Today, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) proudly celebrates World Teachers’ Day - a moment to recognise the teachers, trainers, and educators who dedicate their lives to shaping minds, nurturing growth, and inspiring hope.

Today, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) joins the global community in celebrating the International Day of Older Persons — a time to recognise the invaluable wisdom, resilience, and contributions of older generations who continue to shape our families, communities, and collective story.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) is backing National Safe Work Month this October and endorsing Safe Work Australia’s 2025 campaign theme - safety: every job, every day - urging employers to give equal weight to psychological and physical safety in every role, on every shift.

This October, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) marks Global Diversity Awareness Month by celebrating the strength that cultural, linguistic, and identity diversity brings to families, communities, and workplaces and by calling for practical steps that make care genuinely inclusive every day of the year.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) today welcomed the Australian Government’s Independent Review of Health Professions Regulation (July 2025), calling it “a sensible reset” that prioritises public safety while recognising the full health workforce, registered and non-registered alike.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) extends its heartfelt support to all riders, families, and communities participating in the 2025 Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance.

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.

Today, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) joins communities across the nation in proudly celebrating Wear It Purple Day - a day dedicated to affirming and empowering LGBTIQA+ young people.

Today on International Youth Day, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA)reaffirms its commitment to supporting the mental wellbeing of young people across the country.

Today on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) stands in recognition of the rich cultures, contributions, and enduring wisdom of First Nations and Indigenous communities around the world.

Recent commentary from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reignited debate on the growing trend of using AI chatbots for therapeutic support. Surveys suggest that nearly half of people experiencing mental health challenges who also use AI are turning to large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT for help. While these tools are attractive, always available, cost-free, and accessible, serious concerns remain about privacy, safety, and efficacy.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) proudly joins the nation in recognising Aged Care Employee Day, a time to honour the dedicated professionals who provide compassionate care and dignity to our elders each and every day.

This Loneliness Awareness Week, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA)is calling on individuals, communities, and workplaces to recognise the often invisible impact of loneliness on mental health and to take action.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) proudly joins communities across the nation in celebrating National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day a powerful reminder of the strength, resilience, and cultural pride of First Nations children.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) proudly joins the global community in recognising World Breastfeeding Week (1–7 August), acknowledging not just the physical act of breastfeeding, but the profound emotional, psychological, and social challenges that often accompany early parenthood.

On World Lung Cancer Day, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) joins health organisations and communities worldwide in raising awareness about lung cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths globally.

A two-year independent investigation in Pennsylvania has revealed the devastating consequences of underfunding, broken promises, and systemic neglect in mental health care. Once heralded as a leader in deinstitutionalisation and community reform, the state’s vision for a modern, community-based mental health system has collapsed into a grim reality of homelessness, incarceration, and preventable deaths.

Over the past 25 years, mental health awareness has transformed from silence to visibility. Campaigns, school programs, and social media have played an important role in breaking stigma and encouraging help-seeking. Yet as Professor Patrick McGorry highlights, blanket awareness programs in schools may be creating unintended harms including increased distress, misdiagnosis, and misplaced confidence in “awareness” as a substitute for real care.