Spring lambs

Melbourne trip in November

So looking forward to hearing Leonard Cohen live in Melbourne in November! Just made final arrangements for the trip. I have not visited Melbourne before, so that will also be a long-awaited pleasure.

I may never be lost again

Spring is here, and so is my new GPS navigation device. What a blessing that will be, to someone like me! :-)

Here's a link to a new article I wrote on shared parenting and communication:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Shared-Parenting---How-to-Do-it-the-Write-Way&id=4428220

Reinstate allied health professions to Better Access to Mental Health

Reinstate allied health professions to Better Access to Mental Health

This is the link to the new petition about defending mental health service access. Please sign this and pass the link along to all your friends and family.

The government has delayed the planned limitation in the Better Access to Mental Health program: instead of cutting Medicare-funded 'Better Access' to mental health social workers and occupational therapists in July 2010, it will be cut in April 2011.

That's why there is a new petition about Better Access to Mental Health. Please support the continuing campaign and sign again. Signatures from the original petition will not carry forward to this one, so make sure your voice is heard!

Australians deserve Better Access to Mental Health

Reinstate allied health professions to Better Access to Mental Health

This is a link to an online petition - please consider signing the petition to lobby the Australian Commonwealth Government about its latest policy to cut back mental health services. Otherwise, from 1st July 2010 there will be a reduction in affordable mental health support services under the Medicare-funded 'Better Access' scheme.

At the moment, certain accredited mental health social workers and occupational therapists, who must meet exacting criteria in training, experience and continuing professional development, are registered as Medicare providers. These therapists offer affordable services to clients referred by GPs, with the option of bulk-billing to Medicare.

In rural areas in particular, having these therapists available is literally a lifeline for many individuals and families affected by conditions such as depression and anxiety. And in a drought stricken country, grappling with the GFC, there is no shortage of stress!

The Better Access scheme has been too successful in giving Australians better access to support in tough times - let's keep it that way! Please sign the petition now and pass it along to your friends and family!

Reinstate allied health professions to Better Access to Mental Health

Browsing ...

easter2010 001, originally uploaded by cecilia.au.

... in Port Macquarie Public Library, April 2010.

Reminds me of the Talking Heads' lyric: "You may find yourself in another part of the world, and you may ask yourself, 'How did I get here?'"

smelly cheese shop

3 canberra 2010, originally uploaded by cecilia.au.

A lovely shop in Pokolbin Village, Hunter Valley NSW. I bought some caramelised balsamic vinegar - that cost more than I'd normally spend on a bottle of wine!

A business approach to shared parenting

Here is a link to a recent article I wrote about shared parenting, and using a business skills approach to the challenge of managing shared parenting with your ex:

http://ezinearticles.com/?id=3756068

(After publishing this link, I discovered there is a whole literature on using your parenting skills in business, which reinforces the idea from a different perspective.)