NATIONAL UPDATE
MENTAL HEALTH, FUN AND POSITIVITY THE MENTAL MOMENTS SHOW A WINNER
T
he Mental Moments Show is one of the many wonderful, heart-warming initiatives to come out of the pandemic.
A free livestreamed event that brings together aged care workers, residents, clients and their families across Australia, it was established by the Royal Freemasons’ Benevolent Institution (RFBI) and broadcast into their 22 villages throughout Mental Health Week in 2020.
since the show launched, with people still tuning in regularly to watch. “The COVID-19 pandemic has been a very challenging time for age services employees who, as part of the frontline health response, have worked hard to care for and to protect our older Australians,” said Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) CEO Sean Rooney.
Acknowledged in the HESTA Aged Care Awards in 2021, it was expanded across the nation, with the support of the Australian Aged Care Collaboration, a coalition of peak aged care bodies.
“I am proud of our age services workers and admire them for their passion and commitment to get up every day and go to work, to give their best during these tough times. They continue caring and going above and beyond.”
“Back in August last year we recognised that our staff were doing it tough. Over the previous two years they had worked through Australia’s worst drought in 100 years, fire, flood and then became part of the frontline health response to a global pandemic,” said RFBI CEO Frank Price
The initiative also received support from Richard Colbeck, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, who said Mental Moments was a great opportunity to continue the conversation about mental health in aged care, and to celebrate the work of aged care workers.
“The Mental Moments Show was our way of ‘Caring for our Carers’, giving our residents and staff something fun to enjoy while at the same time celebrating the wonderful work they do and how important mental health is in aged care. “We are proud that it has spread right throughout the country.” Hosted by Max Markson, this year’s Mental Moments Show aired throughout mental health month with a live one-hour show each Friday and shorter episodes every day in between, in October. Each show featured entertainment, guest speakers, mental health tips and a peek into aged care services across Australia. Among the amazing performers who joined on the show were Normie Rowe, Kamahl, Angus Gill, Alfio Bonanno, Sam Powers and Vince Sorenti. Special guests included Dr Hannah Korell, Dr Kim Singline, NSW Governor Mrs Margaret Beazley AC QC and Australian Olympians Peter Bol and Jenna Strauch, as well as a range of sporting celebrities who each expressed their gratitude for the amazing job health care workers have done throughout this pandemic. The Mental Moments Show has had over 10,000 visitors through the Mental Moments website and YouTube channel
Max Markson, host of the show, with some delicious Lindt chocolates. The Lindt company donated $25,000 worth of chocolate to give away during. Continued on page 20
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