Last week, Lauren was honoured to represent Fams and join Their Excellences, the Honourable Governor-General David Hurley AC DSC and Mrs Hurley in their home at Admiralty House for a special afternoon for Australians for Mental Health.
The stories shared by His Excellency about his involvement in post-disaster communities and his insights resonated strongly; the need for diverse responses in the aftermath of disaster that support people in ways that are accessible and meaningful to them and their community.
Chris Gambian’s (Executive Director of Australians for Mental Health) reference to the Australian Child Maltreatment Study brought to light a startling statistic: 48% of people in our community who experience child maltreatment go on to develop a mental health disorder.
Lauren reflected “It was incredibly powerful to be in a room of people all walks of life; lived experience advocates, NGO services, mental health researchers, government officials, and corporate representatives, who all shared a common hope for a system that better supports our community’s mental health. Discussing the incredible work of the early intervention and prevention sector in keeping families safe and together, and how this can decrease mental health risk factors, was a privilege”.
Click here to read more about Australians for Mental Health.
