The Mental Health Foundation has launched Opening Doors, a video examining the use of seclusion and the long-lasting trauma it can cause to both patients and staff. Visit the Mental Health Foundation website for more information.
Family Court Proceedings Reform Bill Released
The Family Court Proceedings Reform Bill is currently being read in parliament.
Find out what it’s really about.
Family Violence Resource from the Office of Ethnic Affairs
Family violence speaks many languages, has many colours, and lives in everyone’s community.
The Office of Ethnic Affairs understands that family violence is a difficult thing to talk about.
It can arouse fear of alienation and stigmatisation. A critical step in its reduction is to ensure that family violence can be discussed without fear and that offenders and victims can seek help.
The Office of Ethnic Affairs has developed a guide called Speak up Seek help Safe home to help women from diverse cultures and their families live without violence at home.
Link to the office of Ethnic Affairs website: http://ethnicaffairs.govt.nz/story/family-violence-and-ethnic-communities%20
Take It From Us in Top 3 at Annual Micie Awards
In the annual PlanetFM Micie awards last night, mental health radio Take It From Us placed in the top 3 for “hits” on the PlanetFM website, planetaudio.org.nz. That’s three places better than the show’s 2011 Top 10 ranking of sixth, and is a credit to the enthusiastic work of technical assistant, Declan Curran, in establishing a Facebook presence, and separate email to promote Take It From Us, and emphasise the on-line opportunities for listening to broadcasts.
Take It From Us has won six Micies now in six years, and host Sheldon Brown sends out a big thank you to all our guests, listeners and supporters.
Listen live on 104.6FM at 12.30pm every Tuesday or online www.planetaudio.org.nz
OR if you missed the broadcast, listen for the next seven days @: www.planetaudio.org.nz/takeitfromus
Catch up on the last four shows online: www.likeminds.org.nz
And don’t forget our new Facebook page @ Facebook.com and type take it from us in the search box; our email is takeitfromus@mail.com for any feedback and comment/suggestions for shows
passport changes for transgender travellers
New Zealand’s transgender community is now able to change their gender on their passports by a simple declaration.
The Great NZ Science Project: What Areas of Research Are Important to You?
Now’s your chance to get behind science and help New Zealand decide how we use it to invest in our future. Explore areas of interest and join the debate. The future of science in New Zealand is in your hands.
Science is not just beakers and Bunsen burners, it’s a multi-billion dollar industry of state-of-the-art research and invention. That’s why we’re partnering some of our top scientific minds with a few of the best open-minded, free-thinkers we know: our children. Result? A chance for all of us to shape our own future.
Register to give your views!! [Get mental-health research on the agenda!]
AttitudeTV Awards Promote Contributions made by New Zealanders Living with Disability
http://artsaccess.org.nz/
Andrew Blythe wins AttitudeTV Artistic Achievement Award.
Auckland artist Andrew Blythe has won the Attitude Artistic Achievement Award 2012, announced last night at a black tie gala evening at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre.
Since 2000, Andrew’s passion for painting has been supported by Toi Ora Live Art Trust, a creative space (community arts centre) in Grey Lynn, Auckland. Toi Ora provides studio space and tuition for people who have experienced mental illness.
“We were thrilled that Andrew won this award,” says Erwin van Asbeck, Director, Toi Ora Live Art Trust. “This caps off an amazing year where he’s had a lot of national and international exposure. Now, we’re looking forward to Andrew’s next show at the Tim Melville Gallery in the first half of 2013.”
In July, Andrew was highly commended in Arts Access Aotearoa’s Big ‘A’ Artistic Achievement Award 2012. Through his art and with the support of Toi Ora, Andrew has found a way to keep well. His art is a full-time job and he has been exhibiting his works over the past nine years in numerous group shows, as well as two solo shows in at Satellite Gallery and at the Tim Melville Gallery, both in Auckland.
He was also one of the artists with work in Arts Access Aotearoa’s “Original Voices” exhibition, on at the Pataka Museum of Arts and Cultures in Porirua, in September. With Stuart Shepherd, his paintings have been shown in Paris, at the New York Outsider Art Fair, and at the MADmusée in Liège, Belgium in August and September this year. Most recently, his work featured at the Darren Knight Gallery in Sydney.
http://artsaccess.org.nz/
Stuart says “His work is extremely consistent and assured, and he seems to have an intuitive radar that guides his composition. Andrew contributes to the international language of abstraction.” Erwin says that Andrew’s work has developed hugely since he’s been coming to Toi Ora. “His wellness has also flourished to the point where he is living independently.”
Other Attitude Award recipients are Erin Gough (Youth Award), Neelusha Memon (Courage in Sport), Adam Hall (Sport Performer), Sir Murray Halberg (Hall of Fame Inductee), Invacare (Attitude ACC Employer Award) and Nola Burgess, who won the Attitude Making a Difference Award. Sharon Davies won the Spirit of Attitude Award and Attitude ACC Supreme Award, heading off strong competition from more than 20 other national finalists.
The Attitude Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of New Zealanders living with a disability and have grown out of the Attitude TV series, which screens on TV ONE on Sunday mornings. “The prime objective of the Attitude Awards is to create more awareness and consideration of the contributions made by New Zealanders living with disability,” Robyn says.
ACC is proud to be principal sponsor of the Awards. Ralph Stewart, ACC Chief Executive, says: “The recipients of this year’s Attitude Awards have pursued life with a positive attitude, strength and determination. They demonstrate that with ambition and the right support it’s possible for anyone to achieve their goals, regardless of the obstacles they face along the way.”
Full list of winners and locations:
Attitude ACC Supreme Award and Spirit of Attitude Award
- Sharon Davies; Swanson, Auckland
Attitude Hall of Fame Inductee
- Sir Murray Halberg; Auckland
Attitude Sports Performer Award
- Adam Hall; Wanaka
Attitude Courage in Sport Award
- Neelusha Memon; Wellington
Attitude ACC Employer Award
- Invacare; Mt Wellington, Auckland
Attitude Youth Award
- Erin Gough; Christchurch
Attitude Artistic Achievement Award
- Andrew Blythe; Sandringham, Auckland
Attitude Making a Difference Award
- Nola Burgess; Gisborne
– Ends –
For more information contact:
Helen Johnson, Project Manager- The Attitude Awards
- Tel: (09) 309 4015
- Mob: 021 044 0831
- Email: helen@attitudeawards.org
Petition to Save Auckland’s Rape Crisis Line – Again!
Auckland’s 24 hour rape crisis line is again under threat of closure — less than 12 months since 7,000 people signed the petition that forced PM Key to promise its survival.
2 000 people signed the new petition in the first 24 hours – but it’s not over yet.
The 24 hour rape crisis line is integral to our community. It’s the service that Auckland’s sexual violence survivors can turn to for help. For thirty years, it’s taken a call every hour of every day.
A year ago, PM Key said he’d do his part to help rape survivors by funding the crisis line. But, we always said we’d need to stay vigilant and hold the government to their word. And now that the spotlight has dropped off, the Government thinks it can get away with slashing funding for this essential service.
The service needs just $116,000 from the government to survive. And we know we can get that commitment again if we continue the pressure. Sign and then share the petition with at least 5 of your friends and have them add their names to support a vital service. An immediate and overwhelming response will show the Prime Minister that we’re still watching.
This service will close unless we act now. The service’s board will soon start offering redundancies to counselling staff — the exact people rape survivors rely on for support and advice in their time of need.
Volunteers and staff are planning some media events and are trying hard to get the word out. But take a moment to share the petition with at least 5 of your friends and do your part to help an essential service that many rely on.
Family Court Bill Introduced
Key features of the Family Court Bill are:
- A new Family Dispute Resolution service to help parents and families settle their problems without going to court
- Increased penalties for breaching protection orders
- Extending the definition of domestic violence to include economic abuse
- Expanding the Parenting Through Separation course
- Improved programmes to stop domestic violence
- Better information to help people navigate the court system.
