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 a community, and as a nation, our duty is simple: honour every contribution, support every return, and never diminish the service of others to validate our own.

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.

Today, on World Compassion Day, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) calls on all Australians to embrace compassion as a daily practice not just a sentiment. Compassion is one of the most powerful tools we have for strengthening mental wellbeing, reducing stigma, and building healthier, more connected communities.

Today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) stands in solidarity with women, families, and communities affected by gender-based violence.

Today, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) joins the international community in recognising Global Handwashing Day, a reminder that good hygiene is essential not only for physical health, but for mental wellbeing too.

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.

Today, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) joins the global community in recognising World Mental Health Day - a day to unite around awareness, action, and empathy for all people navigating mental health challenges.

Today, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) joins the global community in recognising World Sight Day - a day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of eye health and advocating for accessible vision care for all.

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.

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.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association Australia (VMHPAA) expresses deep concern following the announcement that Ramsay Health Care will close 17 of its psychology clinics, leaving thousands of Australians at risk of losing access to crucial mental health services.

Today, Shane Warren (Chair) and Philip Armstrong (CEO) of the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) formally met with representatives from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing - specifically the Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Division of the Primary and Community Care Group.

In recent weeks, VMHPAA has lodged formal concerns with federal decision-makers, while also petitioning State Premiers, Health Ministers, and Senators to draw urgent attention to the following risks...

The Productivity Commission’s recent review of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement confirms what many of us working in the community already know all too well: the agreement, while well-intentioned, has failed to deliver real outcomes for the people it was meant to support.

At the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA), we stand in full support of the urgent call for truth-telling, reform, and renewed commitment to equity across the entire continuum of mental health care.