Events
Upcoming Events
Spotlight Session
Monday 12 October | 7:00pm–8:30pm
For many neurodivergent children and their families, church can be a place of longing — wanting to feel they belong, while finding participation genuinely hard. How can churches and ministries can respond with greater understanding and more thoughtful care?
Join Kate Morris — writer, researcher, podcaster, and mother of neurodivergent children — as she brings biblical reflection, current research, and practical wisdom to this topic.
Whether you serve in Sunday School, youth group, kids’ club, or simply want your church to be more welcoming, this session is for you.
Theologically informed pastoral care for young people in the contemporary world
There are countless issues confronting young lives in today’s complex world. Be equipped to respond with informed, compassionate care through exploring the theological foundations for pastoral support and spiritual formation of children and young people.
This Mental Health Institute and Mary Andrews College Intensive is a Professional Development offering for ministry workers, teachers, school counsellors, and mental health professionals. Parents, grandparents, and anyone concerned for the emotional and spiritual wellbeing of children and young people will also benefit from the content.
You may choose to attend for ONE, TWO, or all THREE days.
Date: Monday October 12 – Wednesday October 14; 9:00am – 5:00pm
Monday: Young lives in a complex world – key questions and issues; how relationships shape personhood and supporting growth into independent adulthood; AI chatbots and what they tell us about the enduring importance of social connection; spiritual formation in relational ecosystems
Tuesday: Theological anthropology – understanding our created humanity; young people and sexuality: consent and respectful relationships, sexualised online content
Wednesday: Neurodivergence; the ‘digital native’ experience and its consequences; supporting wellbeing in children and young people; mental health and mental illness in young lives
Delivery mode: Hybrid (in person or online)
Learn more and register:
If you would like to study this as an accredited unit through Mary Andrews College, follow this link: https://www.mac.edu.au/our-units
Any questions? Contact mentalhealthinstitute@mac.edu.au
About our Spotlight Sessions
The MHPCI hosts Spotlight Sessions throughout the year, both in-person and online, where a Christian mental health professional provides information on a mental health or wellbeing-related matter and discusses how church communities can offer support.
The cost of each Session is $25. If you are experiencing financial hardship, and are keen to attend this seminar, we you are welcome to purchase a concession ticket for $10.
While we don’t have statistics for how many in our churches have experienced a traumatic event, we know Christians are not immune from the effects of our fallen world, and unfortunately some have experienced trauma within the church. Trauma shows up differently for everyone, so in order to love one another well in our church communities, it’s vital we learn more so we can offer trauma-informed pastoral care and support.
Learn from Belinda Burn and listen to her story about her own experience of trauma.
Purchase access to the webinar here:
Spotlight Session - The Mental Load
While the mental load is not a mental health challenge, it is a challenge to healthy relationships. And as with any aspect of life, we believe God’s Word has wisdom to offer.
Hear from keynote speaker Justine Toh and a conversation and theological reflection hosted by Rev. Dr Becki Philip with Dr Laurel Moffatt and Rev. Natalie Ray. Across the evening, we explored what the Mental Load is, why it matters, how it affects our relationships, and how Christians can navigate it with wisdom, grace, and courage.
Spotlight Session - Marriage: Staying connected when life is full
Married couples can bring out the very best in each other and the very worst. And when life is full … well, staying connected can be a challenge.
This Spotlight session is an opportunity for anyone who is married to hear insights from the Bible and marriage research. It’s a chance to stop and take stock and think through how to reconnect deeply and meaningfully.
If you missed it, you can catch up by purchasing access to the recording.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Spotlight RECORDING
It is a condition that is often hidden, frequently misunderstood, and sometimes misrepresented.
In this Spotlight Session, Clinical Psychologist Dr Amy Talbot unpacked the realities of living with OCD, separating myths from evidence-based facts. She explored how OCD can show up in faith communities, the ways church environments and practices can sometimes hinder recovery, and practical steps churches can take to create safe, informed spaces for those affected. Whether you are experiencing OCD yourself, supporting someone who is, or seeking to better understand the condition, this session offers clarity, compassion, and hope.
Perinatal Mental Health Spotlight RECORDING
Motherhood is beautiful—but it can also be deeply overwhelming. Catch up on our Perinatal Mental Health Spotlight with Tehani Gunasekara, Clinical Psychologist, who helps us understand the emotional realities many women face during pregnancy and after birth. Birth is seen as a time of joy and celebration, as a family welcomes a new baby into the family. However, for many new mothers and fathers, this transformative period can also bring overwhelming feelings of sadness, anxiety, rage, and despair.
What are warning signs that a Mum is struggling? And how can churches offer genuine care, compassion and support to new Mums and walk alongside them? The local church can do so much to support new families when they bring their new baby home.
Menopause Spotlight RECORDING
Catch up on our recent Spotlight on Menopause where we explored the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of this pivotal life stage.
Menopause impacts women not just physically but also cognitively, relationally, and emotionally. Statistics show that many women face increased risks of depression, relationship strain, and challenges in the workplace during this time.
In this Spotlight, our two expert speakers provide invaluable insights from both a medical and a theological perspective.
Young Women & Mental Health RECORDING
If you missed our March Spotlight you can still access the recording until the end of May.
Parents often feel unsure about how to approach their teen’s mental health. This seminar will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to engage in meaningful conversations and provide the support your teen needs. You’ll leave with practical strategies to stay connected and help your child navigate the challenges of adolescence. Join us for an evening of valuable insights and helpful resources to foster better mental health for young women
Speaker: Amy Yeung
Amy has a passion for seeing young people thrive and has been working alongside them in voluntary and paid positions in Australia and Canada for sixteen years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), a Master of Social Health and Counselling, and a Master of Theological Studies (Applied Theology). Prior to joining the Mental Health and Pastoral Care Institute, she developed The Sanctuary Youth Series—a free mental health and faith film series that will help young people explore their key questions on this topic.
2025 Events – Recording & Resources Available
3 February – Borderline Personality Disorder with Neil Jeyasingam
24 March – Young Women & Mental Health (Recording Access Available)
12 May – Menopause (Recording Access Available)
4 August – Perinatal Mental Health (Recording Access Available)
20 October – Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
2024 Spotlight Events
11 March – Living with Adult ADHD Matters with Sarah Hindle
13 May – Social Media and Mental Health with Leisa Aitken
17 June – Living with the Impact of Childhood Trauma with Ruth Holt
22 July – Social Anxiety with Lauren Errington
12 August – Burnout with Valerie Ling
9 September – Suicide Prevention with Trinette Stanley
21 October – Depression with Lyn Worsley
3 February – Borderline Personality Disorder with Neil Jeyasingam
"to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,"
(Eph 4:12)
Professional Development
Seminar: Trauma
Speakers: Rev. Dr Keith Condie, Miriam Chan, Tim Dyer, Lynda Dunstan
Date: 9 – 11 October, 2024
In this 3-day intensive unit, you will have the opportunity to consider the nature and impact of trauma in its various forms upon individuals, families, and communal groups. The unit provides you with a biblical and theological framework for understanding trauma and will help equip you to apply the principles of trauma-informed care and practice in ministry and professional settings. The focus will be on trauma experienced in an Australian context.
This three-day intensive forms part of a unit in the Graduate Certificate of Pastoral Care for Mental Health. Attend one, two or three days for professional development for those not enrolled in the Graduate Certificate.
9 Oct: Biblical & Theological Perspectives on Trauma – Keith Condie and Miriam Chan
10 Oct: Spiritual Abuse – Tim Dyer
11 Oct: Family & Domestic Violence – Lynda Dunstan
Attend in person at Anglican Deaconess Ministries, or online via Zoom.
Contact us
If you have any questions regarding professional development, or you want request that we run a course for your organisation, contact us!