“The Yarra Mental Health Alliance fosters trust and honesty amongst its members and meetings provide a reflective safe space to share and learn about what is happening within the sector”
What is the Yarra Mental Health Alliance?
(Yarra Alliance for Improved Mental Health)
The Yarra Mental Health Alliance (YMHA) is for organisations that are committed to improving outcomes for people with mental health issues living within or with links to the City of Yarra, Melbourne, through improved co-ordination and collaboration of service provision based on recovery principles.
The YMHA has brought together workers from across the City of Yarra clinical and community sectors since 2006.We operate on the principles and values of advocacy, activism, education and service.
Our monthly meetings provide a forum for communicating about current issues, identifying and acting on points of advocacy for our consumers, and supporting mental health service providers through information and peer support. We also collaborate to develop submissions and resources* (see bottom of page), provide education sessions, and run events such as the ‘Out of the Office, Into the Street’ Mental Health Walking Tour through the streets and services of Fitzroy.
You can read more about our values and objectives in our Terms of Reference.
Membership & Structure
Organisations who have a presence at YMHA for 50% or more of the year’s meetings are considered members who abide by the member responsibilities. These include:
- Member agencies contribute to the aims and objectives of YMHA
- Promoting the values of YMHA activities, that are organised by members including but not limited to forums, publications and training events
- Members come in with a spirit of collaboration
- Activities of YMHA are communicated to within their own organisation
- A proxy to attend meetings may be nominated if need be
The Alliance has a steering group made up of at least 6 members nominated at the start of each year, to ensure the smooth running of the meetings, activities and working groups.
The 2021 Steering Group members are:
Current Chair:
Kevan Myers: Nexus Dual Diagnosis Service
Minute Secretary:
- Alan McCarthy: HeadSpace Collingwood
- Wayne Gleeson: Launch Housing
- Lee-Ann Boyle: NWMPHN
- Nick Pace: Jesuit Social Services
- Kris Drew: ACSO
- Karen Ditty: St Vincent’s Mental Health
- Mirella Rao: Nexus Dual Diagnosis Service
Meetings
The YMHA meets once a month. All organisations that provide services to people living within, or with links to, the City of Yarra are welcome. Details include:
Date: 1st Tuesday of each month
Time: 9:30am – 11:00am
Venue: due to covid meetings currently held via zoom
If you’d like to attend the meetings, or have any other queries, send Kevan Myers an email by filling in the form below.
Information Posts
February 25, 2022
YMHA Terms of Reference
April 2012 amended February 2021 Statement of Purpose:“The Yarra Mental Health Alliance fosters trust and honesty amongst its members and meetings provide a reflective safe space to share and learn about what is happening within the sector.” Aim:The Yarra Mental…
