This aussie consumer newsletter is now ONE year old. We wish ourselves a happy birthday and many happy returns.

A conference on Unmasking Grief will be run in Melbourne on Friday 23/10. Organised by the Compassionate Friends, the agenda includes "grief of young children, of adolescents, the importance of rituals and a look at spiritual aspects." The venue will be the Health Function Centre @ Caulfield Racecourse, starting time 9:30 a.m. Registration is $85 concession, phone TCF on 98823355.

UPDATE the Human Rights Centre for MH in Melbourne will be continuing its work ! "A pro-active collective of committed individuals committed to working for positive change in the mental health (sector) .. a meeting and celebration to re-launch The Centre will be held on Friday, 11 September, starting at 7pm, at a venue yet to be decided. This meeting will be of interest to anyone who genuinely wants to take up an advocacy role in the area of human rights and mental health."

We will publish details when they come. Please contact Steafan Kilkeary for enquiries .. e-mail hrcmh@hotmail.com

Federal MP Pauline Hanson applied to attend the Australian People's Forum on Youth Suicide in Canberra on 10 and 11 August. However the forum organisers asked her not to attend. Their explanation - her attendance could distract other delegates.

In a press release, Pauline Hanson stated "I am saddened .. they said I was welcome to attend the 'politicians' segment at the end of the forum. I was informed I was the only federal politician who was interested in attending the forum workshop. I have a genuine, ongoing concern about youth suicide. "

Details of the national youth suicide prevention strategy are given on the Health Department's Webpage.

Survivors on the net AU are organising a march in Melbourne for all survivors of abuse, their family and supporters. There will be a Melbourne rally on Sunday 27th September 1998 .. meet them at 11am in front of the Steps at Flinders Street Station.

Survivors will share their stories, poetry .. they plan to release purple balloons during the Melb. rally as a symbol of letting go of the past and secrets. ... another balloon release will be organised in the Dandenong area. Lunch is on in the Fitzroy Gardens next to Parliament House after the event .. some sort of p.a. system will be provided so that survivors may take the opportunity to share their stories, thoughts and poetry.

Volunteers are also needed to make and post posters, have petitions signed, make signs for the march, make and sell ribbons, t-shirts, printing... and if you want to organize it in another state, please email Robyn at robynb@quantum.net.au .. also send suggestions or questions...

This rally will coincide with a march that is held each September in Britain. See the #Survivors-UK web page - www.survivors.org.uk - for more info on UK activities. If you would like to join them marching in London please email Jill Miles at info@survivors.org.uk. A petition will be presented to all Governments (in their language on the day) worldwide .

THEMHS is an annual conference for mental health services and cønsumers in Aussie land and N.Z. THEMHS 1998 will be held September 7 - 9 at the Wrest Point Convention Centre (oh yes, near the Casino) in Hobart, Tasmania .. with pre-conf. sessions on the 6th.

Cønsumer issues which were suggested for THEMHS were the national cønsumer Network, escaping poverty, mainstreaming, self-esteem, employment, peer programs, rehabilitation, the clubhouse model, migrant and indigenous people ... however it looks like some of these will not be addressed. THEMHS this year has generally given lower emphasis to consumer topics. Still worth attending this conference if you can.

A separate cønsumer/carer feedback session is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. Phil Iker, a well-known Koorie consumer will be a keynote speaker that morning. Lemon Looning is back again, too.

There will be a cønsumer day (forum) on Sunday September 6 .. 9:15am. to 5pm. Registration for this day is $10. [The carers forum will run concurrently] Invited speakers include Phil Iker, Leonie Manns, Simon Champ and Christopher Newell. In the afternoon, there will be several concurrent sessions. A karaoke Night will follow the forum from 7:30pm. A detailed program is available from the THEMHS Office through the post.

THEMHS organisers are offering a generous concession this year for the main conference sessions - registration at $50 per day. And, the Aussie national cønsumer Network will conduct its 1998 AGM during the conference in Hobart.

Building Blocks Consumer Network, Caboolture is "a unique Consumer Base that operates in partnership with its mental health service. The base is at an old house (in King Street) which is a Health Department Building and the program has two Peer Support Workers who identify with having a mental health problem. The Program has initiatives such as a book and video library, recovery cells, computers and a quiet room. Many people could not do without this program, and it has changed their lives." You can visit the BB 110 Web Site at www.ats.com.au/~bbcncab/

......"when something moves, then there's something to shoot at" contributed by Allan H......

	Across the world, the cønsumer movement is gathering momentum as users of psych. health services realise their own wisdom and resources. "an aussie cønsumer newsletter" is published on the Web by cønsumers, for cønsumers Down Under. This newsletter assists cønsumers to develop contacts across Australia. The "editorial team" is based in Melbourne, we aim to publish a new issue every two weeks. Printed copies are available by subscription ... ask us. This newsletter is optimised for Netscape browsers. We are independent of any cønsumer group or service provider. And this is an un-funded enterprise, so if you as a cønsumer can help us or suggest improvements, we need you. We particularly like news from states outside Victoria. Watch this space : we collect cønsumer stories and material.