First Monday of every month 2018 – Canberra, ACT

BPD Awareness ACT holds monthly support group in the ACT on Mondays for loved ones of people with BPD. The support group is based on the principles of DBT to ensure the group is a safe, nonjudgmental and positive place in which to seek support and learning from others who share a similar journey. The aim of the group is to reduce isolation and discredit the stigma against those with BPD and their families. Click here for more details.

18 October 2018 – 20 December 2018

BPD Awareness ACT is excited to secure a venue to run Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Skills Group program for those who experience problems with self-harm. extreme emotional sensitivity, mood swings, anger, recurrent depression, anxiety, intense or chaotic relationships, impulsivity and stress. In this program, you will learn how to be mindful and tolerate distress, regulate your emotions and improve interpersonal effectiveness. You will learn specific techniques to manage behaviours, interact with others and learn how to tolerate painful emotions. BPD Awareness ACT aims to make DBT skills groups affordable for all who need to learn DBT skills to create a life worth living. Please call to discuss individual costs. Also available for those who are Plan Managed and Self Managed under the NDIS.

When: Thursdays 18 October 2018 – 20 December 2018
Time: afternoon group: 2:30pm – 5.00pm OR evening group: 5.30pm – 8.00pm (AEST)
Where: North Belconnen Uniting Church Community Centre, 30 Conley Drive, Melba, ACT 2615
Cost: Upon discussion.

For more information click here, phone Natalie on 0415 111 894, or email bpdawarenessact@gmail.com.

If you are unable to join this round there will be another 10-week program in early February 2019. If you would like to be on the email list and get notified of the details closer to February please send an email with your details to: bpdawarenessact@gmail.com.

20 November 2018 – Online

The Australian BPD Foundation is collaborating with SANE Australia to host a Topic Tuesday online forum targeted at carers of those with BPD “Creating and maintaining social connections “. The session will be facilitated by a Community Manager or Moderator who will put out questions for you to answer, usually asking for your own experience on the topic. No answers are right or wrong and everyone is welcome to get involved.

When: Tuesday 20 November 2018
Time: 7:00pm – 9.00pm (AEST)
Where: Online
Cost: Free

To see past forum comments, click here.

November 2018 – Online Petition

Support the Australian BPD Foundation to “Increase Medicare-funded visits for BPD and other complex mental health conditions”. The most effective and lasting treatment for BPD is at least one year of regular visits with a qualified mental health professional but the Medicare-funded Better Access to Mental Health Professionals initiative can only fund up to 10 visits each year.  This clearly falls short of the long-term treatment needed for a complex disorder like BPD. Sign this petition to Greg Hunt, Federal Minister for Health, to help increase the number of funded visits covered by the Medicare-funded Better Access for treating BPD and other complex mental health conditions from 10 to 40. Sign here.

7 & 21 November 2018 – Canberra, ACT

BPD Awareness ACT invites community service providers working with clients with BPD and other complex mental illnesses to BPD and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Skills training workshop.

The workshop will be facilitated by Natalie Malcolmson from BPD Awareness ACT. She cares for her partner who has BPD and is trained in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy offering her skills to training those with, caring for, or working with BPD and other mental illnesses. Natalie is committed to increasing the capacity and resilience of those living with BPD, carers and working with BPD, and volunteers to help carers of people with BPD by running a monthly support group and facilitating the twelve-week Family Connections program. She was also recently awarded the 2018 ACT Mental Health Carer of the Year for her ongoing contributions to the BPD community in the ACT.

For more information about the workshop and to register please email bpdawarenessact@gmail.com with your name, contact number, email address, organisation you work for and your role.

20 November 2018 – Canberra, ACT

Expression in Photoart Workshop

An invitation for women int he ACT and surrounding areas with mental health condition or chronic disease to express themselves through photoart.

Art is a creative and expressive medium. Art can explore ideas and feelings that are hidden or difficult to see. Art can say things that cannot be said with words. For these reasons art can be a way to explore difficult experiences such as the impacts of mental or chronic physical illness and pain on daily living. During this workshop women will learn how to use digital art photography to convey the ideas of self and impacts of illness.

This free one-day workshop, run by Margaret Kalms (http://endowomanart.com/).

When: Tuesday 20 November 2018
Time: 10.30am – 6.00pm (AEST)
Where: Women’s Centre for Health Matters, Building 1, Pearce Community Centre, Pearce, ACT, 2607
Cost: Free

1 November 2018 – Wollongong, NSW

Personality Disorders Consumer and Carer Day theme this year will be “Recovery” where stories from people with lived experience and family and carers will be shared. Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear about the latest research in the recovery field and will have the opportunity to voice their views on issues central to the treatment of personality disorders. For more information click here.

To submit an expression of interest to present at the Consumer and Carer Day – send a title and short description by 1 August to  info-projectair@uow.edu.au. Lived experience stories from consumers, carers, family members, and also any interesting projects, studies or services relevant to lived experience, co-designed services, peer support and person-centered care are all welcome.

When: Thursday 1 November 2018
Time: 9:00am – 4.00pm (AEST)
Where: University of Wollongong NSW Australia
Cost: $50

23 October 2018 – Online

The Australian BPD Foundation is collaborating with SANE Australia to host a Topic Tuesday online forum targeted at carers of those with BPD “Supporting your partner experiencing BPD“. The session will be facilitated by a Community Manager or Moderator who will put out questions for you to answer, usually asking for your own experience on the topic. No answers are right or wrong and everyone is welcome to get involved.

To see past forum discussion click here.

7 October 2018 – Canberra, ACT

Save the date and join BPD Awareness ACT to celebrate BPD Awareness Week “Know BPD. No Stigma.” in Canberra. This alcohol-free and family-friendly event will have free sausage sizzle, art, mindfulness and self care activities.

When: Sunday 7 October 2018
Time: 11.00am to 3.00pm (AEST)
Where: Western Foreshore Lake Ginninderra, Belconnen
Cost: Free

Registration not required.

4 October 2018 – Online

The National Education Alliance for BPD Australia is hosting a free webinar with a facilitated interdisciplinary panel discussing about Family Connections, a 12-week program for carers, family members, colleagues and friends of individuals with BPD can make a real difference in the lives of all those affected by BPD.

When: Thursday 4 October 2018
Time: 8.00pm to 9.00pm (AEST)
Where: Online
Cost: Free

1-7 October 2018 – Australia wide

This year’s theme for BPD Awareness Week is “Know BPD. No Stigma.” This theme was inspired by the Women’s Centre for Health Matters‘s www.borderlineintheACT.org.au, a website focused on laying out facts to demystify the stigma of BPD for people living with BPD symptoms, family and friends of people with BPD, and services providers working with people with BPD. We also have useful articles for you to read.

26 September 2018 – Online

The Mental Health Professionals’ Network, in partnership with the Australian BPD Foundation and Spectrum Personality Disorder Service for Victoria will present the fifth professional development webinar: “Management of self-injury and suicidality“. This free webinar series is produced to increase clinicians’ expertise and ability to provide high quality, responsive, evidence-based treatment, care and support for people with BPD.When: Past recording available soon.
Cost: Free

10-11 September 2018

The Australian BPD Foundation is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 8th Annual National Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) Conference, to be held on 10-11 September 2018 at the Hotel Grand Chancellor Brisbane, Queensland.

The theme is Research Resources Respect: Connection Building and aims to highlight the many contributions of those with lived experience of BPD, their families and carers and of everyone involved in improving treatment, care and support for people with BPD to help people to achieve a meaningful life. It provides a unique opportunity for clinicians, practitioners, consumers, carers and family members from across Australia to meet, collaborate, share experiences and learn.

This conference marks the inaugural Queensland event and builds on a strong history of successful conferences held around Australia since 2011.

Sponsored by the Australian BPD Foundation, the conference plays a major role in promoting the message that with access to evidence-based treatment and support the prognosis for people with BPD is positive. It provides a unique opportunity for clinicians, practitioners, consumers, carers and family members from across Australia to meet, collaborate, share experiences and learn.

For more information and to register, click here!

23 July 2018 – online

The Mental Health Professionals’ Network, in partnership with the Australian BPD Foundation and Spectrum Personality Disorder Service for Victoria produced the fourth professional development webinar: “Borderline personality disorder in youth and early intervention“.

Where: See recording of past event here.
Cost: Free

4 June 2018 – online

The Project Air Strategy for Personality Disorders, in partnership with the  Mental Health Professionals’ Network produced the professional development webinar: “Personality disorders and substance use: Tips on effective treatment approaches“.

Where: See recording of past event here.
Cost: Free

26-27 May 2018 – Melbourne, VIC

NEA.BPDAust will conduct Family Connections Leaders Training in MELBOURNE for those interested in facilitating Family Connections Groups in their local area. To be eligible, trainers must be mental health professionals OR family/friend of a person with BPD. Click here for more information and registration details.

When: 26/27 May 2018
Time: 8.30 am – 5.00 pm
Where:
Spectrum
1/110 Church Street
Richmond 3121 Australia + Google Map
Cost:
Carers: $100
Health Professionals: $150

19 April 2018 – online

The Mental Health Professionals’ Network, in partnership with the Australian BPD Foundation and Spectrum Personality Disorder Service for Victoria produced the third professional development webinar: “Evidence based treatments for people living with Borderline Personality Disorder“.

Where: See recording of past event here.
Cost: Free

10 April 2018 – online

Distress Tolerance Skills for mental health carers is a class organised by Carers ACT for mental health carers to manage their own emotions during times of high stress and crisis. This workshop is presented by an instructor with Dialectical Behavioural Therapy qualifications. Click here for more information and registration!

When: 10 April 10
Time: 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Where:
Carers ACT Holt
2/80 Beaurepaire Crescent
Holt, ACT 2615 Australia + Google Map
Cost: Free

13 March 2018 – Canberra, ACT

Interpersonal Skills for mental health carers is a class organised by Carers ACT for mental health carers to learn effective communication skills during difficult times. This workshop is presented by an instructor with Dialectical Behavioural Therapy qualifications. Click here for more information and registration!

When: Tuesday 13 March 2018

Time: 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Where: 

Carers ACT Holt

2/80 Beaurepaire Crescent

Holt, ACT 2615 Australia + Google Map

Cost: Free

5 March 2018 – online

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administation is holding a webinar about Engaging and Supporting Families in Suicide Prevention: What Works and What Research is Showing. This webinar will focus on how organisations who are implementing suicide prevention programs can meaningfully engage and include families whose loved ones are in suicidal crisis or have attempted suicide in their work, and their crucial role in suicide prevention.

When: Monday 5 March 2018

Time: 6.00am to 7.30am

Where: Online. Register here.

Cost: Free

21 February 2018 – online

The Mental Health Professionals’ Network, in partnership with the Australian BPD Foundation and Spectrum Personality Disorder Service for Victoria produced the second professional development webinar: “Treatment principles for people living with Borderline Personality Disorder“.

Where: See recording of past event here.
Cost: Free