Tandem Carers

27/01/2026

**UPDATE: The deadline for extensions for Tandem's research grants has been extended to Sunday, 8 March 2026.**

The Tandem Family Carer Lived Experience (FCLE) Workforce Development Research Grants each provide up to $15,000 for individuals or teams in the FCLE Workforce to design and deliver an original research project. 🙌

Find out more and apply: https://tandemcarers.org.au/research-grants

Are you a Family Carer Lived and Living Experience Worker (FCLEW) with an idea that could strengthen or grow the discipline?

Tandem’s Family Carer Lived and Living Experience (FCLLE) Workforce Development Research Grants are now open — offering up to $15,000 to lead your own research project.

This is a chance to:

🔹 Build your research skills
🔹 Advance the FCLE workforce
🔹 Create meaningful change for family, carers and supporters
🔹 Be supported through mentoring, coaching and a dedicated research symposium

👉 Learn more and apply before Sunday 8 February: https://tandemcarers.org.au/research-grants

25/01/2026

“Australia has an opportunity to choose a national day that unites rather than divides... Now is the time to take a much-needed step towards healing, reducing harm and honouring the lived experiences of our First Nations communities,” says Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Inc CEO, Dr. Jill Gallagher AO

Tandem supports our First Nations partners and community in saying that January 26 is not a day to celebrate. Read Jill’s words in full at https://www.vaccho.org.au/2026/01/22/opinion-some-call-it-australia-day-we-call-it-survival-day/
Here are 6 ways to support First Nations people today, from Clothing The Gaps: https://www.clothingthegaps.com.au/blogs/blogs/6-ways-to-show-your-support-this-jan-26

Make no mistake – January 26 is a day of mourning.

It marks the beginning of colonisation and its devastating impacts – dispossession, genocide, cultural loss and intergenerational trauma.

The refusal to change the date is not because Aboriginal people haven’t explained why January 26 is inappropriate and hurtful because we have done so, clearly and consistently for decades.

January 26 is not a date of Australian tradition – it’s a choice.

It’s a choice that was made by governments, and it’s a choice that’s been changed before, so why can’t it change again?

Opinion by Dr Jill Gallagher AO.

First published on Cheek Media on 21 January 2026.

Read the full piece here > https://www.vaccho.org.au/2026/01/22/opinion-some-call-it-australia-day-we-call-it-survival-day/

22/01/2026

At 7.01pm today, we join Australians across the country in a minute of silence, remembering the 15 innocent lives lost and all those impacted by the Bondi Beach attack.

In observing the National Day of Mourning, we reflect on the importance of kindness, compassion and standing alongside one another. Today we say: Light will win.

22/01/2026

At 7.01pm today, we join Australians across the country in a minute of silence, remembering the 15 innocent lives lost and all those impacted by the Bondi Beach attack.

In observing the National Day of Mourning, we reflect on the importance of kindness, compassion and standing alongside one another. Today we say: Light will win.

05/01/2026

Are you a Family Carer Lived and Living Experience Worker (FCLEW) with an idea that could strengthen or grow the discipline?

Tandem’s Family Carer Lived and Living Experience (FCLLE) Workforce Development Research Grants are now open — offering up to $15,000 to lead your own research project.

This is a chance to:

🔹 Build your research skills
🔹 Advance the FCLE workforce
🔹 Create meaningful change for family, carers and supporters
🔹 Be supported through mentoring, coaching and a dedicated research symposium

👉 Learn more and apply before Sunday 8 February: https://tandemcarers.org.au/research-grants

02/01/2026

Tandem is back for 2026!

Our Support and Referral Line is available between 9am and 5pm on 1800 314 325 to provide support, information and referral to family, carers and supporters of people with mental health challenges. 📞💙

Main reception can be reached on 03 8803 5555 or info@tandemcarers.org.au

We’re ready for a big year pushing for change - towards a more compassionate mental health and wellbeing system and better recognition and support for family, carers and supporters. Bring it on!

Join us today for free at https://tandemcarers.org.au/join

16/12/2025

Thank you to everyone who joined us to make the 2025 Tandem Awards such a special celebration of those who go to exceptional lengths to support family, carers and supporters in Victoria's mental health and wellbeing system!

Congratulations to all our 2025 winners:

- Rebecca Lovell, Eastern Health - the Carer Lived Experience Workforce (CLEW) Award
- Liza Staios, Mind Australia - the Individual Community Award
- Dr Simone Keogh, Peninsula Health - Individual Clinical​ Award
- Peninsula Carer Council - the Volunteer Service Award
- Ash Burnett - the Satellite Foundation Youth Advocate Award
- Karen McKnight, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect Award
- Annette Mercuri, the Family Carer Research Award
- Sarah Izhak, Samual Ryan & Navin Singh and Katherine Dowson, Eastern Health - Office of the Chief Psychiatrist Award
- Gabby Cohen - the Jackie Crowe Memorial Award
- Judi Burstyner, Inner South Family and Friends - the Lifetime Achievement Award
- Karen - the Arafmi Ltd Carer Respite Award

We appreciate all that you do to create a safe, fair and inclusive mental health and wellbeing system for family, carers and supporters. 💛🏅

Find out more about Tandem's work at https://tandemcarers.org.au/

15/12/2025

We at Tandem express our horror at yesterday's violence in Bondi and its impact on the Jewish community and Hanukkah celebrations here in Victoria. This year, as for centuries, the lighting of the candles on the menorah symbolise light’s victory over darkness.

It is a terrible, terrible tragedy and we extend our thoughts to everyone affected. There can be no room for such acts of hatred, antisemitism and racism in Australia.

If you are feeling impacted, please reach out for support:

- Jewish Care Victoria : 1300 133 660 (if their lines are busy, please leave a message and they will phone you back)
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
- Griefline: 1300 845 745

Lifeline has also developed a Wellbeing Support Guide for anyone affected: https://www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/support-toolkit/techniques-and-guides/bondi-beach-incident-wellbeing-support-guide

13/12/2025

Helen Saigal, winner of the 2025 Monash Art Competition for Carers, spoke to our team about her creative practice.

As a full-time carer, Helen’s journey into art began when someone asked, “what are you doing for yourself?” That question led her to art classes, and it changed her life.
Today, creativity is her sanctuary. “When you’ve got so many issues… you just lose yourself in it,” she explains. Art helps her stay grounded and healthy. “Touch wood, I haven’t been to the hospital for the last four years.”

Helen encourages other carers to make time for themselves. Whether painting, gardening or cooking, she believes creative outlets are healing.

Read her full profile here: https://tandemcarers.org.au/p/Contents/Stories/Member-stories/Helen%20Saigal%20story.aspx

11/12/2025

“We are seeking urgent clarity on how a strong carer perspective will remain embedded in Victoria’s mental health reforms, and whether these changes reflect a shift away from a government commitment to the royal commission’s vision to centre lived experience in system transformation,” Jane Dune, Tandem's acting CEO, told The Age yesterday.

Tandem is deeply concerned that the proposed changes – the removal of the Lived Experience Commissioner (Carer) role, together with the shift of the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing to a single-CEO model – will weaken lived experience leadership in Victoria’s mental health system.

Read the article here [subscription required]: https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/abolition-of-lived-experience-test-for-mental-health-leaders-alarms-industry-20251208-p5nlpt.html

Read our full statement here: https://tandemcarers.org.au/p/p/Contents/Stories/News/Revised%20Tandem%20statement%20on%20silver%20review%20impact.aspx

10/12/2025

The Tandem Awards are here! If you're joining us today in person, all the info you need on how to find the venue is available at: https://tandemcarers.org.au/p/Events/Event_display.aspx?EventKey=TA2025

If you're joining us online, the livestream will begin at 2pm at https://awards.tandemcarers.org.au/livestream

Next Thursday 11 December, we honour some of the extraordinary people and services improving the lives of family, carers and supporters in Victoria. 💛

Watch the 2025 Tandem Awards via livestream — or grab one of the last in-person tickets (if you’re a Tandem member and get in quick!).

Livestream from 2pm: awards.tandemcarers.org.au/livestream

In-person tickets (members only): tandemcarers.org.au/events

08/12/2025

Congratulations to Inner South Family and Friends (ISFAF) for winning a Carers Victoria Connecting Carers Grant.

The grant will help ISFAF build their community support programs for mental health family, carers and supporters, especially those from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Judi Burstyner is a longtime Tandem member and is stepping aside as ISFAF Chair after many years of contribution. Read her profile here: https://tandemcarers.org.au/p/Contents/Stories/Member-stories/Judi%20burstyner%20story.aspx