Dimitrios Papalexis

This article is pertinent to Lived Experience advocates as well as GPs. Too often advocates are not paid for reading, preparation time and sitting fees. When we make requests about changes to the way committees are managed, we are often seen as obstructive, problematic, lacking resilience, ‘becoming unwell again’ when what we are doing is truth telling. Over past years I have been on several state & national committees, most paid sitting fees; 2 paid prep time. However, I was sitting on one national committee during my work hours & hadn’t expected to be paid independent of my work. When I announced that I was leaving my job & asked about payment for this committee I was told this Expert Lived Experience Committee didn’t pay committee members. Staff were paid. When I said I would step down to avoid a conflict of interest in advocating for payment for the other committee members the committee was abruptly wound up by a prominent official. Is this a soft form of modern slavery ? have I gone too far? I have if you think about slaves working 24/7 cleaning houses, mustering sheep etc; However if people are asked to be involved because of their LE expertise & aren’t valued enough to be paid; this reflects the ignorant impertinence of people in power; The long arm of the oppressors.

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Changes to NDIS supports The changes to the NDIS Act introduce a new definition of NDIS supports. This definition will be in effect from 3 October 2024. This definition will make it clear what NDIS funding can and can’t be spent on. From 3 October 2024, NDIS participants will only be able to spend their NDIS funding on things that are NDIS supports. We will share more information about this new definition once it has been finalised. In some circumstances, participants might be able to ask to use their funding for a support that is not an NDIS support. We will share more information about this in a future edition. If a participant makes a mistake and buys supports that are not NDIS supports, we will work with them to help understand the new rules and access NDIS supports. For more information visit the Changes to NDIS webpage (opens in new window). Budget amounts The changes to NDIS legislation also introduce some changes to how funding is shown in NDIS plans. From 3 October 2024, new NDIS plans will include a total budget amount. This means that participants will see the total amount for all the supports in the plan. This is currently known as total funded supports. While a participant's plan will still look similar, this change will make clear the total funding available to a participant and how long the funds need to last. Participants can’t spend more funding than what is available in their plan. These changes apply to new plans or plans reassessed on or after 3 October 2024. As part of this change, plans created from 3 October 2024 will be for 12 months. In the future, most people’s plans will go for longer than this. We will let you know as soon as this changes. For more information visit the Changes to the NDIS webpage (opens in new window).

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New Letter to the Editor from me in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. It responds to the article ‘Do compulsory mental health patients have a right to receive a second psychiatric opinion on their treatment under Australian mental health legislation?’ by Dr Samuel Boyle & Co. I argue the following: 🧠 The article provides an important overview of the state of law on second psychiatric opinions across Australia. I agree with their calls for more research into this area. I then make the following three observations/recommendations. 🔍 Human rights should guide how we approach second opinions. The CRPD and legislation like Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act and the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 (Vic) have various stated aims, including eliminating restrictive practices and reducing (or eliminating) compulsory treatment... but are second opinions truly aligning with these goals? We must evaluate their cultural safety and supported decision-making. 📊 I query whether the Victorian Second Psychiatric Opinion Service (SPOS) achieves its safeguarding purpose. To me, there's confusion over its role—should it "educate" people with lived experience on their "mental illness", or, fulfil its safeguarding function as prescribed under law. I think the publicly available evidence highlights some confusion here and that they may not have that purpose clearly defined. We should evaluate or review whether this is the case. 🤔 I query whether psychiatrists should be the only ones delivering this service. 2nd Psychiatric Opinions in Victoria have two functions - reviewing whether someone should be subject to compulsory mental health treatment and whether the treatment is appropriate. I argue that other disciplines, including senior peer support workers and social and emotional wellbeing workers, should be able to do the latter (review treatment & recommend changes), but not the former (assess whether someone should be subject to the Act). I avoid the latter because it risks co-opting these disciplines, but argue for the former because these disciplines have enormous expertise, can arguably meet people's needs better in many circumstances, can drive culture-change in services and as a bonus are significantly less costly meaning more ability to review. Here's the letter: https://lnkd.in/g2phTDbu DM me if you can't access. What do you think about these recommendations?

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I think it’s really important in the current economy to be clear that “$90 per hour” is not a salaried role. It’s a per-session consultancy fee that is supposed to cover all our business costs (including commercial rent, utilities, admin staff salaries etc) plus cover our own salary, super, tax, leave etc. By comparison the AAPi recommends a consultancy fee of $315 to cover all these costs. On another note: There is not enough transparency around exactly who contracted EAP providers are utilising for these services. I’ve seen shocking examples where Cert IV in Mental Health has been deemed sufficient, despite the provider being under contract to only utilise qualified and experienced mental health professionals. It’s great to see AAPi opening up this conversation.

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🧐 Are you a therapist working with Autistic and ADHDer adults? Join me for: ✨Delivering Effective & Affirming Therapy with Autistic and ADHDer Adults✨ Saturday 26 October, in Ringwood, Melbourne. This full day (6.5 hour) workshop is presented on behalf of Outer Eastern Branch of the APS. Non-members are welcome. Using a blend of didactic, experiential and skills-focused learning, you'll learn: 🌟 The fundamentals of neurodiversity-affirming practice, including the use of affirming language. 🌟 How Autism and ADHD present beyond the DSM criteria, including differences in information processing, executive functioning, and self-regulation. 🌟 How to identify previously unidentified neurodivergence in your clients, including the use of best-practice screening tools. 🌟 How to work therapeutically with neurodivergent clients experiencing Autistic/ADHD burnout, masking, meltdowns, shutdowns, people-pleasing, poor boundaries, emotional dysregulation, and body-focused repetitive behaviours. 🌟 How to distinguish between behaviours labelled as “disordered” from valid neurodivergent needs and adapt your approach accordingly. 🌟 How to support clients build self-advocacy skills, self-compassion, and self-acceptance. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gzurFSd3

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Please watch this video as a stunning example of just what music therapy can do.

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Don’t miss out - Only 1 week to go! World-first, so what’s next? How you can join the revolution for Change! Join this FREE WEBINAR presented by Dr Eli Kotler, Dr Michael Winlo, Tania de Jong AM, Peter Hunt AM and Scott Edwards and more speakers to be announced. Topic: Psychedelic Therapies in Australia: Achievements, Challenges and Opportunities Join us for a live webinar on Psychedelic Therapies in Australia: Achievements, Challenges, and Opportunities. Explore the current legal landscape and hear from leading psychiatrists pioneering treatments. You'll also learn about Mind Medicine Australia's current focus including our Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies (CPAT) and Patient Support Fund. * What’s legal right now? How is it progressing? * Hear from psychiatrists who are treating patients with these therapies * What is MMA’s current focus? * Learn more about our world-leading Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies (CPAT), our Patient Support Fund and health insurance options * Hear from some CPAT Graduates who are already practising about what they have learnt * What are some of the opportunities, challenges and wishes for the future * How you can be part of the change now DATE: 13th May 2024 TIME: 7:00pm - 8:15pm Book your ticket now, don’t miss out! #MentalHealthAwareness #trauma #ptsd #MDMA #addiction #depression #psilocybin #psychiatry #psychology #psychedelictherapy #psychedelics #medicine #innovation #neuroscience #webinar #event #Australia

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In the July edition of the Australian Counselling Association Student Newsletter, I shared my experience attending a local Mental Health Professionals' Network meeting led by Nasalifya Namwinga from Pola Practice, as she shared her research findings on burnout among mental health practitioners in Australia. This was both empowering and essential for addressing the challenges we face in our profession. "A couple of weeks ago, I attended a local Mental Health Professionals' Network (MHPN) meeting led by Nasalifya Namwinga, the lead researcher at Pola Practice. Pola Practice provides culturally responsive and intersectional therapy for individuals, couples, and families. As a practitioner, Nasalifya also shared some valuable early findings from her research on burnout among mental health practitioners in Australia, which forms part of a more extensive study on AI and mental health for her PhD studies. This session was especially meaningful because I was facing personal challenges with my family and close relationships at the time. Although I strive to separate these issues from my professional life, my clinical supervision identified some early signs of burnout, which has prompted me to take immediate action to ensure that the challenges I experienced in my personal life did not impact my professional work. The meeting also provided valuable insights into the causes and impacts of burnout and sparked a broader discussion on how we can navigate these challenges. Nasalifya's presentation highlighted the urgency of understanding and addressing burnout in our professional and personal lives, as these areas can significantly influence each other. In follow-up discussions with Nasalifya, I found her perspective refreshing and enlightening. She offered a clear view of the current state of burnout and further insights into practical strategies for supporting ourselves and our colleagues in Australia. My key takeaway was the crucial need to prioritise our well-being before we can effectively support others. This means embracing self-care, self-compassion, and resilience, which are not just beneficial but essential for thriving in our work. These strategies empower us to navigate the challenges of our profession and continue to make a difference in the lives of those we serve. Being part of this dialogue has been both empowering and encouraging. It’s crucial that we acknowledge and address the ongoing challenges mental health professionals face, ensuring that we receive the necessary support to continue our vital work. We can better serve those seeking our help by focusing on our well-being."

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Found this article I contributed to explaining EMDR - do please share if you like it: https://lnkd.in/gRbEeRq #emdr

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Every relationship has its ups and downs, but healthy communication is key. Whether you're looking to strengthen your bond or overcome a rough patch, I provide a safe space to reconnect and heal. Book a session with me now at www.alanablazevic.com.au #RelationshipGoals #CouplesCounselling #StrongerTogether #CommunicationIsKey #Reconnect #HealthyRelationships

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How Measurement Based Care (MBC) makes psychological case management easier, more ethical, and more effective. MBC is the Canadian term for what has been advanced here in Australia for more than ten years. we just didn't have the term, we had the policy and procedures. so the idea isn't new, the term is new to Australia. so what is it? it is the idea found in the clinical framework for the delivery of health care services circa 2012 singed by all state and national compensation bodies. its first principle is that of measurement. this framework is still in force and referenced by SIRA, Worksafe Victoria and Comcare to name a few. the die ais simple at its core. measure treat, re-measure, treat re-measure, compare the three measures to determine the trajectory to see if the treatment is working, ineffective or harming. you know the stuff EVERY OTHER FIELD OF HEALTH DOES!!!! in 2013 the Professor Sam Harvey and the team at black dog wrote the expert guidelines that advise that the measure, remeasure and re-measure should happen over 12 weeks for medication or 12 session for talk therapy. they also advise in that if it is ineffective or harmful then RE-DIAGNOSE, not change treatment, but go back to step one and re-diagnose the person. why do all this? from the evidence based literature we know how much a treatment should change a person's scores. that means if a person has a score for a disorder we know how much that score should change when that treatment is applied. it is NOT guesswork. it's science. if the person does not recover that much then there is likely something else going on. #insuranceindustry #ptsd #mdd #workerscompensation #familylaw

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Being mindful helps to improve assertiveness. It enables us to recognise what we need and want from others, and speak up when our needs aren’t met. Come be a mindful man. Details ⬇️

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New Palliative Care resources in AUSLAN released during the 2024 International Day of People with Disability As strategy to promote access to information, Murray PHN and Palliative Care Victoria have released AUSLAN translations of 5 Easy English booklets to support deaf and hard-of-hearing people with their palliative care journey. Resources and videos can be found at Palliative Care Victoria website: https://lnkd.in/ghxjnC9b. Victorian Minister for Health Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas MP and Minister for Disability Hon. Lizzie Blandthorn endorsed this major step into inclusive support in the media release available here: https://lnkd.in/ghDeamac #palliativecare #deafpeople #dayofdisability #disabilitysupport

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Excellent resources

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Skodel put together this check-list for psychosocial hazard compliance. Try to break it down into manageable steps. Regulators want to see you are on the journey and these steps will help you demonstrate that. #psychosocialhazards

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NDIS Changes Threaten Creative Therapies and Mental Health Support. As a qualified art therapist, I’ve dedicated my career to helping clients navigate their disabilities, mental health and well-being through the power of creativity. Art therapy isn’t just about making art Every session involves: Hours of preparation, reflection, and tailored planning. Professional development, supervision, and compliance with ethical standards. Managing the emotional demands of supporting clients These are not casual activities —they are deeply intentional, evidence-based, and life-changing for clients. Recent NDIS changes are putting this critical work at risk. The shift in funding rates and categories undermines the value of creative therapies, leaving many therapists like me facing financial uncertainty and questioning our future in the field. By slashing hourly rates and limiting funding categories, the NDIS is not only devaluing our work but also threatening the livelihoods of therapists and the access clients have to vital services. By slashing hourly rates and questioning the value of creative therapies, the NDIS has damaged the reputation of my profession. These changes devalue my work and may drive experienced therapists out of the field. Many are sole traders like me, the burden increases, as we navigate inconsistent policies and unsustainable financial expectations. We’re in the middle of a mental health crisis and a loneliness epidemic. Restricting access to trained mental health professionals like creative therapists during this time is shortsighted and harmful. More than 2.3 million Australians need mental health care but aren’t receiving it. For every person receiving help, at least one is going without! How can these changes be justified when we are already facing a national shortage of mental health professionals? Bill Shorten #NDIS #ArtTherapy #MusicTherapy #MentalHealthCrisis #CreativeTherapies #Advocacy #SupportMentalHealth #lonelinessepidemic #merrybloodychristmasBillShorten #creativetherapiesbelonginthendis

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