Australian Association of Mental Health Practitioners

15/09/2026

Our Spring Edition 2026 Newsletter has been published and it is well worth making a cup of tea and spending some time with it.

This edition begins with Shane Warren, Chairperson, reflecting on the Association’s transition from VMHPAA to AAMHP, and what that means for our members, our identity, and the future of vocational mental health practice in Australia. The message is clear: our roots remain, but the Association has grown.

From there, Philip Armstrong shares a timely piece on men’s mental health and why the sector needs clearer pathways, coordination and structure. Toni Langford writes about supervision as a genuine space for reflection, growth and support, not just another box to tick.

We also hear from Lyndall Briggs on AI, psychological safety and what clients may be teaching us when they say they feel safer disclosing to technology than to another person; and Vicki Johnston contributes a vital article on collusion in domestic and family violence work, including practitioner responsibilities around safety, scope and specialist referral.

There are also member updates, conference details, professional development opportunities, and ways to become more involved in the Association.

Don’t miss it. Read the Spring Newsletter here:
https://www.vmhpaa.org.au/member-e-newsletters?utm_campaign=e08604c6-8a9e-4f2d-ba98-ee0737b6a289&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail&cid=eb194759-4252-47e2-a005-cde0d42859a5

09/09/2026

Our friends at the Association for Coaching are hosting internationally recognised coach, supervisor and facilitator Lily Seto in Australia this November — with two excellent in-person workshops in Sydney and Melbourne.

These are thoughtful, practical and professionally rich learning opportunities for counsellors, coaches, supervisors, educators, people leaders and helping professionals interested in deeper reflective practice, relational awareness and more human-centred ways of working.

The Sydney workshop, Moving from Lateral Violence to Lateral Kindness, explores how practitioners and leaders can notice relational harm earlier, support dignity and accountability, and build more respectful and connected professional cultures.

The Melbourne workshop, The Metaphor Magic Box with Lily Seto: Unlocking Wisdom through Symbolic Modelling, offers an experiential opportunity to explore how metaphor, objects and symbolic modelling can open new insight in coaching, counselling and supervision conversations.

We have also been given a member discount code for those in our community who would like to attend. Please contact our office if you are interested.

Sydney details:
https://www.associationforcoaching.com/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2084835&group=

Melbourne details:
https://www.associationforcoaching.com/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2084828&group=

These are two fantastic workshops and well worth investing time in.

05/08/2026

Wonderful news for Oxford Street, the Rainbow Precinct, and the wider community.

VMHPAA congratulates our Chair, Shane Warren, who in another leadership role serves as Chair of the Oxford Street Rainbow Precinct — a business and community initiative grown through NSW’s 24-Hour Economy work.

The Rainbow Precinct has now been awarded Purple Flag accreditation, an international benchmark recognising safe, vibrant, inclusive and well-managed night-time precincts.
This matters for so many reasons...

Safety is not just about enforcement. It is not only about police presence, security, rules or compliance. True safety is also about whether people feel welcome. Whether they feel they belong. Whether they can move through a precinct with confidence, dignity and connection.

For Oxford Street Rainbow Precinct, this recognition speaks to the hard work of bringing business, community, government, police, security, venues and local stakeholders to the same table, not to avoid difficult issues, but to solve them together.

Well done to Shane and the Rainbow Precinct team on helping achieve this important milestone for one of Australia’s most significant LGBTIQA+SB cultural and night-time destinations.

A safer precinct is a stronger community. A more welcoming precinct is better for wellbeing. And a place where people belong is a place worth protecting.

Several precincts across NSW will soon be waving the Purple Flag with grants and newly accredited precincts expanding the program to even more nightlife hubs.

26/07/2026

On Monday 27 July 2026, Australia will conduct a national test of AusAlert, the new national emergency warning system.

This is only a test no action is required.

At the scheduled time, compatible mobile phones, smart watches and tablets may vibrate and play a loud siren-like warning sound for around 10 seconds. A message will appear on the screen confirming that it is a test.

Test times:
NSW, VIC, QLD, TAS, ACT — 2:00 pm AEST
SA, NT, Broken Hill — 1:30 pm ACST
WA — 12:00 pm AWST
Christmas Island — 11:00 am CXT

AusAlert is being introduced to help people receive fast, clear emergency warnings when it matters most including during disasters and other serious threats.

A safety note: if you or someone you know has a hidden or secondary phone for personal safety, please plan ahead. The alert may still sound even if the device is on silent or do not disturb. Official advice is to turn the device off or switch it to aeroplane mode before the scheduled test time and leave it off for at least one hour.

Please share this information gently and widely. Emergency warnings save lives and safety planning matters as well.

16/07/2026

Another VMHPAA conversation now available.

In this episode, Shane Warren talks about mental wealth, resilience psychology, and why counselling can benefit from understanding the language and practice of coaching.

It’s a thoughtful discussion about how practitioners can work with people not only through distress, but also through growth, meaning, resilience and change.

For counsellors, coaches, psychotherapists, students and supervisors this is a conversation worth watching.

Watch the full conversation via the YouTube link...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APTYjJIbuio

16/07/2026

Meet the people behind VMHPAA.

In this VMHPAA On the Couch episode, Dr Brooklyn Storme speaks with Dr Philip Armstrong, CEO of VMHPAA, about his professional journey, his path into leadership, and the work of building a stronger national voice for vocational mental health practitioners.

This is a great conversation for members, students, emerging practitioners and anyone interested in the future of counselling, psychotherapy and vocational mental health practice in Australia.

Watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQun71ewpeY

16/07/2026

This VMHPAA On the Couch conversation now available.

In this episode, Dr Brooklyn Storme speaks with Dr Gaye Cameron about the “Y-intersections” we meet in practice — those moments where our professional path, values, experience and sense of purpose ask us to pause and choose with care.

Dr Cameron brings wisdom from her work across social work, psychotherapy, disaster response and mental health practice.

This is a thoughtful and encouraging conversation for practitioners, students, supervisors and anyone reflecting on where their professional journey is taking them next.

Watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac61NVYJqBw

16/07/2026

In this episode of VMHPAA On the Couch, we meet Vicki Johnston, a Domestic Violence Specialist and advocate.

This is an important conversation about the work, the responsibility, and the human presence needed when supporting people impacted by domestic and family violence.

For practitioners, students, and those working across mental health, community services, peer support, counselling and recovery spaces conversations like this remind us that safe practice is built through learning, reflection, supervision, and connection.

Watch the full conversation here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYxZV2I3IZQ

01/06/2026

A wonderful week in Hong Kong at HRCONF2026 — the International Conference on Human Resilience: Navigating Life Changes & Challenges (27–30 May 2026).

VMHPAA was proud to be a partner and attend to strengthen relationships with counselling and wellbeing leaders across the Asia Pacific. Shane Warren (Chair) and Susan Sandy (Secretary) met with colleagues from a range of peak bodies and partner organisations — and we’re coming home with real momentum for what’s next.

With thanks to Hong Kong Shue Yan University and CIEBPR for hosting, and to co-organisers APRCC and APCPA, alongside a terrific group of partners across Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, India, China, the Philippines and beyond.

The shared feeling? Australia should host again. Lets think about what we can achieve in genuine collaboration with counselling bodies across our region. Watch this space.

25/04/2026

They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
We will remember them.