Welcome to the MHFA Gallery where you will find photos from MHFA courses and other MHFA snap-shots. Some of these pictures are also included in our Friends of the MHFA Program Newsletters, along with the full-length articles.
If you would like to send us any MHFA photos from a MHFA course you or your colleagues attended, please email them along with a brief description to: mhfa@mhfa.com.au
The real ALGEE |
ALGEE is the MHFA Program’s mascot and the acronym for the MHFA Action Plan. In November 2009, The MHFA Program adopted the first real ALGEE through an organisation called Friends of the Koala www.friendsofthekoala.org He was an injured joey and is now all grown up and doing much better. At the rescue centre he was king-pin and was always first to get to the gum-leaves (as you can see!) He has now been released with two of his friends and has been spotted going well since his release. The MHFA Program will soon be adopting another real ALGEE. Watch this space! Click photo to enlarge |
ALGEE in Europe |
MHFA Instructor Brian Headford and his wife Cathy conduct volunteer work with St Vincent de Paul, whereby they help those less fortunate. Often those they assist have mental health issues. As a way of saying that mental illness is something that affects people everywhere, ALGEE accompanies Brian and his wife wherever they are in the world.
Here ALGEE is in London. Click photo to enlarge |
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ALGEE at Buckingham Palace in London. Courtesy of MHFA Instructor Brian Headford.
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Algee in Venice. Courtesy of MHFA Instructor Brian Headford.
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ALGEE in Houston, Texas
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Adam Fothergill attended a MHFA course conducted for BP Australia by MHFA Instructor Anthony Hoare. Adam then attended a BP global team meeting in Houston, Texas where he gave a short presentation called ‘Safety Moment’ each morning. He took ALGEE along for the trip. Given his recent MHFA training, he decided to make this a ‘MHFA Moment’ as many of his colleagues were involved in the BP Gulf of Mexico clean-up which had been a very stressful and anxious time for them. He focused his presentation on anxiety, on identifying the symptoms and how to offer support. He gave his colleagues a flannel flower pin and postcard to help support mental health awareness.
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Standard MHFA course in Adelaide
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In September 2010, MHFA Instructor Doula Theodosi (who is employed by Workcover SA) conducted this Standard MHFA course for Rehabilitation and Return to Work Coordinators and Workplace Rehabilitation Consultants in Adelaide. The feedback from participants was positive. During the course there was plenty of constructive discussion from this very enthusiatic group.
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Youth MHFA at Robert Townson High School
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In 2008, MHFA Instructor Mary Brasile conducted this Youth MHFA course for staff at Robert Townson High School in Raby (South West Sydney, NSW). This course was part of the support Mary’s team offers to the school in implementing the Mind Matters Program (Mental Health Promotion) in high schools.
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AMHFA course in Brungle NSW
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This Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander MHFA course was held at the small rural community of Brungle NSW in February 2010. It was conducted by MHFA Instructor Jackie Jackson from Greater Southern Area Health Service (GSAHS) and coordinated by Merilyn Limbrick (GSAHS), through the Drought Mental Health Assistance Package.
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Sydney Theatre Company Actively participating in MHFA
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In March 2010, MHFA Instructors Merilyn Limbrick and Di Gill presented MHFA to the cast and crew of ‘Burnt’, a play by Sydney Theatre Company. Burnt dramatises one family’s battle to survive and sustain their property during a drought. Providing MHFA for the cast helped them to respond effectively to community members after the shows.
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YMHFA in Byron Bay
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This Youth MHFA course was conducted in 2009 by Youth MHFA Instructor Nicqui Yazdi. Nicqui commented that it was the best group she had taught and that the training was ‘a big hit with them’. As Nicqui stated, Youth MHFA is particularly relevant for the Byron Shire given the issues they face with their young people.
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‘Leaves of Change’
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This MHFA quilt (featuring the flannel flower) was created during an ice breaker activity at a MHFA course conducted by MHFA Instructor Fai Moloney. It is titled ‘Leaves of Change’. During the last section of the course Fai asked her participants to draw how they felt the course had changed their attitudes and thoughts towards mental illness and how they were able to assist these people.
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Stories and support at an AMHFA course in the Cape York region
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In November 2009, MHFA Instructors Johnathon Link and Michael Drahm conducted this Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander MHFA course in the Cape York region. Participants shared stories of resilience and hardship. This gave rise to the establishment of the group as they provided support to each other.
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