We have only eight days to go before our second Lantern Mental Health 2.0 Unconference.

The new Unconference website is up and running, please check it out and get in quickly to register – there is a limited number of remaining tickets.

This years unconference is brought to you with the support of Hello Medical, Young and Well CRC, Mind and VICSERV. Thanks also to Yammer for continuing to support our unconference on-line community.

Our special Free ticket promotion for the Lantern unconference has now ended. Congratulations to those who got through. There are still a few tickets left register now!

http://www.lantern.org.au/lantern-mental-health-2-0/

The Boards and Chief Executive Officers of Mind Australia and Lantern would like to formally announce that they have agreed to a merger between the two organisations. Finalisation of the merger is subject to approval from the Victorian Department of Health, and other funding bodies.

During recent discussions the Boards of Mind and Lantern have recognised that a merger between the two organisations would provide a number of benefits to our clients and their families, both organisations, staff and the community, including:

• Potential to offer more services to existing and new clients and families in the middle south area of Melbourne;
• A more sustainable organisation, career development and progression for staff, community and individual capacity building in the field of mental health;
• Sharing of expertise between both organisations, specialisation and economies of scale;
• Greater funding potential to support innovation and expertise for new initiatives such as the Blossomproject.

Mind and Lantern are delighted to be moving into this new year together and expect to finalise merger processes by the end of June 2012.  Clients, staff, carers and our community, will at all times continue to be the at the centre of our work together.

You can download the press release here.

For further information contact, Dee Dove, Communications Manager at Mind on
03 9455 7900 or communications@mindaustralia.org.au.

Janet Hopkins

CEO Lantern

Talking Realities is now talking to young mums and dads about joining the program next year. Talking Realities offers a chance to complete Certificate III in Community Services Work and become a Talking Realities PEER EDUCATOR.

Get to tell YOUR STORY to other young people…

Come along to the information session in January – Young Parenting Peer Education Information session 2