The 2021 Tandem Awards are an opportunity to recognise some of those people — specifically, those who are supporting a family member or friend with mental health challenges.
If you know a deserving individual, nominations are now open.
The Tandem Awards are for individuals, services or programs in mental health that practise compassion and family and friend-inclusive practice as part of their day-to-day work.
Tandem chief executive officer Marie Piu said Tandem held the awards each year to celebrate excellence in compassionate and family-inclusive practice in mental health.
“The inclusion of family, friends or supporters is shown to improve the experience and recovery outcomes for most people accessing mental health and wellbeing services,” Ms Piu said.
Tandem is particularly encouraging nominations for the awards from people in regional Victoria.
Benalla is an area that has been earmarked as a priority by the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System.
It is to become the site of one of the first six Local Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Services recommended in the Royal Commission's final report.
“We also encourage people to nominate those who have made an exceptional contribution in NDIS support, working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, supporting family and friends who are women, LGBTIQA+, over 65, or 25 and under, or supporting family and friends from multicultural communities,” Ms Piu said.
“Tandem is proud to be the trusted voice of family and friends in mental health in Victoria.”
As the Victorian peak body with a sole focus on the needs and interests of mental health carers, Tandem’s role is to provide leadership, co-ordination and knowledge for the organisations and individuals who are working to improve outcomes for Victorian people living with mental health issues.
Tandem is committed to ensuring that the importance of the contribution, expertise, experiences and needs of family, friends and other carers is recognised and addressed, and that they will be essential partners in treatment, service delivery, planning, research, and evaluation.
Nominations must be submitted by 5pm on Friday, October 29 using the nomination form on the Tandem website at tandemcarers.org.au/awards
Joining Tandem is free via tandemcarers.org.au/join
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