Awareness Statement

For some, it is a day of celebration and pride. For others, it carries grief, anger, or a reminder of loss and injustice.For many, it is a mixture of all of these things.

As Jewish communities across Australia and around the world gather to celebrate Hanukkah (Chanukah), the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) warmly acknowledges this important festival and extends our best wishes to all those marking the lighting of the first candle of the menorah.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association Australia (VMHPAA) acknowledges today’s historic step as Australia becomes the first country in the world to implement a nationwide ban on social media accounts for children under 16. This landmark policy recognises what mental health practitioners, educators, and families have seen for years: unregulated social media environments can expose young people to harm long before they have the developmental capacity to manage i

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) recognises Bodhi Day, observed annually on 8 December, which commemorates the moment the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni), attained enlightenment- bodhi in Sanskrit and Pali.

December 1 marks the 70th anniversary of Rosa Parks’ quiet yet profound act of courage in Montgomery, Alabama, when she refused to give up her seat on a city bus in defiance of racial segregation laws — an act that ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott and became a defining moment in the Civil Rights Movement. Her stand was not just about a seat: it was a declaration of dignity, justice, and human equality that resonated across generations.

On World AIDS Day, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) stands in solidarity with people living with HIV, their families, carers, and communities. While advances in treatment mean that HIV is now a manageable health condition for many, the mental health impacts remain significant - often due not to the virus itself, but to stigma, discrimination, and isolation.

On Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) honours the memory of transgender and gender-diverse people whose lives have been lost to violence, discrimination, or systemic neglect. TDOR is a solemn reminder of the ongoing risks faced by trans communities and of the collective responsibility to create a safer, more inclusive Australia.

Today, on World Diabetes Day, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) draws attention to a critical yet often overlooked reality: effective diabetes management must include mental health support.

Today on World Kindness Day, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) highlights the profound impact kindness has on mental wellbeing, community cohesion, and emotional resilience.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) marks International Stress Awareness Day by urging Australians to pause, reflect, and prioritise their mental wellbeing, and by calling on governments to strengthen early-intervention supports across communities.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) has launched a public petition calling for a safe, fair, and practical implementation of the Final National Standards for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (October 2025), with three immediate actions for government...

As we move into spring, VMHPAA reflects on a season of steady progress, principled advocacy, and growing national engagement.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) welcomes the Federal Government’s Proposed National Standards for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (October 2025), noting significant progress toward fair recognition of vocational pathways and proportionate quality assurance across the workforce. 

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) extends warm greetings to everyone celebrating Diwali/Deepavali across Australia and around the world including Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and diaspora communities.

Today, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) proudly recognises National Coming Out Day - a day to celebrate the courage it takes to live authentically and to stand in solidarity with all members of the LGBTIQA+ community.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) extends warm greetings to everyone celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival also known as the Moon Festival and Tết Trung Thu across Australia and around the world.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) extends warm greetings to everyone celebrating Chuseok (추석) - Korea’s harvest moon festival - and to Korean diaspora communities across Australia and the world.

Today on World Suicide Prevention Day, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) joins the global call to raise awareness, break stigma, and build a culture of hope, connection, and prevention.

Today, on International Literacy Day, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) celebrates the transformative power of literacy, not only as an educational right, but as a cornerstone of mental wellbeing, self-empowerment, and community connection.

VMHPAA acknowledges the crisis and speaks to spotlight a deeply concerning reality: the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide delivered a thorough final report in September 2024 with 122 recommendations, yet only nine have been fully implemented to date.