Obsession, which is an investigation into stalking and the psychology behind stalking behaviours and the impact on victim-survivors.

Nicole was stalked for over three years. The relentless and debilitating experience wreaked havoc in her personal and professional life, leaving her trapped in a constant state of fear and anxiety.

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Our Specialist Behaviour Support is mentioned in this episode. Our specialist practitioners are highly skilled professionals who have expertise in supporting people with complex needs.

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:
Lifeline on 13 11 14
13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

MORE INFO:
https://www.police.vic.gov.au/stalking (or go to the website of the Police service in your state).
Friends with Dignity - Nicole is a non-executive director of this charity that supports survivors of domestic violence.
SPARC (US-based) https://www.stalkingawareness.org/
Suzy Lamplugh Trust (UK) - https://www.suzylamplugh.org/

CREDITS
Produced, hosted and edited by Emily Webb, ermha365 Advocacy and External Communications Advisor with Karenza Louis-Smith, CEO ermha365.
Follow ermha365 on social media:
FACEBOOK - @ermhaorg
TWITTER - @ermha36

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

What is trauma-informed practice? Learn how trauma is defined and understood, and strategies for helping. This podcast is part of ermha365's Skills for Support Workers training podcasts, available on our website and produced  part of the Developing the growing new NDIS (psychosocial disability) Workforce Project supported by the Victorian Government. In this episode, peer support workers Tamara and Charlotte share how you may recognise when a person has a history of complex trauma and how to respond.

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:
Lifeline on 13 11 14
13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

All content © 2023 Get Real: Talking mental health & disability.

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Our guest for this episode is award-winning Theatre & Cabaret Artist, playwright, producer, musician and all-round creative dynamo Chelsea Plumley.  Chelsea has written and produced her first play, Beautiful Highness, which premiered in May 2023 at Chapel Off Chapel in Melbourne.
Beautiful Highness centres around one family’s incredible grit and determination dealing with mental ill-health and is based on Chelsea's living experience.

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website, including our carer support.

Find out more about Chelsea at her website https://www.chelseaplumley.com/ and her play Beautiful Highness https://www.beautifulhighness.com/

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:
Lifeline on 13 11 14
13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

Other support and organisations mentioned in this episode:
Mindframe - supports safe media reporting, portrayal and communication about suicide, mental ill-health, alcohol and other drugs.
The Voices Clinic - a specialist psychology treatment and research clinic, run by Swinburne for people who hear voices or have similar experiences.
Families where a Parent has a Mental Illness (FaPMI) - general information about the program and locations.
ANZACATA - the peak professional body representing creative arts therapists in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia/Pacific region.
CREDITS
Produced, hosted and edited by Emily Webb, ermha365 Advocacy and External Communications Advisor with

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Imagine going through a traumatic childbirth injury, then finding out you have severe pelvic organ prolapse, an invisible and life-altering disability. How would you cope? Our guest for this episode is  Stephanie Thompson, a courageous mother, teacher, athlete, and advocate for women's pelvic health. Stephanie shares her harrowing journey, the impact on her physical and mental well-being, and how she's found healing through her platform, Brave Mumma.

Stephanie recounts her unexpected whirlwind of medical interventions during childbirth, which left her with little control over her own experience. We also explore the broader implications of pelvic organ prolapse on mental health, relationships, career, and motherhood.

Tune in to hear Stephanie's story and how she's turning her pain into purpose, empowering others to navigate their own journeys with pelvic organ prolapse.

Find out more about Stephanie at BRAVE MUMMA and buy her book The Day My Vagina Broke

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

• 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)
• Lifeline on 13 11 14

Other helpful organisations that Stephanie recommends:

• Continence Foundation of Australia
• PANDA
• Australasian Birth Trauma Association

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

CREDITS
Produced, hosted and edited by Emily Webb, ermha365 Advocacy and External Communications Advisor with Karenza Louis-Smith, CEO ermha365.

Follow ermha365 on social media:
FACEBOOK - @ermhaorg
TWITTER - @ermha365
INSTAGRAM -

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

This is an edited version of an episode from a podcast series produced by ermha365, which is part of the Developing the growing new NDIS (psychosocial disability) Workforce Project supported by the Victorian Government. The  podcast series is available be used as part of any Training Delivery / Assessment or Workplace Coaching and available on ermha365 website here: https://www.ermha.org/podcast-training-resources/

The episode was recorded in 2020 with guests:

• Robyn Oxley, A Proud Tharawal woman from South-West Sydney, Criminologist, Academic and Activist
• Belinda, Support Worker Mentis Assist

The podcast ep includes discussion of:

• What is truth telling? 
• What does intergenerational trauma look like for Australia’s First Peoples? 
• What is the ongoing impact of government policies on Australia’s First Peoples? 
• Why Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country are important 
• How non-Indigenous workers can effectively support Australia’s First Peoples 
• Trauma-informed practice
• The importance of family and kinship relationships 

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

• 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)
• Lifeline on 13 11 14

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Follow ermha365 on social media:
FACEBOOK - @ermhaorg
TWITTER - @ermha365
INSTAGRAM - @ermha365

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contrib

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Our guest for this episode is Martha Gatwech, a young women from Melbourne’s south east.

Martha, who is South Sudanese Australian, is also a podcaster who talks about the realities of being a young woman, racism, mental health and finding your authentic self.

Martha’s podcast is BROKEN RHYTHM.

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

FREE mental health support is available in Victoria through Mental Health and Wellbeing Local services. All support is free, and you do not need a referral to access help.  ermha365, in partnership with Barwon Health, Wellways Australia  and Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative provide services in the Greater Geelong-Queenscliffe area, 12-14 Thompson Road, North Geelong. Find your local service provider

CREDITS
Produced and hosted by Emily Webb, ermha365 Advocacy and External Communications Advisor with Karenza Louis-Smith, CEO ermha365.

Follow ermha365 on social media:
FACEBOOK - @ermhaorg
TWITTER - @ermha365
INSTAGRAM - @ermha365

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Marcelle Mogg, CEO of Mental Health Victoria is our guest for this episode.

Mental Health Victoria is the peak body for mental health and wellbeing in Victoria.

Mental Health Victoria drives policy, advocacy, workforce training, best practice…and much more. Any organisation that operates within, or intersects with, the mental health system in Victoria - and ermha365 is one of these - can become members of Mental Health Victoria to connect with others, collaborate and contribute to policy development. 

 MHV’s purpose is to ensure that people living with a mental illness can access effective and appropriate treatment and community support to enable them to participate fully in society. 

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

FREE mental health support is available in Victoria through Mental Health and Wellbeing Local services. All support is free, and you do not need a referral to access help.  ermha365, in partnership with Barwon Health, Wellways Australia  and Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative provide services in the Greater Geelong-Queenscliffe area, 12-14 Thompson Road, North Geelong. Find your local service provider

CREDITS
Produced and hosted by Emily Webb, ermha365 Advocacy and External Communications Advisor with Karenza Louis-Smith, CEO ermha365.

Follow ermha365 on social media:
FACEBOOK - @ermhaorg
TWITTER - @ermha365
INSTAGRAM - @ermha365

ermha365 acknowledges

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Rod Hannifey's been driving B-double trucks for decades. He’s driven millions of kilometres over that time, all across Australia. Rod came to my attention when I was researching wellbeing and the Truck Driving industry. Rod’s a well-known advocate in this space. He’s currently the President of the National Road Freighters Association, he contributes to magazines radio and online for the industry and he’s a Churchill Fellow – which is a worldwide, prestigious fellowship set up in Sir Winston Churchill’s name where people selected travel overseas to conduct research in their chosen field. Rod’s focus was heavy vehicle road safety best practice. 

Rod’s made advocating for himself and his fellow truck drivers a hobby and it's become a passion. 

MORE INFO:

• Rod's Facebook page Audiobooks for the Road
• Rod's TRUCKRIGHT blog
• Driving Health Reasearch  
• Monash University research finds poor truck driver health could cost Australia $2.5 billion
• Health in Gear 1800 464 327 (24/7 support)

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

FREE mental health support is available in Victoria through Mental Health and Wellbeing Local services. All support is free, and you do not need a referral to access help.  ermha365, in partnership with Barwon Health, Wellways Australia  and Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative provide services in the Greater Geelong-Queenscliffe area, 12-14 Thompson Road, North G

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Satellite Foundation is focused on the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people where a family member, like a parent or sibling has a mental illness or mental health challenges and the youth they support are aged 8-25 and live in Victoria, Australia.  CEO Rose Cuff and Youth Coordinator Mia Boonen are the guests for this episode.
Find out more about Satellite Foundation online or or phone 1800 973 444
You can follow Satellite Foundation on social media:

• Instagram - @satellite_foundation
• Facebook -  facebook.com/satellitefoundation 

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

FREE mental health support is available in Victoria through Mental Health and Wellbeing Local services. All support is free, and you do not need a referral from your doctor to access help.  ermha365, in partnership with Barwon Health, Wellways Australia  and Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative provide services in the Greater Geelong-Queenscliffe area, 12-14 Thompson Road, North Geelong. Find your local service provider

CREDITS
Produced and hosted by Emily Webb, ermha365 Advocacy and External Communications Advisor with Karenza Louis-Smith, CEO ermha365.

Follow ermha365 on social media:
FACEBOOK - @ermhaorg
TWITTER - @ermha365
INSTAGRAM - @

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Dr Ahona Guha is a Melbourne-based forensic and clinical psychologist. She works with survivors of abuse and those who live with trauma.

Ahona also works with perpetrators of harmful behaviours to assess risk, and provides treatment to reduce the risk they pose to others — and she has a deep understanding of the psychological and social factors that cause people to abuse others.
Ahona has written her first book RECLAIM: Understanding complex trauma and those who abuse.

MORE INFO:

• Ahona's website
• Ahona on Twitter @drahonaguha and Instagram @drahonaguha
• A broad definition of trauma is useful; an open-ended one isn’t (Psyche, May 2022)
• What people ask when they find out I’m a forensic psychologist (SBS Voices, March 2023)

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)
• Blue Knot Foundation - empowering recovery from complex trauma

FREE mental health support is available in Victoria through Mental Health and Wellbeing Local services. All support is free, and you do not need a referral from your doctor to access help.  ermha365, in partnership with Barwon Health, Wellways Australia  and Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative provide services in the Greater Geelong-Queenscliffe area, 12-14 Thompson Road, North Geelong. Find your local service provider

CREDITS
Produced and hosted by Emily Webb, ermha365 Advocacy and External Communica

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Our guest for this episode is Alan Tomkins who is an ambassador for the Burn Chef Project, which was set up in the UK in 2019 to eradicate mental health stigma within hospitality.

Alan was a chef for 22 years before finally leaving the industry he loved after he experienced significant impacts on his mental health. Now he’s using his living experience to work in mental health and recently started work at ermha365 as a Carer Respite Facilitator.

MORE INFO:

• Alan's Facebook Page: Mental Health and the Hospitality industry
• Burnt Chef Project - Committed to making the hospitality profession healthier and more sustainable by focussing on people's wellbeing first.
• Experiencing burnout? Here’s what to do about it via The Black Dog Institute

The clip you heard at the start of the episode is from a film called boiling point starring british actor Stephen Graham. 

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

FREE mental health support is available in Victoria through Mental Health and Wellbeing Local services. All support is free, and you do not need a referral from your doctor to access help.  ermha365, in partnership with Barwon Health, Wellways Australia  and Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative provide services in the Greater Geelong-Queenscliffe area, 12-14 Thompson Road, North Geelong. Find your local service provider

CREDITS
Produced and hosted by Emily Webb, ermha365 Advocacy and External Communications Advisor with Karenza Louis-Smith, CEO ermha365.
ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find ou

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Our guest for this episode is Brianna Pauuwe who lives in the United States and advocates for and supports people with disabilities, with a focus on fitness, wellbeing and community for people who use wheelchairs.

Brianna herself uses a wheelchair, after a life-altering car crash in 2011 when she drove under the influence of alcohol. She owns this experience and says she thinks it actually saved her life and gave her a purpose.

She now works for the Wheel with Me Foundation that supports people with disabilities, including through the world's first fitness app Wheel With Me Fitness - made for wheelchair users by wheelchair users. We’ll have details in the show notes so you can find out more.

And Brianna is passionate about accessibility and doing the things she loves like attending music festivals…and encouraging others to do the same.

She is also really open in talking about relationships and intimacy for people with disabilities.  You can find Brianna on:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bribabe16
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bribabe16/
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brigrace90

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

FREE mental health support is available in Victoria through Mental Health and Wellbeing Local services. All support is free, and you do not need a referral from your doctor to access help.  ermha365, in partnership with Barwon Health, Wellways Australia  and Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative provide services in the Greater Geelong-Queenscliffe area, 12-14 Thompson Road, North Geelong. Find your local service provider https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/mhwlocal#find-your-nearest-service

CREDITS
Produced and hosted by

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Our guest for this episode is Elfy Scott, a Sydney-based journalist whose work has appeared in Buzz Feed Australia, Guardian, The Saturday Paper, Junkee and VICE. Elfy has just released her first book called THE ONE THING WE’VE NEVER SPOKEN ABOUT: EXPOSING OUR UNTOLD MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. 

It’s an incredibly engaging and compelling book. part-memoir about Elfy's living experience and that of her mum, who lives with Schizophrenia. It's also a journalistic delve into why there’s still massive barriers for people who experience mental health conditions like schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, psychosis, obsessive compulsive disorder…to name a few.

More episodes on complex mental health:

• Heidi Everett – writing fearlessly about my psych reality
• Jacqueline Ellwood - Living through sexual and domestic violence and my bipolar diagnosis at age 42 
• Vietnam Veteran Dave Morgan - My battle with PTSD and keeping hope 

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)
• SANE Australia on 1800 187 263
• Bipolar Australia 

FREE mental health support is available in Victoria through Mental Health and Wellbeing Local services. All support is free, and you do not need a referral from your doctor to access help.  ermha365, in partnership with Barwon Health, Wellways Australia  and Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative provide services in the Greater Geelong-Queenscliffe area, 12-14 Thompson Road, North Geelong. Find your local service provider

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

Christmas is considered as one of the six most stressful life events, along with divorce, moving house and changing jobs. 

Although Christmas is meant to be a happy and joyful time, this isn't how everyone feels at this time of the year. Christmas can be a stressful and depressing time for many people. Some people find that the “Christmas spirt and celebration” can be really hard. 

Our special guests for this episode are Belinda Ellis and Jackie Ashmore from ermha365.

Belinda is a registered psychologist, specialising in forensics and is ermha365s Chief practice officer. She also operates her own private practice focusing on forensic and child development psychology.

Jackie is a registered nurse who specialised in forensic and mental health nursing. Jackie is our Chief Operations Officer at ermha365. Before training as a nurse Jackie was a corrections officer in prisons.

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

MORE SUPPORT

• Suicide Callback Service
• QLife (LGBTI peer support and referral)
• Beyond Blue
• Salvation Army

Produced and hosted by Emily Webb, ermha365 Advocacy and External Communications Advisor with Karenza Louis-Smith, CEO ermha365.

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory.

Follow ermha365 on social media:
FACEBOOK - @ermhaorg
TWITTER - @ermha365
INSTAGRAM - @ermha365

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

NOTE: This episode contains discussion of death, grief and stillbirth. Listener discretion is advised.

There’s a lot of reasons why Christmas and the New Year can be difficult, stressful and affect our mental health.

Our guest for this episode is Kelly Scott, the current Victorian President of the Australian Funeral Directors Association and also its National Senior Vice President.

Kelly is the General Manager of T J Scott & Son Funeral Directors based in the Macedon Ranges, Victoria – it’s a family business, which was established by her great-grandfather Thomas John Scott in 1938. She works alongside her father John Scott, and brother Daniel and has been in the profession for more than 25 years.

Kelly sees grief and loss up front and works with people during the most difficult time of their lives. 

We thought she’d offer insightful living experience of the how the Christmas and New Year can be a particularly tough time. And we were interested to know more about how funeral directors play a role in supporting individuals and communities. It’s an area of support that may not be front of mind when we think about mental health and wellbeing.

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

MORE SUPPORT

• SANDS - miscarriage, stillbirth and newborn death support
• Suicide Callback Service
• The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement
• Other Bereavement Services

Produced and hosted by Emily Webb, ermha365 Advocacy and External Communications Advisor with Karenza Louis-Smith, CEO ermha365.

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support

ermha365 provides mental health and disability support for people in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Find out more about our services at our website.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

NOTE: This episode contains discussion of trauma, suicide and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised.

Dave Morgan a Vietnam Veteran who has written a book called The Invisible Trauma: Coping with PTSD.

We know from some of the conversations we’ve had on this podcast that serving and veteran military members are particularly vulnerable to trauma.

The Invisible Trauma is Dave’s journey and details the various treatments and studies that he’s been a part of in a quest to find what works for him so he can help others.

The book also includes the living experience of others with Trauma and also the ripple effect on his family with Dave’s wife Debbie and children detailing their perspectives.

 It’s a book for all those suffering similarly, not solely defence veterans.

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)