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ACTIONS TO THE CALL July 2024Casting the Net for What Matters and for Whom?We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work, and pay our respects to the Elders, past and present and recognise the continuing cultural connections to lands, skies and waterways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The ALIVE National Centre for Mental Health Research Translation is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Special Initiative in Mental Health GNT2002047.

The meaning behind makingThis net was created collectively during the ALIVE National Annual Symposium March 2024 on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country, Canberra Australia. Jessica Spencer is a fibre artist living on Ngambri Country. Jess facilitated making of our net over the two days of the Annual Symposium using a method that hails from Wiradjuri Country amongst the sand hills in Narrandera (known as river country). Jess used a technique traditionally used by her nation to create fishing nets that were used to fish within her community.

We settled on the idea of a NET for the 2024 symposium and Call to Action to symbolise connection and interdependence with each other and our environment and to explore how we are entangled in policies and practices that sometimes capture and harm us rather than nourish and replenish us. As shared by Muruwari Gumbaynggirr researcher Phillip Orcher ‘many Aboriginal people across the Land wove a barrier net to trap fish in small creeks and streams. These barrier nets were similar to a loosely woven mat to allow water to run through holes but not let fish get through. Sometimes these mats would be used as a drag net in rivers and the sea, to ethically capture good size fish to ensure sustainability. Communities, when migrating toward marine areas both in fresh water and saltwater areas, would have their own methods of constructing intricate nets for the benefit of the tribe and families.’ We cast the constructed net to capture the call to action for hope and sustainability. We cast the net for organisations, researchers, government, policy makers and communities to commit to and grow FIVE FOUNDATIONS and support the implementation of NINE ACTIONS for change to deliver RELATIONAL SYSTEMS, SAFE POLICY and HOLISTIC WELLBEING.and casting the net

Foundation 1Everyone can be anagent of changeFoundation 2Deep listening forchange is essentialFoundation 3Maintain “thewhole” in all thingsAccountability needs to be beyondgovernment, everyone canparticipate and drive policy, practiceand social change by:(1) (1) addressing the priorities of people most impacted inresearch, policy and practice;(2) And(3) (2) unlearning research methods and practices that are no longerfit for purpose to respond toneeds.Sustained resourcing for deeplistening is needed to supportchange. Government, care providersand researchers can:(1) embed processes for deeplistening in all care, policy andresearch development;And(2) fund, support and resourceappropriate First Nations groupsto lead change.Service designers, system planners,researchers and policy developerscan be leaders of change byensuring that:(1) (1) lived-experience is central to design, planning,implementation andtranslation;(2) And(3) (2) services adapt to peoples’ needs, not people adapting tothe service.

Foundation 4Connectedness and hope are critical ingredientsFoundation 5Holistic well-being is the main outcomeTo implement change in our mental health and well-being ecosystem everyone needs to:(1) implement experiential knowledge processes, practices, systems and values; And,(2) foster everyday possibilities for connection and hand power over to communities to lead.Everyone needs to expand how holistic well-being is understood, practised and implemented:(1) (1) encompassing physical, social, cultural, economic, spiritual, mental and environmental aspects of life;(2) And,(3) (2) recognising that new ways of doing are needed to embed holistic approaches for everyone.

ACTIONSTOTHE CALLRelational SystemsSafe PolicyHolistic Well-BeingMeasuring What Matters refers to theFederal Government’s Framework forNational Wellbeing. This document outlines“what matters for wellbeing for a healthy,secure, sustainable, cohesive and prosperousAustralia.”Our Call and the Actions are based on thelimited view of what matters and for whomin the Framework. The actions to the callprovide nine areas for change to embedexperiential knowledge, expand nationaldatasets, and ensure cultural responsivenessis embedded in approaches. It asksGovernment to widen its lens on wellbeing.Read the framework here:https://treasury.gov.au/policy-topics/measuring-what-matters/framework

Review Primary Health Networks needs assessment and activity planning approaches. Make explicit commitments to relational models in commissioning and demonstrate progress in meeting the priorities of people most impacted.Sustained action and continued funds for healing-oriented frameworks. Address the ongoing impacts of racism, stigma, trauma, violence, and colonisation.Expand “measuring what matters” to include experiential knowledge. Identify appropriate research and evaluation methods.Renewed transparent, living and dynamic policy development underpinned by human rights. Develop safe policy tests to assess for future consequences before implementation.Fund longitudinal programs, research and evaluation instead of short-term pilot work. Invest in existing successes.Holistic outcomes to be included in policy and service planning and evaluation strategies. Show demonstrable inclusion of diversity of perspectives and lived-experience.Change deficit language of intergenerational trauma in policy and in practice. Implement PRIDE - People, Ritual, Identity, Deep, Empathy as indicators of well-being in addition to economic outcomes.Expand the understanding of translation from the ideas of scaling-out to at-scale delivery. At-scale means “the right amount of people for the problem at hand”.Implement tailored, holistic wellbeing models of care instead of compartmentalised behavioural, psychological, and social interventions.NINEACTIONSFORCHANGE

Actions for Change– Relational Systems –1

When we talk about a relational system, we mean one that is centred on relationships between people and communities with regard for all beings and the environment. A relational view of things where the interconnectedness between all things is valued, honoured and flourishes and takes time to understand, hear and appreciate differences.

1 Review Primary Health Networks needs assessment and activity planning approaches. Make explicitcommitments to relational models in commissioning and demonstrate progress in meeting the prioritiesof people most impacted.WHATACTIONS FOR RELATIONAL SYSTEMS2 Sustained action and continued funds for healing-oriented frameworks. Address the ongoingimpacts of racism, stigma, trauma, violence, and colonisation.3 Expand “Measuring what Matters” to include experiential knowledge. Identify appropriate researchand evaluation methods.

1 Primary Health Networks (PHNs), Local Health Districts (LHDs). Department of Health and Aged Care withoversight of PHNs. State and Territory Consumer and Carer Peaks. Anyone engaging with PHNs on assessmentand planning.WHO2 Local, State and Territory Departments and Ministerial Portfolios across community development, domestic andfamily violence, disability, health departments, social services, housing, employment, finance, mental health, justice,cultural and arts programs, education, and immigration, citizenship and multicultural affairs portfolios. Indigenousagencies for example the National Indigenous Australians Agency.First Nations peak bodies for example Gayaa Dhuwi for social and emotional well-being, Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander Lived-Experience Centre and Network, lead research centres and organisations such as The HealingFoundation and Thirrili postvention Indigenous suicide services to name some but not all.3 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Centre for Evaluation,Treasury, Australian National Preventative Health Agency, Behavioural Economics Team of Australia in theDepartment of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Embrace Multicultural Mental Health.Research Centres, Institutes, Non-Government Organisations responsible for administration of any national surveysacross the life course and in priority populations, for example, the Australian Consortium for Social and PoliticalResearch including Mission Australia.

Actions for Change– Safe Policy –2

When we talk about safe policy, we mean all government and non-government policies have undergone an ethical assessment ahead of implementation. This assessment will focus in on the ways that people matter within the policies and identify the unintended consequences and the harms that could affect those most impacted. We also refer to this as a safe policy test which is a critical ingredient for a holistic system of care.

1 Renewed transparent, living and dynamic policy development underpinned by human rights. Develop safe policy tests to assess for future consequences before implementation.2 Fund longitudinal programs, research and evaluation instead of short-term pilot work. Invest in existing successes.3 Holistic outcomes to be included in policy and service planning and evaluation strategies. Show demonstrable inclusion of diversity of perspectives and lived-experience.WHATACTIONS FOR SAFE POLICY

2 All policy makers across Local, State and Federal Government and relevant Ministerial Portfolios across Prime Minister and Cabinet, Employment and Workplace, Climate Change and Energy, Environment and Water, Treasury, Social Services, Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Housing, Homelessness, Industry and Science, Resources, Agriculture and Fisheries and Forestry. National Disability Insurance Agency, Productivity Commission, Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, National Mental Health Commission, Australian Human Rights Commission. Consumer and Carer Peaks. Mental Health Australia, Consumer and Carer Forum, Embrace Multicultural Mental Health.WHO3 Ministerial Portfolios across government including Indigenous agencies, the Australian Centre for Evaluation, Primary Health Networks (PHNs), Local Health Networks (LHDs). Research Funding Bodies for example National Health Medical Research Council, Medical Research Future Fund and Australian Research Council. Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Senior Officials Group. Universities, researchers and service sectors.1 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Centre for Evaluation, Treasury, Australian National Preventative Health Agency, Behavioural Economics Team of Australia in Dept of Prime Minister and Cabinet. National Disability Insurance Agency. Mental Health Australia. Research Centres, Institutes and Non-Government Organisations responsible for administration of national mental health and well-being surveys across the life course and in priority populations for example, the Australian Consortium for Social and Political Research inc., Mission Australia.

Actions for Change– Holistic WellBeing –3

When we say holistic wellbeing, we mean the total sum of the parts. Instead of focusing on what people are not, we mean people can flourish because of who they are. Holistic wellbeing takes a whole view of things people are connected to place and to each other.

1 Change deficit language of intergenerational trauma in policy and in practice. Implement PRIDE People, Ritual, Identity, Deep, Empathy as indicators of well-being in addition to economic outcomes.2 Expand the understanding of translation from the ideas of scaling-out to at-scale delivery. At-scale means “the right amount of people, the right amount of care, for the problem at hand”.3 Implement tailored, holistic wellbeing models of care instead of compartmentalised behavioural, psychological, and social interventions.WHATACTIONS FOR HOLISTIC WELLBEING

1 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Universities, service providers, non-government organisations, researchers and anyone engaged in policy and practice implementation.Services Australia. Mental Health Australia. Consumer and Carer Forum.All policy makers across Federal, State and Local Departments and relevant Ministerial Portfolios. Productivity Commission, Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. National Mental Health Commission, Australian Human Rights Commission. Consumer and Carer Peaks.WHO3 Primary care, psychologists, psychiatrists and all clinical care providers in all parts of the health, wellbeing and social care ecosystems.2 Universities, service providers, governments, researchers, communities, PHNs, LHDs, Professional Associations, Consumer and Carer Peaks. Peak bodies for service sectors, service providers.

Spe cial thanksDebbie Wood for the graphic recording and images used within the Actions to the Call.International guests for the symposium Hamish Lindop, Tammy Potini, and Jon Glasby.The HUB coordination team at The University of Melbourne Cathy Butterss, Dana Jazayeri,Glenn Papworth, Caroline Tjung, Alex Lee.Immersive activities facilitators and World Café table hosts Alyssa Morse, Jill Bennett, NickyBell, Bec Moran, Kelsey Hegarty, David Preen, Nicky Reavley, Jon Glasby, Phillip Orcher,Donna Stephens, Wendy Hermeston, Victoria Palmer, Michelle Banfield.Special thanks for Michelle Banfield and Victoria Palmer who co-designed the symposiumprogram, the immersive activities format and the table topics including facilitation of theWorld Café and synthesis of the Call to Action and Actions to the Call.NPY Women’s Council, Deputy Mental Health Commissioners, NSW Tim Heffernan andTom Brideson for attending.Attendees for the Executive Planning Saturday morning following the symposium.The ALIVE National Board and Committee members who contributed to Actions to the Calldrop-in sessions who assist to to identify who should take responsibility .Most of all YOU – Everything you DO Matters.

Read the Cal l to Action to[re]form national mentalhealth and well-being:https://alivenetwork.com.au/casting-the-net-for-wh at-matters-for-whom/The Actions to the Call were co-created by more than 130 people atthe 2024 ALIVE National Holistic Formations Annual Symposium. Thesymposium focused on the policy and practice arrangements thatare needed for systemic transitions to Wholistic Care, Whole Person,Whole of Community and Holistic Wellbeing. Researchers in mentalhealth, suicide prevention, social and emotional wellbeing and FirstNations guests and partners, and people with lived-experience ofment al ill-health and ongoing distress, and carer family and kinshipgroups, pol icy representatives and practi tioners created this work.Facilitators hosted creative arts based, immersive activities prior anda World Café held in-person and online. The c afe table t opics andsele cted quote s from the Australian Government’s Me asuri ng WhatMatte rs National Wellbeing Framework were established ahead andprovided to prompt conversations. The World Café ran for 2 hours,people eng aged in conversations and responded to four questionsallocated 20 mins discussion tim e.Table topics were created from Centre member contributionsahead of the Symposium friendship for belonging, from the past fordeep listening, plane tary health for inner experi ences, beyond servicesfor interconnection, shifting treatment for responsiveness, plannedenvironments for spirit, sense of policy safety for system wellbeing andexperie ntial knowledge for holistic impacts. The contributions form theCall to Action and these Actions to the Call.