Tandem Carers

Tandem Carers Tandem is the trusted voice of families, carers and supporters in Victoria.

The Victorian Government has opened consultation on the next State Disability Plan, as well as the Victorian Autism Plan...
30/04/2026

The Victorian Government has opened consultation on the next State Disability Plan, as well as the Victorian Autism Plan.

They're after feedback and ideas to guide the plans, which set out the State's priorities and actions in the areas of disability and autism, and are calling for contributions from families, carers and advocates.

Consultations close 17 July.

Learn more and get involved here: https://engage.vic.gov.au/disabilityplan

Today is Anzac Day, and a reminder of the sacrifice of so many who’ve served Australian armed forces. Lest we forget.The...
24/04/2026

Today is Anzac Day, and a reminder of the sacrifice of so many who’ve served Australian armed forces. Lest we forget.

The trauma of conflict impacts the mental health of so many in our community and has lasting effects not only on those who serve, but their family, carers and supporters, and can echo through the generations.
If you're a family member, carer or supporter of someone experiencing mental health challenges and would like to talk to someone, you are welcome to reach out to the Tandem Support and Referral Line from 9am-5pm weekdays on 1800 314 325.

Veterans and their immediate family can also access mental health support from Open Arms on 1800 011 046.

If someone is at immediate risk, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

We've just added new sessions of our Empowering Families, Carers and Supporters training. Online sessions are running th...
24/04/2026

We've just added new sessions of our Empowering Families, Carers and Supporters training. Online sessions are running through May and June.

The sessions provide a supportive and peer-led space with heaps of practical info about navigating the mental health system and understanding your rights within it as a family member, carer or supporter.

We're running them on 7 May, 26 May and 4 June.

Get all the details and register at tandemcarers.com.au/events

May's Tandem Time is all about creative care 👩‍🎨✍️. We'll be joined by Helen Saigal and Karen McKnight. They are both fa...
23/04/2026

May's Tandem Time is all about creative care 👩‍🎨✍️. We'll be joined by Helen Saigal and Karen McKnight. They are both family carers and Tandem members and accomplished proponents in their crafts.

Helen Saigal is a visual artist who we profiled last year after she won her third Monash Art Competition for Carers. You can read her profile here: https://tandemcarers.org.au/p/p/Contents/Stories/Member-stories/Helen%20Saigal%20story.aspx

Karen McKnight is an award-winning writer and storyteller who runs therapeutic creative writing and storytelling workshops to help family, carers and supporters develop creative self-expression, in a supportive peer environment.

They'll be guiding us through how their creative practice has helped them heal and stay grounded as carers.

It's on 20 May from 12pm-1:00pm.

Register here: tandemcarers.org.au/events

We’re delighted to welcome Lyn Morgain AM as the new Chair of Tandem.Lyn has spent much of her working life in and aroun...
16/04/2026

We’re delighted to welcome Lyn Morgain AM as the new Chair of Tandem.

Lyn has spent much of her working life in and around the mental health system, including as an advocate, leader and family member. She is a strong voice for lived experience, human rights and better outcomes for family, carers and supporters.

On top of that, she brings a passion for the role of social drivers of mental health - from poverty and housing to discrimination - and is a champion for prevention and fair support systems.

Welcome to Tandem, Lyn! 🙌

Yesterday, Tandem joined with VMIAC - Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council and Self Help Addiction Resource Centre...
16/04/2026

Yesterday, Tandem joined with VMIAC - Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council and Self Help Addiction Resource Centre - SHARC to mark the passing of the amended Entities Bill, with the Hon. Ingrid Stitt, MP, Minister for Mental Health and Ageing (and now also Special Minister of State and Minister for Government Services and Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria).

"You are making a huge difference," the Minister said of our 3 lived experience organisations - and of the importance and value of lived experience leadership to her role as Minister.

For the full story on the Entities Bill and the role of Tandem and our partners, visit https://tandemcarers.org.au/p/Contents/Advocacy-and-Policy/entities-bill.aspx

Pictured (L-R): Jane Dunne, acting CEO, Tandem; Hon. Ingrid Stitt, Special Minister of State and Minister for Government Services, Mental Health, Ageing, the Prevention of Family Violence and Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria; Vrinda Edan, CEO, Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC); Jo Tilkeridis, General Manager, Advocacy, Policy and Research, Tandem; and Clare Davies, CEO, Self-Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC).

Are you looking for practical info about navigating the mental health system -and understanding your rights within it as...
13/04/2026

Are you looking for practical info about navigating the mental health system -and understanding your rights within it as a family member, carer or supporter? Join our upcoming 'Empowering families, carers and supporters' workshops this April and May, which will now be held online.

Find all the details and register here: tandemcarers.org.au/events

Tandem members: A reminder that we'll be hosting a Special General Meeting on Thursday.This is an important opportunity ...
13/04/2026

Tandem members: A reminder that we'll be hosting a Special General Meeting on Thursday.

This is an important opportunity to elect Board members and appoint office bearers under the new Rules of Association we voted in at the 2025 AGM. It's on Thursday, 16 April from 11am.

Register here: tandemcarers.org.au/events

“At no time were we consulted about the development of the Bill,” says Tandem’s Family Carer Policy Manager, Gabriel Ale...
09/04/2026

“At no time were we consulted about the development of the Bill,” says Tandem’s Family Carer Policy Manager, Gabriel Aleksandrs. “The Entities Bill proposed major changes to Victoria’s mental health system, without input from people with lived and living experience.”

So we acted. Alongside our partners, we met with MPs, published an open letter, and mobilised our member community. We saved some of the lived experience roles flagged in the Bill for removal - but the overall number has reduced. Tandem will continue to advocate for senior family carer lived experience roles to be retained at both organisations.

Read our explainer of changed, what didn’t, and what happened along the way at https://tandemcarers.org.au/p/Contents/Advocacy-and-Policy/entities-bill.aspx

Today is World Health Day and the theme for 2026 is “Together for health. Stand with science.” Good healthcare is eviden...
06/04/2026

Today is World Health Day and the theme for 2026 is “Together for health. Stand with science.”

Good healthcare is evidence-based. And the evidence says that when mental health and wellbeing services include a person's family or support network, outcomes improve for everyone.

If you work in mental health in Victoria and would like to learn more, visit https://tandemcarers.org.au/training

Tandem’s Support and Referral Line will be closed for the public holidays over the Easter weekend, on Friday 3 April and...
01/04/2026

Tandem’s Support and Referral Line will be closed for the public holidays over the Easter weekend, on Friday 3 April and Monday 6 April.

If you or someone you support is in crisis, please call:

Lifeline: 13 11 14
Su***deLine: 1300 651 251
13YARN (First Nations crisis support): 13 92 76
Thirrili postvention su***de support: 1800 805 801
LGBTIQA+ Rainbow Door: 1800 729 367
QLife: 1800 184 527
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
Su***de Call Back Service: 1300 659 467

This Trans Day of Visibility, Tandem is proud to stand alongside Transgender Victoria and Transcend Australia to recogn...
31/03/2026

This Trans Day of Visibility, Tandem is proud to stand alongside Transgender Victoria and Transcend Australia to recognise the vital — and often invisible — role of family, carers and supporters in trans and gender diverse communities.⁠
⁠
Together, we call for better recognition of trans and gender diverse people in relationships of mental health support (whether they’re the person providing support or being supported)⁠
⁠
These roles are often invisible. But it’s time to change that: let's put everyone in Victoria who supports someone with mental health challenges in the picture⁠.
⁠
Find our joint statement at https://tandemcarers.org.au/p/p/Contents/Stories/News/TDoV.aspx

Address

Victoria Park, Lv 3, 16 Lulie Street
Abbotsford, VIC
3067

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+611800314325

Website

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