Ermha

09/10/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭.

Too often, people with complex needs are met with service boundaries, handovers, and systems that struggle to respond to the full complexity of their lives.

At the , Karenza Louis-Smith challenged us to think differently. To move beyond "my client" and "your client" and embrace the idea of "our shared client"; recognising that no single service, profession or organisation has all the answers, but together we can achieve outcomes that would be impossible alone.

Her call to action was both simple and powerful: build bridges, not better handovers.

People with complex needs deserve more than fragmented support. They deserve services that work together, share responsibility, learn from one another, and bring their collective expertise around the person, their strengths, and their aspirations.

The most meaningful change happens when people and organisations choose to stay connected, keep showing up, and refuse to give up when things get hard.



Meridia | OC Connections | The Disability Trust | Embarc Employment | Bedford Group

07/10/2026

When we come together, we thrive 🫶

That's the message at the heart ❤️ of Mental Health Month this October. It’s a great reminder to start conversations, strengthen connections and prioritise wellbeing in a way that works for you.

Thanks to Mental Health Australia for its leadership and resources, which can be found at its website and socials.

02/10/2026

On Day 3, the final day of Meridia CEO Karenza Louis-Smith (of which ermha365 is part of) welcomed everyone and spoke about some of the things we’ve heard so far including:

📍Colllaboration needs to go beyond service pathways.

📍A shared client requires a shared response. A person isn’t my client, your client, they are our client.

📍What do you have, and do, in the spaces and places where you work that enable you to say “yes” to working with a person who gets labelled “too hard, too complex, too risky”?

Ultimately, no one organisation or service can do the work we do in complex needs alone.

01/10/2026

We are on Day 3 of and it has been incredible so far! This year’s focus is building integrated systems in the face of complexity and ermha365 and ACSO are co-hosting.

Everyone in attendance shares the common dedication and everyday living experience of working with people for whom there’s many barriers to accessing support.
Especially important is the voices of people with lived and living experience who know what it’s like when systems and services don’t connect.

Here’s highlights from yesterday (day 2). The conference is made possible by Department of Families, Fairness and Housing - VIC

01/10/2026

Day 2 highlights! Full day of fascinating presentations, conversations and ideas!

30/09/2026

Day 2 of in Melbourne Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre has begun. It’s going to be a great day full of presentations and conversations about how we can build integrated responses in the face of complexity. Here’s a highlights reel of yesterday.

31/08/2026

Today, Meridia launched its Strategic Plan 2026-2030.

The plan outlines a clear direction for the years ahead across our Group of social service organisations: The Disability Trust, Ermha, OC Connections, Marriott Support Services, Bedford Group and Embarc Employment - reinforcing our shared commitment to supporting people, families and communities.

Read Meridia’s post below and don’t miss the link to listen to the Get Real podcast. Hear from our Board Chair, Dr Peter Langkamp, and Board member, Carol Heijo, as they share valuable insights informed by their lived experience.

We are proud to launch Meridia's Strategic Plan 2026-2030.

Built through extensive consultation with our workforce, people with lived and living experience, participants, advocates and stakeholders, the strategy sets out our vision for a better-connected social services ecosystem where people remain connected to opportunity, community and purpose at every stage of life.

Guided by three priorities, Strengthen What Works, Build a Sustainable and Diverse Future, and Integrate, Enable and Innovate, the plan provides a clear roadmap for growing our impact while continuing to deliver high-quality, person-centred services.

Together, our service brands, including The Disability Trust, Bedford Group, Ermha, OC Connections, Marriott Support Services and Embarc Employment, will continue working together to create meaningful outcomes for the people and communities we support.

To coincide with the launch, we have also released a special episode of the GET REAL Podcast, featuring Meridia Board Chair Dr Peter Langkamp OAM and Deputy Chair Carol Heijo, who discuss the strategy, the future of the social services sector, and how Meridia is building a more connected approach to support.

Read the strategy: https://meridia.au/news/a-strategy-for-a-better-connected-future/

Listen to the podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/922639/episodes/19567211

Together, we connect what matters.

28/08/2026

If you’re over the age of 18 and feeling distressed, you can access free, practical support without having to go to a mental health, general health or emergency service.

Distress can take a wide variety of forms. It can be an unpleasant emotion, feeling, thought or behaviour, including:
📍feeling overwhelmed, worried or helpless
📍feeling sad or unmotivated to do the things that you used to enjoy
📍feeling frustrated or on edge
📍feelings of self-doubt or low self-esteem
📍withdrawal from family or friends
📍physical symptoms like headaches, tension, increased tiredness
📍changes to your eating or sleeping habits.

The Distress Support Service offers a welcoming, inclusive and compassionate space to people from all cultures, genders, sexualities, bodies, abilities, spiritualities and backgrounds. Staff in our short-term support team have their own lived experience of distress and understand what you are going through.

For appointments email: [email protected] or fill in the easy referral form at https://www.ermha.org/dss/



Jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments.
Victorian Department of Health
Victorian Aboriginal Health Service -VAHS

21/08/2026

If you know where these poles are, get in touch with Wathaurong Aboriginal Co Op.

A CALL TO OUR COMMUNITY — PLEASE HELP US BRING THESE HOME

We’re asking for the community’s help following the theft of a number of painted totem poles from the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative’s Morgan Street construction site.

These poles are much more than objects from a construction site. They hold cultural significance to our community and were carefully painted and created with a purpose. They were intended to be reused and incorporated into the new Wathaurong building at Morgan Street, continuing their story as part of the new home for our community.

These poles had been intentionally retained during the early stages of the project, as their careful removal required specialised handling. For this reason, they were scheduled to be removed following the demolition of the main building so they could be safely preserved for incorporation into the new development.
We are deeply disappointed that they have been taken, particularly knowing the meaning and significance they hold.

If you took the poles, we ask that you please return them. No questions asked. We simply want to see them brought home so they can take their rightful place in the new building.

If you have seen the poles, know where they are, or have any information that could help us recover them, please get in touch with Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative directly.

We also ask our community to please share this post so we can reach as many people as possible.

These belong with community. Please help us bring them home.

20/08/2026

Only one week to go — make the most of early‑bird pricing before it ends!

The Complex Needs Conference brings together international experts and lived‑experience leaders for a three‑day program focused on improving the systems that support people with complex and diverse needs.

Practitioners, researchers, policy makers and lived‑experience advocates are all invited to be part of driving change for those who fall through the gaps of our current service systems.

📍 Melbourne | 30 September - 2 October 2026
🎟️ Early bird registrations are heavily subsidised until 28 August.

Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/dXmh6f8f