$1,019,601 Achieved!
Congratulations to our District Governors, our ARHRF District Chairmen, their committees, our Rotary clubs and our Rotarians for their excellent support, which helped us to achieve one million dollars in contributions, last Rotary year.

Mental Illness Forums
Has your club organised a Mental Illness Forum yet? Understanding, tolerance, communication and education are the benefits of these forums. Even the politicians have asked for one. Their forum will be held on Tuesday 29th October at 4.30 pm in Parliament House, Sydney. Should you wish to attend ring the ARHRF office for security clearance.

SA's Better Medication Management a Success
Aboriginal people with mental health problems living in South Australia will now have more culturally appropriate services and better information and support, thanks to research funded by ARHRF.
A number of recommendations from the project are already being implemented, relating to medication management and culturally sensitive practice and the embedding of mental health management within the regional Aboriginal primary health access strategic plan.

Mind Matters
Mind Matters is Australia's first national mental health magazine and is being developed by a group of volunteers to disseminate information and support to those directly or indirectly affected by mental illness. If you can help the team by sending a donation, sharing your professional expertise or providing much needed office space and equipment please call on 02 9365 7947.

Mental Health First Aid
In order to help people provide initial support for someone with a mental health problem, the Centre for Mental Health Research at the ANU has developed a Mental Health First Aid training course. This is analogous to a regular first aid course, but focuses on how to provide initial help to someone in a mental health crisis situation eg. having a panic attack, in a psychotic episode or feeling suicidal. Further information can be had by contacting Betty Kitchner at betty.kitchener@anu.edu.au
The Power of Rotary
In writing to one of ARHRF's speakers Fay Jackson, Janet Watson, a sufferer from depression and panic attacks, told of her fears and struggle to cope with her problems. On hearing Fay speak of her story and how she had coped, Janet felt a flood of relief that someone understood what life was like for her. Her husband, although a great support over the years, now had a fuller understanding of the problems experienced by a sufferer of these illnesses. A great story - read the full letter in the ARHRF Newsletter.

Review of the National Mental Health Strategy
The Mental Health Council of Australia MHCA is to implement a series of community consultations to determine the Australian community's views on the mid-term review of the National Mental Health Strategy and to get input into the next national Mental Health Plan. Rotarians will be invited to attend each forum to provide input from their perspective and that of the ARHRF. Advertisements will be placed in local newspapers advising when and where these forums are to be held. The MHCA can be contacted at 02 6285 3100.

Companions & Friends of the Fund
The Spring edition of the ARHRF Newsletter lists 4 new Gold Companions, 7 Companions, 9 Diamond Friends, 2 Platinum Friends, 21 Silver Friends, 43 Bronze Friends and 247 Friends. What a success story! Donations are cumulative with Friends of the Fund, so you can move to the next level of recognition with further donations. These are a great way of recognising worthy recipients in the community, as well as your own members..

Doctors' Concert
The recent concert by the Australian Doctors in Sydney Town Hall was attended by 1200 people and raised $20,000 for ARHRF. Each year the profits from this concert go to a 'healthy cause' and this the ARHRF was the beneficiary.