Disengaged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in North Queensland have been given the opportunity to showcase their talents and break down the stigma around mental health through the ‘Break It Down’ project. 

Delivered by Desert Pea Media (DPM) and funded by Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN), the project delivered mental health literacy to five North Queensland communities – Kuranda, Palm Island, Bowen, Thursday Island, and Lockhart River.

The project facilitated inter-generational conversations to break down stigma around mental health, grief and trauma, substance addiction, and encouraged positive social change in a safe, culturally appropriate, and positive environment.

Delivered over five days in each location, the program used song writing and video production workshops as a pathway to encourage participants to use their voice, connect with their cultural identity, and to raise awareness of the importance of improving and achieving positive health outcomes.

The first location visited during the project was Kuranda. Families within the community were experiencing conflict which was negatively affecting the mental health of young people in the community. 

Ciolla Riley, a participant in Kuranda, was identified by DPM for her potential to engage and support others and was invited to assist in the facilitation of the program as a mentor in two other communities.

On Palm Island and Thursday Island, Ciolla applied her first-hand understanding and experience to build connections with other participants, provide support, and empower them to yarn, share, and grow.

“I went to Palm Island and Thursday Island as a mentor and it felt really deadly to be a part of and to know that videos and positivity was something that I helped to create,” said Ciolla.

“I got to be a part of building up the participants’ confidence during the filming and encouraged them to use their voice. I hope I achieved that in some sort of way.

“I put myself out of my comfort zone and I felt like I was leading something really special.

“I could see the other kids were feeling really proud of what they were creating - a really different kind of proud feeling, you know?” 

Since participating in the Break It Down project, Ciolla has returned to her community where she continues to be a strong role model and is proud 
of her responsibility to her friends, family, 
and community. 

By bringing together young people through the Break It Down project, the Kuranda community has been able to start their healing process and journey towards living happier, healthier, longer lives. 
Community members have had additional open discussions around mental health issues, with disclosures of mental illnesses being referred to appropriate services and supports so the individual could receive the right care, at the right place, at the right time. 

Three of the five music and film productions produced by Desert Pea Media as part of this project were announced as National Indigenous Music Awards 2020 finalists in the category of Community Clip of the Year, with the video from Kuranda, 'Djabuganydji Bama’ taking first prize. 

The Real Mates Talk men’s campaign intends to prevent suicide attempts and deaths of men in our community and support them to connect with others and live well. 

Real Mates Talk aims to do this by:

• encouraging men in their community to ask “what’s up mate?”
• encouraging men (and women) to ask for help
• supporting them to have places to go to connect with others.

Research tells us that to support men we need to meet men where they are, build social connections between men, and help men help themselves. To do this, the Real Mates Talk Team needs help from men across the community. The Real Mates Talk Team will:

• work with a team of men who will act as Ambassadors across the Whitsunday, Isaac, and Mackay region. These men will act as role models for breaking down stigma, raising community awareness, and making sure men know what supports are available to them. They will also share information about how to ask for help and where to get it.
• conduct a survey to gather data about if/how people in our community access help for mental health and suicidal concerns
• develop and share resources about how to stay physically and mentally well, as well as how to respond to a crisis
• support Ambassadors to make presentations at community events and in workplaces, in partnership with other organisations
• support sporting clubs and other community groups to know how to identify and respond to concerns.

If you’re passionate about supporting your mates and want to join us in breaking down stigma in your community, you can:

• become a Real Mates Talk Ambassador – email Michelle at michelleborg@selectability.com.au for more information
• like and share posts on the Real Mates Talk Facebook page in your personal and work networks, particularly posts about the Ambassadors
• submit information any events in Whitsunday, Isaac, and Mackay that the Real Mates Talk Team could participate in
• invite a Real Mates Talk Ambassador to make a presentation at your workplace, sporting club, or community group
• share Real Mates Talk information (at realmatestalk.com.au and on the Facebook page) with colleagues, family, and friends about mental wellness, so you shatter stigma and bust myths
• do a Real Mates Talk day in your workplace, café, or business – t-shirts, caps, and resources are available so you can encourage men to connect and ask ‘What’s up mate?’. 

Real Mates Talk is an initiative of the Suicide Prevention Community Action Planning group, which is administered and delivered by selectability Limited on behalf of Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) and funded by the Australian Government Department of Health.

The Approved requirements for electronic prescriptions (certified instrument) align with the nationally consistent prescribing framework that is specified by the Commonwealth Government for valid Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) electronic prescriptions.

A copy of the Approved requirements for electronic prescriptions (version 2.0 – October 2020) and revised factsheet – Electronic prescriptions for health professionals is available on the Queensland Health website.

Part 5 of the Approved requirements for electronic prescriptions has been added to the certified instrument to specify the approved form to notify the chief executive in certain circumstances when an electronic prescription for a controlled drug (section 82, HDPR) or restricted drug (section 193, HDPR) has been cancelled without dispensing, such as an invalid prescription or a prescription that is considered to be fraudulent.