Hi valued carers,

August has been an exciting and productive month! We were absolutely thrilled to host the theMHS Conference 2024 Carer Forum. It was such a special day, bringing carers together in a space that encouraged connection, learning, and sharing. The energy in the room was inspiring, and it was wonderful to see so many carers connecting with each other and engaging with some of the leading voices in mental health. There were some really powerful moments of shared experience, and we’re excited about how these conversations will help shape future efforts to recognise and support carers. Thank you to all the carers who attended and made the day amazing!

Left to right: Catherine Vonarx, Jen Nixon, and Catherine Joseph after a successful consumer and carer forum day

Of course, the *theMHS Conference* itself was also a big highlight! We had the chance to attend keynotes and sessions that explored everything from how international diplomacy can influence mental health reform, to the potential for AI to play a role in mental health care, to some really exciting work happening in psychosocial support services. It was a busy few days, and we made so many valuable connections along the way.

As we head into September and a very busy October (*ahem* ACT Election) we’re feeling really energised and grateful for all the new ideas, connections, and learnings we’ve gathered over the past month. You can catch up on ‘What we’ve been up to‘  in the section below. As always, your voice is vital to the work we do and if you have anything you wish to share please feel free to contact us via email mhcarers@carersact.org.au.

All the best,

Catherine Joseph and Catherine Vonarx,

The Mental Health Carers Voice Team