So many aspects of our daily lives now rely on having the capacity to use digital technologies – access to education and services, applying for jobs, organising finances, and connecting with friends and family.

Don't miss this exciting event co-created by SACOSS and Open State

As more and more businesses and government services move online, the pitfalls of being excluded increase – the digital divide becomes wider and goes deeper. This compounds other areas of disadvantage, such as living in a regional area, having a low income or limited educational opportunities and digital skills. These are all factors which mean people are less likely to be included in the digital world.

This session revisits Professor Genevieve Bell’s residency in 2009-10 as one of our key thinkers on South Australia’s digital future. We ask what has changed in our digital engagement, has the NBN arrived and what difference has it made, and who is more or less included?  Click here to book for this free event.

On Budget Day SACOSS staff and many of our member groups will have people in the Budget lock-up all afternoon examining the detail behind the budget spin. Come and join our 2017-18 State Budget Night Briefing 6.00-7.00pm on Thursday 22 June. This will be a chance to digest, deconstruct, and to contribute any insights into the likely impacts for our sector. RSVP here – refreshments and pizza provided.

Increasingly services are working with clients who are facing mental health issues alongside or underpinning the issues they are seeking to have addressed. What are the barriers preventing support pathways across services? What are the pathways services would like to see developed to create an integrated mental health system that generates mental health and wellbeing for South Australians?

SACOSS, in conjunction with the Mental Health Coalition of SA and the South Australian Mental Health Commission, invites you to a special Sector Briefing to discuss what you would like to see happen to create better linkages between the broader social and community welfare sector and mental health services.

The Sector Briefing will ask you to describe:

• Your vision for an integrated mental health system;
• The steps and support that would be required to get there;
• The support that would be required when we get there to maintain the health and wellbeing of South Australians.

Community organisations that link with mental health will give their perspective on “what an integrated mental health system could look like and how their people would access it”.

The report of the conversations will be forwarded to the SA Mental Health Commission as part of the consultation feedback into the development of the SA Mental Health Strategic Plan 2017-2022. 

The Commission is keen to hear from as many people as possible in developing the SA Mental Health Strategic Plan 2017-2022. For more information and to make a comment, go to www.yoursay.sa.gov.au/sa-next-mental-health-plan

​RSVP online here

SA Mental Health Strategic Plan Background

The South Australian Mental Health Commission (SAMHC) has been established by the Government of South Australia with a key role of leading the development of the South Australian Mental Health Strategic Plan, with a draft due in August 2017 and a final plan in October 2017.

The aim of the strategic plan is to “work toward providing a whole of life, whole of community and whole of government approach to building, sustaining and strengthening the mental health and wellbeing of South Australians”.

The Plan will provide strategic direction for 2017-2022 with a ten year outlook to 2027, based on a twenty year vision for South Australia including:

• A shared state vision for and commitment to the mental health and wellbeing of South Australians.
• Strategic direction for action plans extending across prevention, early intervention and treatment to build, sustain and strengthen the mental health and wellbeing of South Australians and to reduce distress for those experiencing mental illness and their families and carers.

Key questions for stakeholders to explore and provide input on include:

• What is working well to help people experiencing mental health issues and their families and friends on the road to recovery?
• What is working well to prevent people from developing mental health issues or to lower their severity, duration or impact?
• What is working well in South Australia to build, sustain and strengthen the mental wellbeing of our children and adults?
• What could be done better to help people who experience mental health issues, their families and friends?
• What should people or services stop doing?
• What three things would make the biggest difference to the mental health and wellbeing of South Australians?
• Are there any changes in technology, politics, economics or the social environment which could improve the mental health and wellbeing of South Australians?

Sector Briefing on Digital Inclusion

Digital technologies are now taking a key role in our economic and social life, yet large numbers of people don’t have the on-line access to help them with job hunting, education and training, social interaction and other supports that could improve their lives.

Recent digital inclusion mapping indicates that South Australia rates significantly behind the national average. This session will cover essential questions such as why digital inclusion matters and which groups are most affected in South Australia, and what we can do about it.

You are invited to attend a one hour briefing starting at 10am with Professor Julian Thomas from RMIT (author of the Australian Digital Inclusion Index 2016) and other experts, including Q&A and morning tea.

The session will be followed by the media launch of SACOSS' 2017/18 Budget Submission (which also focuses on digital inclusion).

Register online