Program Supplement: Details of Break-out Sessions – alphabetical by session name
Session Presenter/s Description
A Program of
Substance –
changing
attitudes
through
changing
practice
Thursday 13 July
11.45am
3: Terrace foyer
city side
Donna Quinn, Maree Stallard, Vanessa Vidler WANADA
Maree is Sector Development Manager at WANADA,
drawing on a background in nursing, education and
community services management across WA.
Vanessa is Project Officer and Quality Manager at
WANADA. Vanessa holds a Master in Nutrition and
Dietetics from Edith Cowan University and works to
support AOD services to improve services.
Sector Engagement Coordinator, Donna, has worked
across a range of sectors in Australia and in the UK,
including homelessness services, youth services, mental
health projects and the alcohol and other drug sector.
Despite best intentions, research shows that stigmatised views of workers are a major barrier to
providing optimal and timely care for people with complex needs, including AOD use.
In this interactive workshop, WANADA will describe their Student Placement Program and showcase
the journeys of Allied Health students who will describe personal experiences concerning shifts in
attitude towards people who use alcohol and other drugs.
This presentation also aims to provide attendees the opportunity to explore their own values and
beliefs pertaining to the complex issues of AOD, mental health and stigma. Sharing of ideas, and
debunking myths, the session encourages participants to challenge and redress stigma in their own
practice. This journey is an important one to share as it offers valuable information and experiences
reducing the incidence of stigma. Providing a platform to develop and foster positive attitudes to
carry forward into future practice. Leading to better outcomes for consumers, reducing barriers and
offering more choice in treatment options.
A question of
gender?
Thursday 13 July
4pm
1: Auditorium
Russell Date, psychiatrist
Laura / Remus Short, advocate
Russell Date is a psychiatrist who has been working with
transgender and gender diverse people for many years
in his small private practice in Perth. Laura and Remus
is a transgender androgyne.
Laura comes from a writing background but he works
and volunteers in the community services sector. As
someone who has chosen to pursue their own preferred
level of social and medical transition, Remus now enjoys
being able to share her experiences and educate others
about the existence of transgender and gender diverse
people.
Service providers often perceive the issues that transgender and gender diverse people present with
to be complicated and difficult. Providing them with care in a respectful, positive, welcoming
environment can be a profoundly empowering experience, and can also be extremely rewarding and
satisfying. This session will provide participants with basic knowledge, demystify some of the issues
a ou d the a e of t a sge de a d ge de di e se people, a d i ease pa ti ipa ts a ilit to o k with these individuals.
An Integrated
Life - Lived
Experience of
Dissociative
Identity
Disorder
Friday 14 July
2pm
1: Auditorium
Norah Allison
Norah Allison has lived for many years with Dissociative
Identity Disorder and is works to raise awareness and
demystify the ambiguous and misleading presentation
in the media. She shares her personal insights into what
has worked for her in psychotherapy and will hopefully
work for others who are also living with this diagnosis.
She is currently working full time as a successful and
dedicated secondary school teacher.
The session will begin with a Pecha Kucha presentation that will immerse the participants in the lived
experience of Dissociative Identity Disorder. This will be followed by a brief outline of the reality of
living with the condition and some of the experiences that the presenter has dealt with as she has
experienced the Western Australian Mental Health system. Early treatment of the condition, before
much was known about it, will be explored and then contrasted with the approaches that she and
her clinical psychologist have developed over the course of their work together. A section of an
actual psychotherapy session will be shown to showcase the techniques and their effectiveness. This
session will provide an opportunity to learn more about an often misunderstood condition and the
approaches that have proved most successful in treating it.
Session Presenter/s Description
Australia
Checked-in on
their Mental
Health - and we
learnt
something
unexpected.
Thursday 13 July
3pm
2: Wardle Room
Peta Slocombe, Vital Conversations
Peta has 20 years’ experience as a Psychologist and is
Director of Vital Conversations. With a passion for
conversations that create change, Peta has diverse
clinical and organisational experience and has lectured
at Post-Graduate levels.
Peta has published journal articles, and “The Vibrant
Workplace (TM) Approach”, described by US Journal
Editor Dr Judah Ronch as a unique and "profoundly
overdue" approach to resolving challenges.
Join us as we deliver the results of the Australia's Biggest Mental Health Check-in project - and
workshop the next steps of Mental Health is this ever changing environment.
Australia's Biggest Mental Health Check-in is a subjective and objective measure of mental health,
wellbeing and the factors that support mentally healthy functioning. Each person who completes the
Check-in received their personalised report with strategies, and education for better mental health -
however they were traveling.
Collectively, The Check-in data provides a snap shot of mental health and psychological function.
Join us as we uncover the data, and then workshop and plan for a future of where mental health is
everyone's business.
Benefits of
recreation
activities on
mental health
and wellbeing
Thursday 13 July
4pm
Wellbeing Zone
Crawford Olney, Brandt Mokaraka, Jonathon Michel
RUAH Community Services
The presenters are Recreation staff at RUAH.
RUAH Recreation Staff give overview of the RUAH Recreation project and how it operates to support
people on a mental health recovery journey to engage in regular recreation activities.
This participative session will include mind- appi g, a d a sho ase of the p og a s e pe ie es including how challenges are overcome and the long term benefits and how this impacts on a lie t s ability to maximized their individual potential. The presentation will also examine the significance of
individualised recreation plan and focused client support rather than a one size fits all approach.
Bringing Colour
to Life
Thursday 13 July
10.45am
Wellbeing Zone
Kalavani Chander, Ruth Foulkes, WHFS
Kalaivani is a single mother of Indian descent. She has
engaged with a variety of programs including fitness
classes, art therapy, CBT and mental health programs at
WHFS. She is engaged in ongoing volunteer work and
shares her life experience to support others through
speaking and peer mentoring. She has continually
identified and prioritised personal goals for recovery
and is an inspiring role model.
Ruth Foulkes (WHFS Social Worker/Counsellor Mental
Health Team), will co-present with Kalavaini and provide
a brief introduction and closing.
Kalaivani remembers wearing only black and being unable to get out of bed. Slowly, with support
from Women s Health and Family Services (WHFS) she began to heal. Kalaivani suffered domestic
violence which triggered PTSD, depression and anxiety. She was socially and culturally isolated but
was able to obtain culturally supportive help at WHFS. Kalaivani will talk about her journey and what
helped her to heal such as the non-judgmental, nurturing environment at WHFS.
Kalaivani vividly remembers how colour began to return to her life. Her first realisation of this was in
a WHFS art therapy session when her pictures started to change from black to colour. In addition to
verbally telling her story and using power point slides she would like to engage conference delegates
in an art activity that reflects the principles of her recovery. After a dark period, with support to feel
safe, Kalaivani reignited a sense of courage and hope and was once again able to invite colour into
her life. Resources will be provided for participants to join her in an activity that provides the
experience that fundamentally informed her recovery.
Session Presenter/s Description
Building and
Sustaining a
Recovery
Community
Thursday 13 July
2pm
Wellbeing Zone
Amanda Waegeli; Donna Murray, Recovery Rocks
Amanda is the founder of Recovery Rocks Community
Inc. A lived experience practitioner with her own QLD
mental health recovery consultancy, she works
nationally. She won the Mental Health Good Outcomes
Award 2013 for consumer participation, was a national
peer champion and is a published author.
Donna Murray is a founding member of Recovery Rocks
and has lived experience of personal recovery. She is a
talented artist, facilitator and peer support worker.
Donna's dream to build a sustainable recovery farm.
Working together in good spirit, the diverse Recovery Rocks community have come together to
support each other on our recovery journeys. Predominately we have worked holistically under the
radar of larger mental health services in WA. On the fringes, we have just got on with building our
community. We are not a program, service or corporation, but an organic, grass roots community,
rich with real people of lived experience who carry hope that will support personal recovery.
Recovery communities can and do complement formal mental health services, but are seldom
recognised, or valued for what we offer.
In this workshop, we will share how we have successfully achieved positive outcomes through
relationships with each other. For us as a community, what we have created in spirit is a safe space in
which to build healthier relationships which supports lifelong wellness.
Participants, will be invited to explore practical ways of working together, towards creating future
pa t e ships to e ha e e tal health a d ell ei g fo all. We el o e a d alue e e o e s wisdom and input as we collate a collective learning of helpful ways of building and sustaining
recovery communities.
Building better
lives - bringing
the NDIS to
people living
psychiatric
hostels
Friday 14 July
9.30am
4: Terrace foyer,
river side
Kerry Stopher, National Disability Insurance Agency
Kerry Stopher is Director of Engagement at the National
Disability Insurance Agency. The NDIA is responsible for
implementing the National Disability Insurance Scheme
(NDIS). Kerry has worked in the disability sector for
many years in direct service, management and policy
positions. She assisted the Mental Health Commission
to de elop the st ategi f a e o k Me tal Health : Maki g it pe so al a d e e od s usi ess a d
has chaired the Collaboration Steering Group for the
NDIA Psychiatric Hostels Project.
There are five psychiatric hostels in the NDIS Perth Hills trial site. Many residents have severe and
persistent mental health issues and it is difficult to maintain community participation skills and find
decision-making opportunities in hostels.
A steering group of consumers and service providers advised the project in relation to engaging
residents with the NDIS, working collaboratively to assist people to develop and implement
individual plans and sharing learnings across Australia as the NDIS is rolled out.
This session will provide an overview of the project and share their journey and learnings.
Building
Thriving
Communities
Thursday 13 July
2pm
1: Auditorium
Dr Peggy Brown, National Mental Health Commission
Dr Michelle Blanchard, SANE Australia [late change]
Dr Peggy Brown is CEO of the National Mental Health
Commission after being involved in mental health
leadership and advocacy roles for 30 years. Prior to her
appointment with the Commission, Peggy was Chief
Psychiatrist with the Northern Territory Department of
Health. In addition to multiple roles with professional
bodies such as the Royal Australian and New Zealand
College of Psychiatrists, she has held executive level
positions in the public service for more than 20 years,
including 5 years as the Director-General of ACT Health.
Little is known about the impact of participating in online peer support for mental health. In
partnership with the National Mental Health Commission, SANE Australia undertook an initiative to
extend the reach of the SANE Forums and evaluate the effectiveness of this digital strategy.
The Building Thriving Communities initiative sought to build social connectedness and improve
mental health outcomes, with a focus on those living in rural and regional areas. Consumer and carer
expertise has been included at all levels of design and delivery. The initiative was promoted through
a national media campaign, capturing the common experiences of stigma and isolation often
experienced by people living regional and remote areas. The effectiveness of this campaign and the
impact of participation were evaluated in partnership with the University of Sydney. Evaluation
fi di gs ill i fo the Natio al Me tal Health Co issio s ad i e to Go e e t o the ole a d importance of digital health and peer support. In this session, we will co-present the key findings and
share the lived experience stories of those involved in the campaign.
Session Presenter/s Description
Child Mental
Health:
Pathways to
Change
Thursday 13 July
3pm
3: Terrace foyer,
city side
Sue Jackson, WA Primary Health Alliance Linda Kohler, HealthPathways WA The presenters are all GPs and Clinical Editors at HealthPathways WA.
Sue works at the Kath French Secure unit with children at risk and has worked with Street Doctor + WA Ear Bus.
Linda has practised a range of medical disciplines and is involved in the Dept of Population Health at UWA.
Danielle has worked in paediatrics and is a Medical Advisor on the Medibank team working on piloting and a suite of chronic disease integrated care programs.
Participants will be given an overview of the child mental health pathways and how a pathway is
developed. They will then be divided into small groups and with the support of the HealthPathways
clinical editing team, be guided through the production of a pathway.
The results of these working groups will then form the basis of a published pathway.
Creative Tools
for Health and
Wellbeing
Friday 14 July
11.45am
Wellbeing Zone
Luke Be, Creative Expressionismsismmms
Luke is head misfit, of Creative Expressionismsismmms -
a not for profit organisation that provides a creative
approach to health and wellbeing. He uses his colourful
life experiences, to provide support and services to
different corporate, community and social groups.
In this workshop, we discuss what affects personal health and wellbeing. Then, through a series of
creative exercises, we explore techniques that can improve the way we feel.
Our own health and wellbeing is constantly changing and is influenced by a wide range of factors.
How we feel is a reflection of our own unique experience and an expression of our different wants
and needs. If neglected, these wants and needs will often express themselves through poor health
and longer term issues. To create health and happiness in our lives, we need to create a space to care
for our needs and develop a wide range of skills that will help us achieve our goals
Dear Someone:
Letters of Hope
Friday 14 July
2.30pm
Wellbeing Zone
Licy Be Licy is a rap artist, poet, musician, and peer educator with CoMHWA, Beyond Blue, Save the Children and Suicide Prevention Australia. Having topped Triple J Unearthed Charts, her music has been aired internationally and performed at the Sydney Opera House. She has released several viral suicide prevention videos. Li s ackground is in education, Psychology, and lived experience with depression and suicide.
This workshop engages evidence based music and poetry tools to aid recovery and communicate messages about suicide awareness, aligned with Suicide Prevention Australia messages, including suicide prevention being "e e o e s usi ess". Session includes a poet a d usi pe fo a e Aust alia s Natio al Poet Sla Fi alist – and an evidence based learner tool to prepare participants for conversations about suicide. Dea So eo e o kshops e gages audie e e e s i usi a d poet eatio as a a to e a le participants to overcome the challenges that can be involved in starting conversations about suicide, through self-exploration and a guided process. Participants will be supported to develop their own poe /so g o lette to so eo e i thei life that the eed to ea h out to.
Does
competition
enable or
undermine
mental health
services?
Learning from
Australian
Experience
Friday 14 July
11.45am
1: Auditorium
Amanda Bresnan, Mental Health Australia
Colin Penter, WAAMH
Amanda is the Executive Director of Community Mental
Health Australia and has worked in the non-government
sector for over 14 years. Amanda worked with
Co su e s Health Fo u of Aust alia and Mental
Health Australia. From 2008-2012 Amanda was a
Member of Parliament in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Colin is a freelance social policy consultant, researcher
and adviser currently working with WAAMH. He has
worked in the not-for-profit sector, for over 30 years.
This session will present learnings from across Australia about the experience of the community
mental health sector with competitive tendering and procurement and individualised funding.
The consequence in many cases has been fragmented services, where the application of competition
a d o testa ilit has t i p o ed se i es. E ide e a out the ad e se i pa t of o petitio o community mental health services formed part of CHMA'S submission to the Productivity
Commission Inquiry on Competition and Informed User Choice in Human Services. Despite adverse
impacts, the use of competition is set to intensify at Federal and State Government levels.
The session will draw on learning from other states and local participants and engage participants to
develop a framework of principles and guidelines to minimise harms caused by competition.
Session Presenter/s Description
Dramatic Shift:
Growing
mental
wellbeing and
resilience in
the classroom
Thursday 13 July
3.00pm
Conversation
Café
James Gill, Creative Teams Consulting
Since 2000 James "Fish" Gill he has been delivering
programs that grow empathy, resilience and
collaboration for schools, businesses and government.
With WA Dept of Culture and the Arts from 2013-2016
he delivered teacher PD in engaging youth through the
A ts. He oo di ated Ba ki g Ge ko Theat e Co pa s workshop program 2004-2006 including the Harmony
Project that facilitated conversations about racism
through drama and has worked at festivals and events.
Drama has an ability to enable us to try new realities, under the guise of make-believe. Through
dramatic play we can engage students in an authentic conversation about conflict. In simple terms,
resilience is bouncing back when we get out of shape. The session explores the role dramatic action
a pla i de elopi g ke o ditio s fo ou i g a k: a u de sta di g of the a ato o o to all conflict; a sense of empathy based on an understanding of othe s needs; the ability to
positively reframe the situation; the ability to creatively influence the outcome for all characters
involved; and the experience of having respectful relationships and belonging. The workshop models
a progression of drama activities for a year 5 classroom and creates a forum for a facilitated
discussion about a fictional, yet highly realistic conflict. The workshop addresses the Australian
Curriculum General Capabilities (critical and creative thinking, personal and social capability, ethical
understanding and intercultural understanding) and the year 5 Health and Drama curricula.
Effective
responses to
post-suicide
support
Friday 14 July
11.45am
4: Terrace foyer,
river side
Kelly Riley, Anglicare
Kelly Riley is the current Practice Coordinator of
Anglicares metro wide Suicide Prevention services. She
has worked in the social services industry for more than
10 years and has worked across a number of programs
in various roles. She is a qualified youth worker,
counsellor, and lecturer. Her work within the suicide
postvention space has been Integral in the continuation
and implementation of the ARBOR and CYPRESS
programs.
Timely, sensitive postvention helps to normalise grief after suicide, can facilitate identification of
people who may be at risk; reduce depression, complicated grief, and suicide amongst those
bereaved. It can also provide hope for family, friends and loved ones that they will survive the loss.
A gli a e s ARBOR a d CYPRESS p og a s o k to p ese e and maximise the lives of those
bereaved by suicide. There are 260 deaths by suicide each year in WA and an estimated 5-10 people
are intimately affected by each, making them vulnerable to experiencing complicated grief and
depression, heightening suicide risk. This presentation explores postvention approaches and
examples of how they are being implemented in service delivery. Rather than relying on self-referral,
CYPRESS and ARBOR take an active approach where the resources seek the people.
Providing support to those bereaved via an active outreach approach and the important role of peer
supporters (who themselves have lived experience of suicide bereavement) are important
component of postvention support that both services utilise. The presentation will also include
anecdotal evidence that talks to the benefits of using these approaches including a story from a peer
supporter with a lived experience.
E-mental health
care in practice
Thursday 13 July
1pm
5: Assembly
Room
Susanne Bahn, All of Me
Philippa Vojnovic, Anglicare WA
Susanne has lived experience as a carer. She is CEO of
All of Me, which develops mental health applications for
schools, workplaces and care workers. She is passionate
about reducing the negative impacts of mental health
and early intervention. Sue is widely published and a
Telstra Business Women of the Year finalist.
Philippa has lived experience and brings this knowledge
to content development. She is a PhD candidate, has
published on mental health topics and is a 2016 40
under 40 award winner.
Internet and applications are a key medium for reaching young people. Online health-information
seeking has huge potential benefits including:
• eas a essi ilit • a se e of geog aphi al ou da ies • f ee a ess • i te a ti it • pote tial social suppo t • pe so alisatio • a o it a d p i a • pote tial to add ess the gap et ee identified needs and limited resources.
E-mental health care does not hinder traditional treatment. Instead, it appears to be a step in the
help-seeking process. E-mental health care signifies a helpful form of accessing support, particularly
among young people. Growing awareness and recognition of this can enable professionals and policy
makers improve the quality of online information on mental health care as well as to use this fact in
clinical services. Applications that can be used autonomously and therapeutically provides additional
supports. This session includes an interactive component where the delegates may use applications.
Session Presenter/s Description
Engaging our
Youth in
Mental Health
Care
Friday 14 July
11.45am
Conversation
Café
Chinar Goel, Talia Hayman, YCATT Fiona Stanley Hosp.
Dr Goel is a Consultant Psychiatrist who, prior to FSH
was a Consultant in Mental Health Services in UK, in
Acute Intensive Mental Health settings. She has special
interest in youth and has set up new Youth Community
Assessment and Treatment team (YCATT) at FSH which
has won Rotary Award for Excellence in Community and
Primary Health Care. She is aspiring to take this new
service to a benchmarking standard for other services.
This session will explore the Youth Community Assessment and Treatment team (YCATT) service,
including an overview, Appreciative Inquiry 4-D Process and discussion of issues.
Focus issues will be around 'Lack of engagement of 16-24yr olds with our youth mental health
service' and table discussions will focus on 'Creative ways of overcoming this obstacle'. We have set
up this new mental health Youth service for 16-24yr olds. This multidisciplinary team offers brief 6-8
weeks intensive intervention based on bio-psycho-social model. This has been up and running for 6
months and is the only Youth mental health service in WA. It is a pilot project funded to address the
gap between children and adult mental health services for this vulnerable age group. One of the key
issues we are facing is 'lack of engagement' with this age group.
First appointed
Suicide
Prevention
Coordinators in
Western
Australia:
Review of first
12 months
Thursday 13 July
10.45am
4: Terrace foyer,
river side
Kendra Grace, Shelley O’Brien,
St John of God Health Care
Kendra has Bachelor of Health Science, majoring in
Health Promotion and a Graduate Certificate of Public
Health. She is a JP and previous roles include road safety
and AOD sectors. She is currently the Suicide Prevention
Coordinator in the South West.
Previously a registered nurse working in Prisons and
Schools, since 2008 Shelly has worked as a coordinator
and connector in previous Federal and State Suicide
Prevention initiatives. She is also a facilitator for
Livingworks and Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention training.
Kendra and Shelley share the position of Suicide
Prevention Coordinator in the South West.
The Mental Health Commission has commenced the implementation of Suicide Prevention
Coordinators across the state with the coordinators fulfilling a number of actions identified in the
Suicide Prevention 2020 Strategy. The coordinators act as a central point for communication to
assist services on the ground to work in partnership improving the support and care for those
affected by suicide and suicide attempts. The positions aim to increase local community and service
capacity to identify and respond to suicide and related mental health issues at a local level and the
promotion and coordination of suicide prevention training and activities for at risk groups and
professionals. The SP2020 Strategy refers to the phasing in of coordinators across the state; the
placement of these positions has not been done before in Western Australia. While not working
directly with the community, the coordinators seek to improve coordinated service delivery; improve
postvention responses and care for those affected by suicide and suicide attempts and coordinate
available training programs for community and service providers. There are currently a significant
number of local and regional services providing mental health and suicide prevention programs
within our communities. The coordinators will support these services in working in a more
collaborative and coordinated manner to better meet the needs of our local communities.
Getting
comfortable
with being
uncomfortable –
co producing
government
policy.
Friday 14 July
9.30am
2: Wardle Room
Louise Howe, Mental Health Commission Margaret Doherty, Mental Health Matters 2 Louise is Consumer Advisor at the MHC. She contributes a consumer perspective and supports colleagues with consumer engagement. Louise was a member of the Contributing Life Project Advisory Group, National MHC, Chair of the (WA) Peer Work Advisory Group and currently a member of the Steering Group establishing the Recovery College of WA.
Margaret is the convenor of Mental Health Matters 2, a community action and advocacy group aimed at mental health reform. Margaret's advocacy work is informed by her family's experiences in the WA mental health physical health, drug and alcohol and criminal justice systems. She is a sought-after presenter and has a thirty-year background in education and training.
In reviewing their Consumer, Family and Carer Interim Engagement Policy in 2016, the Mental Health Commission embarked upon a new process of co-production. The previous policies had been drafted with limited input from consumers, families and carers.
How does a government department support the decisions made by a Steering Committee dominated by lived experience? Deliberate planning to understand the context, scope, purpose of the review process provided an effective foundation. Early stakeholder engagement involving lengthy discussions took place before Steering Committee members made solid tangible progress in reviewing the policy. Why was this so and why did it have to be this way? The co-chaired Steering Committee decided to make reviewing the paid participation a priority. Decisions around hourly rate and minimum time were enthusiastically and robustly debated. A description of each tier including practical examples of each tier role was nutted out. Feedback on the draft policy from the wider mental health sector provided the Steering Committee with several contentious issues to discuss and agree on. The policy was endorsed in full by the MHC Corporate Executive and implemented on time. The final result is a robust leadership document that is transferrable to other organisations looking to engage and remunerate consumers, families and carers in respectful way. The ripple effect the development of this policy has had across the mental health sector in continues to surprise.
Session Presenter/s Description
Healing Out on
Country-
Standing Strong
Together in
Roebourne
Friday 14 July
9.30pm
5: Assembly
Room
Lesley Murray, Mentally Healthy WA
Lesley Murray: Based in Roebourne in the Pilbara region
of Western Australia, Lesley Murray is Mentally Healthy
WA s A o igi al P oje t Ma age . A Koo i o a f o Uralla NSW, Ms Murray has worked in Aboriginal Early
Years for over 11 years and understands the importance
of taking time to build positive relationships by listening
to Elders and the community.
Me tall Health WA s A o igi al P oje t Ma age , Lesle Mu a , ill a a out o ki g i good spi it to de elop Sta di g St o g Togethe i Roe ou e to p o ote emotional wellbeing on the
traditional land of the Ngarluma People. Modelled on Act-Belong-Commit an evidence-based best
practice model for mental health promotion in Roebourne was developed with Aboriginal people.
In collaboration with One Tree Child Community Services, the Healing out on Country project was
developed to provide opportunities for families affected by suicide, grief, and tragic loss. With an
unacceptably high number of suicides for such a small community, these family trips enable parents
to see the joy in their children again while providing agencies a chance to reach and build
relationships with families that would not normally access their services and programs. For many
families, these trips are the first time since the loss that they have spent time together laughing,
relaxing, and e jo i g ea h othe s o pa . Delegates will be asked to contribute to a collaborative
banner, a technique Lesley uses frequently with family and community groups to promote healing
through self-expression and working together. At the conclusion of the session delegates will be
asked to make a pledge to do something for their social and emotional wellbeing.
Hearing Voices
Audio
Simulation
Workshop
Friday 14 July
2.30pm
5: Assembly
Room
Jacqui Day, Corina McSwan, Julie Bairstow
Richmond Wellbeing (Hearing Voices Network WA)
Jacqui is the Coordinator for the Hearing Voices
Network of WA and works to grow the network.
Corina is a trauma survivor, peer worker and facilitator
who hears voices. Through her lived experience Corina
advocates, raises awareness & supports individuals.
Julie is a Peer Worker, facilitating HV Groups, linking in
with hospitals, services providers and carers; raising
awareness as well as overseeing the Psychiatric Hostel
project where residents engage in community activities.
The session will commence with short presentation outlining the Hearing Voices Approach and work
of the Hearing Voices Network. The audience will then be invited to take part in a number of
different hands on activities at various stations around the room. For example this may involve
placing a number of various objects into alphabetical order, following a series of instructions to
create something or answering a questionnaire. However all activities must be completed whilst
wearing a headset containing audio of various voices which are distracting, negative and derogatory
in content.
The aim of these exercises is to highlight how tasks that may appear to be quite simple and not need
an enormous amount of concentration can in fact be incredibly challenging and stressful when voices
are present. Towards the end of the session, we will make time for a brief discussion around how the
participants found the experience and will be able to answer any questions that may arise.
Homelessness
is the next
major MH
issue
Thursday 13 July
11.45am
Conversation
Café
Jonathan Shapiera,
South West Australian Homeless People (swahp)
Jonathan was a corporate IT Manager for over 20 years.
A health / family change left him financially depleted
and eventually he and his teenage son became
homeless, living in their SUV in Darwin, and Perth.
Dealing with homeless suicide issues he wrote a well
received paper to the Federal Senate Economics
Committee on Affordable Housing.
Now housed, Jonathan continues his advocacy,
predominately on the issue of homeless mental health.
Little is being done at the moment for post homeless survivors. Upwards of 80% of those who spend
several years on the street living rough, living in cars, couch surfing etc are finding a significant
problem with depression and anxiety after getting off the street. Many become unprepared to cope
back into the community and emotional depression of their misadventures haunts them post
homeless daily.
A large majority of returns to the street are happening because of the lack of support services and
the inadequate and incorrect follow up of services post homeless. Those who were homeless for
several years and remain in shelter or housing deal with severe depression and anxiety and a greater
sense of worthlessness and inability to fit back into the community because of where they have
been.
Session Presenter/s Description
Hope HQ: Co-
producing the
Recovery
College of WA,
the journey
continues…………
Thursday 13 July
1pm
4: Terrace foyer,
river side
Pam Gardner; Lyn Mahboub, Richmond Fellowship WA; Louise Howe MHC Pam is an educator and carer who is the Chair of the Recovery College Steering Group + VP of WAAMH. Pam uses her experiences visiting Recovery College overseas to strive for inclusive, mainstream, accessible recovery.
Lyn is a senior manager with Richmond Fellowship WA, drawing on her academic training in Psychology and Cultural Studies and her own lived experience.
Louise is Consumer Advisor at the MHC and was a member of the Contributing Life Project Advisory Group at the National Commission + Chair of the Peer Work Advisory Group. Louise attributes the biggest strides forward in her own recovery to mutual peer support.
A dedicated group of people have been working to establish the Recovery College of WA. Building on
last ea s p ese tatio ; Co-p odu i g a Re o e College i WA , this sessio ill sha e e e t progress. The College hopes to utterly transform lives. It is the missing link between getting well and
living a contributing life. In keeping with co-production principles, every step of establishing the
recovery college has been driven by people with a lived experience. Building on this solid foundation
and supported by Curtin University, WAAMH, and the Mental Health Commission, a steering group
has been progressing the work. This work is underpinned by the values of collaboration,
empowerment, inclusion, inspiration and grace. To progress to the next stage of developing the
educational governance, the course content for the college curriculum needs to be identified. The
steering group is seeking potential students and trainers to identify what would attract them to the
Recovery College, what would create a safe learning environment and what the potential barriers
might be. The WA Mental Health Conference will provide a unique opportunity to work directly
alongside consumers, families and carers, as well as mental health professionals, to continue to co-
produce the Recovery College of Western Australia.
I don’t have a
mental illness –
How pure
advocacy works
for these
consumers
Friday 14 July
12.45pm
5: Assembly
Room
Mike Seward, Mental Health Advocacy Service
Mike Seward is a Senior Mental Health Advocate at the
MHAS. Mike manages 15 advocates for mainly
involuntary consumers. MHAS practices pure advocacy,
advocating for what the consumer wants, empowering
individuals and assisting in their recovery journey. Prior
to MHAS, Mike was the Mental Health Review Board
Registrar and worked for both Helping Minds and
WANADA as Executive Director and for two Divisions of
General Practice as CEO.
MHAS Advocates assist over 2,000 involuntary WA consumers a year. Each one of these interactions
i ol es ad o ati g fo a d suppo ti g o su e s to get, ot hat s i thei est interests (except
fo hild e , ut hat the a t. This is alled pu e ad o a a d fo the o su e it s e powerful. A number of i olu ta o su e s do t elie e the ha e a e tal ill ess. Ad o ates employ the ROC principle when talking to consumers Rights, Options, Consequences. For those who
do t elie e the ha e a e tal ill ess, telli g the the ha e ights to a eeti g ith thei psychiatrist, to a second opinion or to request a Mental Health Tribunal hearing is quite empowering.
The session will explain how MHAS does its pure advocacy. It will quote examples of how this has
assisted o su e s ho do t elie e the ha e a e tal ill ess to e o e and invite the audience
to share stories and views.
I give, you give -
showcasing
working in the
Kimberley
Thursday 13 July
10.45am
5: Assembly
Room
Jacob Tyndall, Anglicare WA
Jacob Tyndall has spent many years working with
remote WA Aboriginal communities and is currently
employed as StandBy Coordinator West Kimberley,
Anglicare WA. He has been fortunate to sit at the feet of
very special people, ngangkari – the clever ones and is
mindful of his responsibility to transfer this acquired
knowledge to facilitate the necessary healing.
Kimberley suicide rates are much higher than elsewhere in Aust alia.. A gli a e WA s Sta dB Sui ide Response Service realises that for Aboriginal people grief is not a solo journey but spans families,
language and skin groups. We also appreciate that trust is hard earned, but paramount.
This presentation will sho ase Sta dB Ki e le s p oa ti e app oa h to espo di g to sui ides, and how the team integrates community led solutions into service delivery. Responses are developed
collaboratively with Elders and steeped in respect. Since postvention is also prevention, actively
engaging with community organisations, reinforces positive messages about obtaining support after
a suicide. Community participation in culturally inclusive activities is another important strategy.
Jointly presented by the StandBy Coordinator and an emerging local Leader, Jacob and Steven will
use film and photos to tell their shared narrative of intervening to prevent more suicides.
Session Presenter/s Description
Images of
Recovery:
Young people
tell their stories.
Thursday 13 July
2pm
3: Terrace foyer,
city side
Jennifer Griffiths, YouthLink
with multiple Youth Representatives
This presentation has multiple contributors.
All are young people aged between 13 and 24 years,
who are accessing Youth Mental Health services, and
are participants in the Youth Reference Group of YMH.
Australia's young people are diverse and come from a range of backgrounds, yet there are common
themes arising in the lives of young people who experience significant trauma and homelessness.
Youth Mental Health services such as YouthLink have a framework which supports diversity and
promotes participation of young people aged 13-24 from diverse backgrounds and with multiple
needs.
In this presentation we will outline some of the practices and environment within Youth Mental
Health Services which serve to enhance accessibility and responsiveness of youth services to young
people with complex mental health and psychosocial difficulties and barriers to accessing
mainstream mental health services. Such barriers typically include homelessness and transience,
trauma histories leading to chaotic and highly at risk lives, diverse gender and sexuality, and cultural
barriers including Aboriginal identity. The benefits of this accessible and responsive model will be
showcased with a PechaKucha presentation in which young people will describe their recovery
journey with photography images and storytelling. Their autobiographical journeys will document the
transitioning from mental health problems and homelessness towards empowerment and hope. The
images and stories will document the challenges of adversity and vulnerability and their process of
change to living life with authenticity and dignity, with the support acceptance and safety provided
by Youth Mental Health.
Improving
Mental Health
in Remote
Communities
Friday 14 July
11.45am
5: Assembly
Room
Tanya Finnie, RedHead Communications
Tanya is an expert in building relations and installing
confidence in individuals. She assists organisations to
grow their human capital and increase cultural
intelligence. Tanya has extensive lecturing and
facilitation experience, as well as conducting
professional development, implementing leadership
programs and executive coaching. She is currently doing
a Masters in cultural intelligence (CQ).
A practical Case study on changing the mindset in remote indigenous communities. The presenter
spent one year FIFO working with local communities and local Elders in the Fitzroy Crossing area with
the initial brief to create leaders and motivate communities.
Hear the stories on what worked and what didn't and why CQ (cultural intelligence) plays an
important role to create trust and rapport and ultimately create sustainable change. Get a better
understanding of our integrated lives as Government, local communities and corporates in remote
communities.
Innovative
Youth Mental
Health Service
meeting the
diverse needs of
Youth
Thursday 13 July
4pm
5: Assembly
Room
Jason Ellis, Youth Mental Health Program
Jason Ellis is a Youth Mental Health manager, with a
history of leading clinical services that make a
difference. He has previously worked in various Mental
health sector roles for both non-government and
government agencies. He played a key role in the
implementation of Youth Axis as the inaugural Team
Leader and the headspace Youth Early Psychosis
Program as the inaugural Operations Manager.
North Metropolitan Mental Health has provided services for at-risk young people with since 1993.
Through a range of clinical services, YouthLink, YouthReach South, Youth Axis, Youth HiTH a d Youth W apa ou d , p o ides a a ge of se i es such as early intervention, psychological therapy, acute
inpatient, assertive outreach, wrap around care and case management. These services work best in
collaboration with the young person, families and other service providers.
This presentation will highlight the innovative practices and service improvements in Youth Mental
Health in response to the emerging needs of youth in Western Australia. The presentation will
showcase the outcomes of a number of the se i es i ludi g the su essful Youth W apa ou d service and refer to the implementation of other key initiatives that have improved access and
service delivery to vulnerable and marginalised young people with mental health difficulties.
Session Presenter/s Description
Is it PC or not
PC? Language
and its deeper
meaning
Friday 14 July
2.30pm
4: Terrace foyer,
river side
Lyn Mahboub, Richmond Wellbeing; Kerry Hawkins, WAAMH; Helping Minds; Emerging Minds Sophie Ridley, Dr Robyn Martin; Curtin University Lyn, Clinical/Professional Fellow, Lecturer & Lived Experience Academic Curtin University, is the Valuing Lived Experience Project (VLEP) Lead. Lyn draws on her lived experience and professional expertise.
Sophie has been a part of the VLEP since 2015 and her Social Work Honours research is in lived experience participation in tertiary education. Her current PhD is on culture change and reform in mental health services.
Robyn has been working to privilege learning from lived experience since 2010. Her teaching and research interests include personal recovery, homelessness, trauma, feminist approaches and coproduction.
Kerry s extensive MH experience, is complemented by her professional career, including as a project management consultant at KPMG, a school teacher, and an advisor for the National Native Title Tribunal. Kerry is the WAAMH Chair, vice president of Helping Minds and WA director for Emerging Minds.
While cries for reform of responses to mental distress have occurred since the 1800s the current
mental health consumer / survivor movement grew out of the 1970s Civil Rights Movement. Early
activists were driven by the desire to highlight oppressive psychiatric and legal practices.
Discussion and debate continues about the nature and language of mental distress. We seek the right
to a e ou o e pe ie es, e that e tal ill ess , ps ho-spi itual isis , e iste tial isis o ad ess . Mad p ide a ti ists e lai la guage i o de to u settle a defi it ased a d de alued
experience to one which proudly embodies diverse human experiences.
This o kshop ill d a f o Cu ti U i e sit s Li ed E pe ie e Edu ato s u it a d p o ide a opportunity to actively engage with, and reflect upon, the usefulness of highlighting and unpacking
contested language. Participants will engage in a series of activities which explore and unsettle
various terms while respecting and honouring individual choice in diverse frameworks of
understanding. A key principle underpinning this workshop is the recognition that we come to use
language via a number of routes. For example, we may have been enculturated into using certain
terms as a result of our experiences being interpreted and diagnosed by others, or we may have
chosen language based on its personal usefulness. We respect the right of all people to use the
language they choose. At the same time, we seek to highlight the background as to why certain terms
ha e ee a d a e o tested a d de ated. We a gue that it is ot a out ei g PC , athe it is a out having access to information surrounding the debate, the history and the meaning of words we use,
and questioning how dominant ideas and understandings came to exist.
Laughter as
Therapy
Friday 14 July
2pm
Wellbeing Zone
Janni Goss Jani.Goss.com
Janni is a speaker, wellbeing educator and author. A
former lecturer at the School of Physiotherapy at Curtin
University, her professional interests include child
health, o e s health, e tal health, A o igi al emotional wellbeing and Laughter Therapy.
With her own lived experience, Janni has worked on
outsmarting stress and improving wellbeing. Inspired
by Dr Patch Adams, Janni trained with Dr. Madan
Kataria (Laughter Yoga Intl) and is an accredited
Laughter Yoga Leader, Teacher and Ambassador.
We need to take responsibility for our own wellbeing throughout life, based on self-awareness, self-
respect and even just self-preservation! Our body is an amazing organism which deserves our best
care. However, when stressed, the healing and regenerative systems cannot work competently.
In this interactive workshop, learn the difference between red brain and green brain and how to use
mindfulness and neuroplasticity to strengthen the positive pathways in your brain. Healthy lifestyle
choices are crucial for our body, mind and spirit. Laughter is one of the most accessible, cost-
effective remedies to reduce stress, boost immunity and contribute to health. Research shows that
Laughter reduces the stress hormone, cortisol and provides a DOSE of hormones with positive effects
and enhances relationships and improves productivity in the workplace. The effects of Laughter Yoga
for PTSD will be discussed. We will explore the Laughter Prescription, so prepare to fully participate
in the benefits of Laughter Yoga! Is Laughter the Best Medicine? Try a dose and find out!
Session Presenter/s Description
Lived
Experience In
Education: Our
"A-ha!"
Moment
Thursday 13 July
1pm
Conversation
Café
Patricia Tan, Valuing Lived Experience Project
The presentation is delivered by students who
completed the Lived Experience Educator unit from the
pioneering VLEP project, at Curtin University.
The group consists of individuals with lived experience
who come from a variety of backgrounds within the
mental health sector.
Through the emerging practice of utilising lived experience in education, a group of graduates from
the Project share about their experience of undertaking education through a lived experience lens.
Empowering the personal lives of students, the group reflects on the unit, which stretched their self-
concept and understanding of of recovery. Redefining mental distress and rebuilding the concept of
recovery within various frameworks, the group has learned to truly value their lived experience and
operate from their true selves.
The group share in an open panel about their lived experience and the various perspectives they
learned. The group provides an open and honest dialogue within a safe sharing space as they
encourage audience involvement and invite others to share their lived experience within the theme
of education. The session is interactive and allows consumers and professionals alike to ask questions
they might have about the process of learning for a consumer and how to acknowledge and utilise
the voice of lived experience within formal settings.
Low Threshold
and Change –
Responding to
the mental
health
challenges of
chronic rough
sleeping in
Perth
Friday 14 July
2pm
3: Terrace foyer,
city side
Niall Rhatigan, Trevor Norton, Kevin Bright
St Vincent de Paul Society WA
Niall Rhatigan is the State Manager for Practice
Development at the St Vincent de Paul Society of WA.
Trevor Norton is a Clinical Nurse Specialist for the
Mobile Clinical Outreach Team and a Nurse Practitioner
in Mental Health.
Kevin Bright is a Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Mobile
Clinical Outreach Team.
This presentation outlines the benefits of a relationship based approach to grass roots service
delivery. TFH and MCOT will talk about the development of the relationship between the services,
any stumbling blocks and how it works now.
Tom Fisher House is a twelve bed service offering seven nights of safe sleep. The service philosophy is
built around a Low Threshold and Change (DePaul International) approach to reduce the barriers in
accessing a safe place to sleep. For many service users this allowed them the space to take on some
of the challenges they face each day. By connecting with service users of TFH after two or three
nights of safe sleep, MCOT are able to formulate a plan of support with the person. The MCOT Team
is part of the Street to Home program and is the only service in Perth which provides treatment solely
with rough sleepers with severe and persistent mental illnesses. Members have therefore developed
a high level of expertise in the area of clinical care for this population. Although closely tied to the
public mental health system, clinicians are able to work flexibly to provide appropriate individual
treatment to its clients and provide support to the NGOs in the area.
Making the
lived experience
meaningful
within MHS –
The Peer
Workforce
Thursday 13 July
11.15am
2: Wardle Room
Patricia Tran, Hayley Solich
North Metropolitan Health Service - Mental Health
Hayley is Peer Work Coordinator + Consumer
Consultant, NMHS with her own lived experience, along
with being an author, and speaker. A member of the
National Register for MH Australia, Carers WA, WAAMH
and CoMWHA, Hayley is a Trustee for the Mazzella Trust
and Founder of Women Can International Inc.
Patricia is a Peer Wk Coordinator with lived experience.
She believes hope is the most important tool worker
has and has worked in various health roles including
tertiary, community, and aged care. Trish is also
completing her Cert IV in Mental Health (Peer Support).
This session will provide a lively overview of the Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce and provide
practical information for those considering implementing a peer workforce within their own
organisation. This will include a brief history of the workforce, the operational structures currently in
place, and the avenues the NMHS MH - Adult Program has undertaken to successfully embed these
roles within service delivery in the inpatient and community mental health services.
Presenters will reflect on the positive experiences and the benefits, the challenges and how they
have been overcome, as well as her thoughts on the broader workforce developments and vision for
the lived experience workforce in the future.
Session Presenter/s Description
Marriage and
mental health.
Friday 14 July
9.30am
Conversation
Café
Dave Crispin, Valere Coaching Perth
Dave Crispin is an international coach and relationship
educator working globally both online and from his
offices in Perth and Hong Kong. A certified Psycho
education facilitator, therapist and relationship coach,
Dave is also a speaker and ambassador for Beyond Blue.
The pressures on a marriage when one or both partners are experiencing a mental health problem
are well documented, If left unchecked the situation can quite easily escalate leading to divorce,
separation or domestic disputes. How do you recognise that the relationship is becoming fractured?
Would you know what to do if the signs were evident? Understanding that a relationship breakdown
will further fuel the mental health problems, learn what to look for but also what steps to put in
place to offer help and support. The presenter has worked in the areas of both mental health and
relationship education across a diverse range of cultures both here and overseas.
Measuring
physical health
outcomes in
mental health
Thursday 13 July
4pm
2: Wardle Room
Adrian Munro, Richmond Wellbeing
Adrian has worked in a range of Human Service sectors,
including Hospitals, Private Practice and Community
Health Care in Aged, Disability and Mental Health.
Initially this was as a Physiotherapist, before moving
into managerial positions and urrently works as the
Executvie Manager of Operations at RW. He has sat on
the Sunshine Coast Mental Health Executive Council,
the Board of the Community Housing Coalition of WA
and the. Adrian currently sits on the National NDIS
Transition Reference group and the WA NDIS Advisory
Council. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of
Company Directors and has completed a Post graduate
Diploma in Health Service Administration. Adrian is very
passionate about social justice and supporting the most
marginalised and disadvantaged people in the
community.
RW has embarked on implementing a comprehensive physical health and wellbeing framework
across its services. This increases its focus on providing holistic services to consumers, in partnership
with a broad range of service partners. This will include GP's, Allied Health, preventative health,
condition disease self management and significant consumer health and wellbeing education.
Implementing these services is imperative to ensure better health outcomes for individuals, but in
order to affect cultural change an subsequently redirect funding, we must measure and analyze our
outcomes and report on these.
RW will be utilizing a range of validated and reliable assessment approaches to measure the impact
of this new framework and these will be discussed in the presentation. Some are profession specific,
such as increased mobility or cardiovascular endurance in Exercise Physiology, and some are broader
in nature, such as providing better coordinated services with greater service coverage. All of these
outcome measures work together to provide a complete picture of the physical health and wellbeing
improvements of consumers and validate the approach in evidence. Only through providing
evidence can we engage other sectors and professions in mental health and affect true and lasting
culture change in our services and redirect funding across health services.
Mental Health
& Post
Homelessness
Friday 14 July
2pm
Conversation
Café
Trevor Norton, MCOT
Trevor is Clinical Nurse Specialist with the Mobile
Clinical Outreach Team and Nurse Practitioner with
North Metropolitan TAFE.
When people talk about homelessness, phrases su h as e tal health , d ug use , fa il iole e , t au a , po e t et . a e o o . While these issues a e eal, the la els e o e
meaningless when working with them to escape their periods of sleeping rough on the streets.
This presentation will e a i e the o ept of e tal health issues i the p ese tatio s of homeless people. In order to assist an individual with their recovery, we need to first determine what
the illness is then design appropriate individualised treatment to aid their recovery. There is now
published research from Australia as well as data collected in Perth and Fremantle, around the
mental health of people who are sleeping rough. This data will be presented and questions from the
audience will work to further enlighten the experience of these people. The presentation will discuss
the most prevalent of mental illnesses experienced by people who are sleeping rough in Perth and
Fremantle areas. The experiences of two individuals will be presented. These will support the idea
of the necessity of a correct diagnosis being made prior to the appropriate provision of care. The
reality of past trauma in the lives of these individuals underlies much of their disconnectedness.
Session Presenter/s Description
Mental Health
Complaints in
Western
Australia
Thursday 13 July
11.45am
5: Assembly
Room
Sarah Cowie, HaDSCO
Sarah has worked in the complaint handling profession
for over 15 years. Before her role as HaDSCO Director
she was Assistant Director at the Ombudsman WA.
Sarah recognises the inherent value derived from
effective complaints resolution and the opportunities it
brings. Given that for any single complaint,
recommendations can be made that provide far
reaching benefits for others who access similar services
in the future.
HaDSCO provides a complaints resolution service for complaints about mental health services in WA.
We also manage health and disability complaints too.
The session will provide an opportunity to raise awareness of our Office and ensure delegates are
aware of the services we provide.
Through the sharing of de-identified complaints information received by our Office, we will provide
an overview of the top issues, demographics of complainants and resolutions achieved. Case study
examples will be used to showcase the type of complaints received by our Office, and the outcomes
we achieve for the individual as well as wider service improvements.
Mental Health
Co-Response
Trial - WA Police
and Mental
Health
Practitioners
working in
partnership on
the frontline.
Thursday 13 July
3pm
4: Terrace foyer,
river side
Stuart Mearns, WA Police
Nikki Rajakaruna, ECU
Stuart Mearns is an Inspector with the Western
Australia Police and the Project Manager for the Mental
Health Co-Response Trial. He is responsible for the
delievery and management of the trial. Stuart has over
20 years policing experiencing in both metropolitan
Perth and Regioanl WA.
Nikki Rajakaruna is a researcher in the Sellenger Centre
for Research in Law, Justice and Social Change at Edith
Co a U i e sit . Nikki s p i a fo us in the Centre is
policing research.
WA Police Mental Health Co-Response Trial is a partnership between WA Police, WA Mental Health
Commission and WA Department of Health in response to calls to WA Police for assistance.
Evaluation by Edith Cowan University.
• Histo of poli i g a d e tal health. Wo ld ide p a ti es poli e i espo di g e tal health incidents.
• Cu e t u e s a d t pe of mental health tasks that WA Police respond to.
• D i e s fo ha ge D i e s fo ha ge a d i flue i g fa to s fo ha i g the Co-Response Trial
• T ial Ai s Suppo t de isio aki g, e ha ed a ess to e tal health assess e t, i p o ed collaboration, reduce risk of injury, early diversion and reduced recidivism.
• E pla atio of ea h ope atio al ele e t of the t ial • E aluatio p o ess to dete i e effe t of poli e a age e t of e ou te s • Results o ths of t ial esults. Both ualitati e a d quantitative.
• Futu e di e tio of the Me tal Health Co-Response Trial.
Mental Health:
The Lived
Experience
Friday 14 July
12.15pm
4: Terrace foyer,
river side
Chris Jeffery, Emeritus Professor Bob Ziegler, Jeanette Ward, Glenda and Bronte Parkin, COTA WA Bob has held positions in both medicine and education. He has worked at universities in USA and WA as a visiting Professor. He was also a Science consultant with UNESCO and with an Aid program in Pakistan.
James Ward passed away in 2015 after living for nearly ea s ith Pa ki so s Disease a d the de e tia.
His daughter Jennette became his primary carer and advocate. After taking a career break in 2016, Jennette is now working for COTA WA.
Glenda Parkin was diagnosed with dementia 7 years ago. She and husband-carer Bronte are Dementia
Advocates fo Alzhei e s Aust alia AA . Gle da is a former teacher, lecturer and school principal; and Bronte was a senior education official.
COTA would like to present a 60 Minute World Café based on the lived experience of 3 case studies
as follows:
• A pe so li i g ith a pa t e ho is e pe ie i g Alzhei e s. Both the a e the hus a d a d the person would participate
• A pe so ho is e a ti e a d elde l a d ho has so e i sights i to staving off mental health
issues such as depression and social isolation
• A pe so ho is p o e to dep essio a d hose pa t e is o i a eside tial fa ilit e ause of mental illness and how her life has been disrupted by these circumstances.
The over-arching question would be: how can these people be best supported by society as a whole
and health professionals in particular?
Session Presenter/s Description
My Treatment,
My Directive
Thursday 13 July
1pm
1: Auditorium
Hannah Harbinson WAAMH
Since completing her postgraduate degree in
Psychology, Hannah has enjoyed working as a Consumer
Mental Health Advocate for the Victorian Mental Illness
Awareness Council (VMIAC), the Independent Mental
Health Advocacy service (IMHA) and representing the
views of female consumers as a board member at the
Wo e s Me tal Health Net o k Vi to ia.
In WA, Hannah has worked as a Mental Health Team
Facilitator and Peer Worker at AVIVO, ICLS Peer
Coordinator at CoMHWA. At WAAMH she coordinated
Increasing Member Participation: Advocacy and Co-
Design Training and Towards Elimination of Restrictive
Practice 11th National Forum.
She is autho of De og aphi isk fa to s fo al ohol-elated agg essio i a d a ou d li e sed e ues a d
consumer author of a state- ide pu li atio Guide to Adva e State e ts . She is p oud e e of the consumer movement.
If a person is required to have compulsory mental health treatment, an Advance Directive is a way to
record their treatment preferences, opinions and wishes in a way that all key stakeholders can access
and understand. Drawing on her experience on the MH Advance Statement Project Workforce Focus
Group and Consumer Guide to the use of Advance Statements for VMIAC, Hannah presents this
workshop, offering WA participants the benefits of the Victorian experience.
This interactive workshop explores the use of Advance Directives in clinical mental health settings as
a medium for the consumer voice. Advance Directives help to embed supported decision making, as a
recovery orientated practice by assisting people to participate and in decisions about their treatment,
care and recovery. It is a safeguard for the consumer voice and helps to embed co-design practices
into everyday clinical treatments. Modelling International and National best practice, this workshop
will explore the three complementary aspects of Advance Directives. These being, promotion of
consumer autonomy, co-designed therapeutic alliances and integration of holistic care. Currently,
Advance Directives in Western Australian psychiatric settings are an underutilised practice and this
workshop aims introduce it as an emerging practice. Participants will be asked to help create a living
document that showcases the benefits of an Advance Directive by sharing personal stories and
experiences where such a document would have helped in their treatment and recovery. While
providing information and education, templates, tips and tricks, this 60 minute workshop will include
the voice of lived experience in WA.
No integrity. No
respect.
Rethinking
organisational
values at
Lifeline WA
Thursday 13 July
10.45am
Conversation
Café
Leighton Jay, Sotica
Lorna MacGregor, Lifeline WA
Leighton is Principal of Sotica, a management
consultancy working with human services organisations.
Lorna is CEO of Lifeline who has held senior roles in
both organisations including HBF, Healthdirect
Australia, Activ and Perth North Medicare Local. Lorna
has an MBA specialising in strategic marketing and
strategic planning has held many voluntary roles related
to her commitment to working for social benefit.
This session explores a values creation process that enhances the health and wellbeing of
organisations.
Of Gods and
Madness -
Recovering the
Dignity or our
Souls
Friday 14 July
9.30am
3: Terrace foyer,
city side
David Kernohan, Mental Health Law Centre
David is CEO of MHLC but used to be a Minister of
Religion. He trained as a Mental Health Nurse at
Graylands Hospital and held senior management
positions in the Community Services Secto. For 20 years
he worked with men who were homeless and had
complex needs. In the last 5 years he has been working
in the Community Legal Sector.
Recovery is about rediscovering meaning and purpose in life, and a positive sense of self. To achieve
this, recognition must be given to the journey of our souls to re-create a sense of hope and trust.
This session will look at the - links between mental illness and spiritual experience; - importance of
chaos for the growth of the soul; - soul's journey towards dignity; and - lessons the soul teaches us in
our journey towards re-discovering a sense of self. While the session will draw upon religious
traditions for examples of psychological process involved in the soul's journey it will not take a
particular religious or theological view or perspective.
Session Presenter/s Description
Overcoming Barriers to Inclusion for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people in Rural & Remote Primary Mental Health Care
Session cancelled
Partners in Care
- This is our
experience
Thursday 13 July
10.45am
3: Terrace foyer,
city side
Debbie Childs, Helping Minds
Patrick Hardwick, Mental Health Carers Australia +
Helping Minds
Debbie is CEO of HelpingMinds and leads a team of 80
to deliver quality support services. With lived
experience as a Carer, Debbie is a passionate advocate
and has been a member of the steering committee
de elopi g the atio al guide: A P a ti al Guide fo o ki g ith Ca e s of People ith a Me tal Ill ess .
Patrick is a carer, passionate about enhancing services
for carers / families and advocating their rights. Patrick
is Deputy Chair of the Private Mental Health Consumer
Carer Network - Australia. He is a Director of Mental
Health Australia, Vice-President of Mental Health Carers
Australia and President of HelpingMinds.
The discharge from hospital following an admission for mental illness has long been a cause for
concern to consumers and also their families and carers. Ensuring the right supports are in place prior
to discharge is essential for better outcomes. However, this does not always happen. Utilising " A
Practical Guide for Working with Carers of People with a Mental Illness" we will identify ways to
engage consumers, families and carers in discharge planning following a hospital admission. This will
be an interactive session where everyone has an opportunity to discuss their lived experience. We
will then look at ways to improve these experiences to assist the whole of family recovery
journey. In the guide, Partnership Standard 1 identifies the essential role that carers and families
can play in assisting clinicians and the consumer when they are involved from the outset. They have
known the consumer prior to them becoming unwell and can provide valuable insight for support
services. This session will allow consumers, carers, families and clinicians to identify for themselves
better ways of engaging and working together for improved outcomes utilising the triangle of care
model. This session will allow clinicians a better understanding of practical steps they can take to
ensure (in their practice) they engage families and carers effectively. For Families and Carers this will
also be an awareness raising session allowing them to understand their rights as carers.
Personal
Recovery - The
missing link:
The social
determinants of
mental distress,
individualization
+ social justice
Thursday 13 July
11.15am
5: Assembly
Room
Lyn Mahboub, Richmond Wellbeing
Lyn is a senior manager with Richmond Fellowship WA,
drawing on her academic training in Psychology and
Cultural Studies and her own lived experience.
Whilst national policy and frameworks guide mental health reform toward Personal Recovery
frameworks, there remains a danger of narrowing the lens to an individualistic focus only. A narrow
fo us o l o the depa t e t of the i te io a i ad e te tl e de the so ial o ld that the person is living in, invisible. For example, a person experiencing poverty, unemployment and or
domestic violence and so forth could fi d the sel es i ited to just do so e CBT , a d possi l e e la ed if the a e ot e gagi g ith t eat e t, if the fi d thei life p o le s too o e hel i g.
We argue that the increasing focus on the individual (effectively individualising social problems) lets
politicians and funders off the hook for addressing social issues. This paper, seeks to explore the
critique of dominant recovery and resilience discourses which are based on medicalized and
neoliberal notions of individual responsibility and unpack some of the implicit assumptions that lie
within them. Following, Harper and Speed (2012), we seek to spotlight the impact of intersectional
and structural inequality and injustice on emotional and psychological distress.
Session Presenter/s Description
Relational
Recovery:
Moving beyond
individualism in
the recovery
approach
Friday 14 July
11.45am
1: Auditorium
Bradley Morgan, Emerging Minds and COPMI initiative
Angela Obradovic, COPMI national initiative
Brad is Director at Emerging Minds and the Children of
Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI) national
initiative. Bradley has the privilege of in-depth working
partnerships with families, government and the sector.
professional bodies.
Angela has worked in clinical adult mental health as a
mental health social worker for 23 years, and has been
involved with the COPMI initiative since 2002. As Chief
Social Worker for an Area Mental Health Service in
Victoria, Angela has led implementation of the Family
Consultation and Multiple Family Group Models, Parent
and Child Pee Suppo t P og a s a d the Let s Talk about Children intervention. Her recent research has
included evaluation of cross-sectoral approaches to the
care of families where a parent has a mental illness.
The recovery approach has influenced mental health policy and practice locally and internationally.
The recovery approach centres on personal recovery, which aims at living a meaningful, hopeful, and
contributing life, even within on-going limitations caused by mental health problems. While the
recovery approach currently enjoys enormous support, it is not without its critics. The most
persistent criticisms have focused on the individualistic worldview underpinning most
conceptualisations of recovery.
A number of commentators have argued that the recovery approach pays insufficient attention to
the social, cultural and structural processes that enable wellbeing, and have called for more
relationally-oriented conceptualisations of recovery. For many people living with mental ill-health,
the family is the most important relational context. Estimates have indicated that over 50% of people
with severe mental ill-health have daily contact with family member/s, and roughly 20% live with
dependent children. It is rarely possible to separate their personal recovery journey from their roles
and relationships within the family. This panel discussion will discuss the theory, practice, policy and
lived-experience perspectives on relational recovery. The panel will also encourage participants to
start a dialogue in their own personal, peer, professional and organisational networks about how we
can place families and relationships at the heart of mental health recovery.
Research as
Intervention -
Looking
Forward,
Moving Forward
Friday 14 July
2.30pm
3: Terrace foyer,
city side
Michael Wright, Curtin University
Michael is a Yuat Nyoongar man. He has worked as a
hospital-based social worker and as a mental health
service manager. His 2010 PhD investigated issues of
access to Mental Health services by Aboriginal. The
Looking Forward Project (2011-2015) expands on his
PhD.
Michael holds a Fellowship position at Curtin University.
He is also a member of the Mental Health Advisory
Council to the WA Mental Health Commission and a
committee member of the Lowitja Institute's workforce
program. Dr Wright works in partnership with
Nyoongar families, mental health and AOD service
providers, the MHC, Curtin University and the Telethon
Kids Institute. Michael is a member of the Mental
Health Advisory Council (MHAC).
The emergence of Aboriginal researchers into the public health research sector presents a challenge
to what have traditionally been Western-based research approaches and practices. Among these
challenges are those owed to the distinctive and different ways of knowing or worldviews that
regularly characterise members of these distinctive cultural groups.
Globally, there are many distinct Indigenous approaches, however this panel discussion will focus on
Australian Indigenous worldviews and the ways that these have been shaped by Colonial practices,
systemically and structurally. By exploring the concept of Indigenous worldviews, and how power
imbalances occur between these and more mainstream alternatives, attention will be directed to
how such imbalances continue to present major challenges for public health practitioners and
researchers.
Research is a form of intervention. Research as intervention needs to be transformational by both
e gagi g a d e po e i g the sile ed oi es.
Session Presenter/s Description
Share Your Act-
Belong-Commit
Story: Mental
Health
Promotion in
Schools
Friday 14 July
9.30am
Wellbeing Zone
Phoebe Joyce, Mentally Healthy WA
Phoe e Jo e is Me tall Health WA s Health Promotion Coordinator (Schools). She has a degree in
Exercise and Health Science from the University of
Western Australia and is working towards her Masters
in Psychology at Curtin University. Phoebe enjoys
playing netball and is currently volunteering for Special
Olympics Basketball in WA.
The evidence-based Act-Belong-Commit campaign shows that progress in mental health outcomes
can be made by promoting behaviours that build and maintain good mental health. Adapting the
campaign for school settings, the Mentally Healthy Schools Program has been rolled out across WA.
The success of this best practice model for school mental health promotion is evident in its popularity
with the number of partner schools signing up well exceeding expectations. As an introduction to
Act-Belong-Commit and the Mentally Healthy Schools Program, Coordinator Phoebe Joyce, will enlist
delegates to participate in a mentally healthy activity while completing the Mood Diary Activity to
demonstrate, with real-life e a ples, the p og a s i pa t o stude ts a d staff, i ludi g those with lived experience.
As stated by one student, If ou get i ol ed, ou do t feel alo e. M sta t to high s hool ha ged f o a s a ti id tiptoe to feeli g like I as pa t of s hool life, ha i g fu a d getti g fit. Tea he s ha e also oti ed a ha ge i s hool ultu e a ou d e tal health, Wo king in a school that
promotes and accepts issues that may arise with mental health allows me to feel comfortable talking
a out e tal health issues. Th ough ge e al a paig e aluatio , A t-Belong-Commit is known to
make people more open to talk about mental health problems. This is also true in the school setting,
hile aki g it easie to ide tif stude ts at isk of e tal health p o le s, i.e., It s al ead sta ti g to identify students at risk. By having this campaign in our school, we promote discussion around
mental health issues, students become more willing to open up and change or support the
out o es. Delegates a e also e ou aged to pa ti ipate i a Sha e You Sto o petitio to demonstrate how activities like this enable students to actively engage with the campaign messages.
Sing for Mental
Health
Thursday 13 July
1pm
Wellbeing Zone
Bernard Carney
with the Spirit of the Streets choir
Songwriter, choir leader, rock and roller, Bernard has
won many music accolades. He is Patron of Fairbridge
Festival and past Artist of the Year at the Port Fairy Folk
Festival. He ran Working Voices Choir for 18 years and
is now Musical Director of the Spirit of the Streets Choir
and the St John of God Community Choir.
SOS Choir turned 10 this year and have won awards and
performed at events throughout WA. SOS supports its
members and some consider it to be their real family.
The workshop session is structured as an open choir rehearsal with the Spirit of the Streets Choir
together with delegates. We share physical and vocal warm ups to begin with and Musical Director,
Bernard Carney, will lead the group in some simple fun rounds which make instant glorious harmony.
Choir members will speak briefly of their particular mental illnesses and how social singing and
belonging to the Choir has helped as part of their recovery.
Bernard will then teach his Sing for Health theme song, "Pass the Song Along". With the supplied
lyrics we will sing the song, add some movement and be available, if at all possible, to perform to the
other delegates. There will be a brief overview of some of the latest research on the effects of
singing on mental health and wellbeing woven into the session.
Session Presenter/s Description
Strength
Through
Understanding:
Strategies for
Resilience in
Ambiguous Loss
Thursday 13 July
4pm
4: Terrace foyer,
river side
Dr Kanthi Perera, Dr Ann McGuire
Dr Kanthi Perera is a social worker who was awarded a
Winston Churchill Fellowship to investigate overseas
programs for people traumatised by ambiguous loss.
She has won numerous awards for excellence.
Dr Ann McGuire is an award winning university teacher
who has worked for thirty years in the field storytelling.
Her own lived experience as a long time carer for an
elderly family member with dementia-related psychosis
led to her current research into how storytelling and
meaning-making can develop resilience in those
experiencing ambiguous loss.
Ambiguous loss is experienced where there is uncertainty or lack of closure in a stressful situation.
This concept is very relevant in episodes of mental ill health. However it had not been applied in this
field until Kanthi, did her UWA doctoral project. She found that episodes of mental distress produced
a sense of ambiguous loss, both consumers and carers. Uncertainty about diagnosis, treatment and
prognosis make the situation uncertain. The stigma that might be experienced from others in the
community, makes it difficult to find clarity, validation and meaning, and to move forward with hope
in recovery. The evidence provided by the research suggested that a range of pathways to resilience
could be developed by identifying and working through the loss. The Sharing Hope: Strategies for
Managing Ambiguous Loss o k ook, presents an explanation of this kind of loss and offers
practical activities aimed at building resilience. This workshop will present a concise and clear
explanation of the concept and its relevance to consumers and carers. The session will focus on
encouraging participants to work through one or more of the exercises from the workbook.
Support
Providers
shouldn’t do it all
Friday 14 July
2.30pm
2: Wardle Room
Kate Fulton, Avivo
Nick Maisey, Befriend Inc.
Kate is a General Manager at Avivo responsible for
supporting People and Culture. Kate is recognised
internationally for her work in developing self directed
support. Kate advises the NDIS and has supported other
successful social initiatives such Help and Connect - the
planning café in the UK, Pass it On Parents and
Community Brokerage.
Nick Maisey, Founder and Director of Befriend Inc.
Nick started Befriend in 2009 with a sausage sizzle in
the park and a vision to create a society where
everyone feels included and belongs, regardless of who
they are. Six years later, Befriend has grown into a
community of more than 4,200 people with greater
connection in Perth.
Avivo have supported people who require psychosocial support for many years. People and families
tell us repeatedly that a significant element of their recovery includes reconnecting and building
friendships and relationships and having a sense of belonging. Although Support Providers go some
a to assist people to do this, e k o that it s a a ea that eeds sig ifi a t de elop e t.
From 2013 Avivo supported the development of Befriend Inc, whose mission is to develop social
networking across WA. Befriend has grown rapidly with over 4,500 members who are developing
social lives and connecting with others and was a 2016 WA Community Service Awards Finalist.
In 2015 Avivo and Befriend were keen to assist people who have been extremely socially isolated, to
connect to Befriend. Befriend developed the Starter Kit and Sweet Skills – approaches for those
needing support to connect with others. We will share the outcomes and impact it had on people s lives. In a developing NDIS this journey of partnership is really important to share. We need to think
carefully about the right kind of supports available for people to purchase that offer meaningful
connections in community. The developing market place needs acknowledge this kind of innovation
and collaboration if people are to have the right kind of support to live life.
Session Presenter/s Description
The art of
learning from
lived experience
Thursday 13 July
1pm
2: Wardle Room
Robyn Martin, Carrie Smith, Georgia Mangano
Curtin University
Ca ie s passio s i lude hild e , dolphi s, si gi g, praying and believing in recovery. Seeking help for her
childhood trauma, she learnt to avoid MH services as
the o t i uted to he t au a. Ca ie s dete i atio to source kind, safe suppo t fo he so s e o e f o mental distress led her to decide to become part of the
change she has personally longed to experience.
Georgia Mangano is a Social Work graduate who
supports students with complex needs at Warnbro
Education Support Centre as well as working alongside
offenders with disabilities through Outcare.
Robyn Martin is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at
Curtin and has been working to privilege learning from
lived experience since 2010.
This workshop will introduce participants to learning from lived experience in trauma, mental distress
and personal recovery and is based on an activity undertaken with social work students at Curtin
University in 2016. In planning the tutorial, the lived experience expert, who is studying art therapy,
suggested the presentation go beyond storytelling and proposed that art activities alongside
sto telli g ould p odu e ea i gful lea i g. Stude ts epo ted that the o kshops e e o e of the est thi gs the had e pe ie ed i thei four year course. Importantly, the activity created the
conditions for many students who were reticent about the topic of trauma to open up to lived
experience and their own vulnerabilities. This will be a hands on 60 minute experiential workshop
which will provide an overview of the processes involved in developing the tutorials along with
reflection on the richness of the developing relationship between the LEE and SWA. The LEE, the new
graduate and the SWA will each discuss their experiences and how it impacted on their
understanding of, and orientation towards, trauma and lived experience. This is a hands on workshop
where participants will undertake an art based activity similar to that completed by social work
students and which privileges learning from lived experience.
The Difficulties
In Defining And
Funding
Recovery Within
Services
Thursday 13 July
10.45am
2: Wardle Room
Claire Green, Elucidate
Claire has case managed complex caseloads within a
variety of settings. She currently has her own consulting
business relating to improving outcomes within mental
health service delivery by equipping and training staff.
Claire has spoken at several conferences and is
passionate about sustaining our workforce into the
future by providing positive strategies and shares an
insightful perspective of stress and trauma at the
service delivery level.
Recovery oriented frameworks and models have been implemented as emerging practices across
services to help staff and consumers set, track and measure the pe so s e o e , ho e e , is the e a side to recovery that services are failing to see? Are services so concerned about funding that
recovery has been another tool to manipulate funding a sustainable program? Is it enough to say that
we know recovery and practice it? What measures are we really aligning to as we manage this so-
called recovery?
These are all important questions that this presentation raises as the presenter delves into what staff
and consumers think of recovery and the apparent structuring of it within service delivery models.
The presenter then opens up the discussion to include comments from the audience as we critique
recovery together and what it will look like in Western Australian services in the coming years.
The Future is
Peer:
Embedding
Mental Health
Peer Work in
Organisations
Friday 14 July
12.15pm
5: Assembly
Room
Rhianwen Beresford
CoMHWA, WA Peer Supporters Network
Rhianwen has 9 years experience in mental health peer
support work and peer work roles and 5 years
experience in supervision and coordination of the peer
workforce and peer-led projects.
She has an Honours Degree in Gender & Cultural
Studies and a Graduate Diploma in Management.
Delivered from peer worker perspectives, this workshop supports workers and employers towards
shared understanding of peer workforce development needs. It explores options, employer
obligations and strategies for managing peer workforce teams. Focusing on options for both peer
workers (managing up) and line managers (managing down), this workshop focuses on key factors
identified by peer workers as important to retention, performance and satisfaction:
• Re uiti g the ight pe so ith safe e uit e t p a ti e • Suppo ti g ete tio a d pe fo a e, in and beyond the p o atio pe iod • Supe isio a a ge e ts fo ell ei g, p ofessio al development and team effectiveness
The workshop includes opportunities for discussion of peer work development experiences, to equip
participants with a stronger mutual understanding of organisational and peer worker needs.
Session Presenter/s Description
The Power of
Recovery
Storytelling
Friday 14 July
2.30pm
Conversation
Café
Alicia Beckingsale, Rhianwen Beresford CoMHWA
Alicia is Education & Training Coordinator, and has a
background in music, poetry, peer education, lived
experience presenting, and a Master of Science in
Applied Psychology.
Rhianwen Beresford, Policy & Development
Coordinator, CoMHWA. Rhianwen has experience in
consumer-led program coordination, lived experience
advocacy and peer support, with an Honours Degree in
Gender & Cultural Studies.
This interactive workshop will connect audience members with the power of recovery storytelling,
blending audience insights with the insights of recovery speakers from CoMHWA's Speaker's Bureau.
Participants will explore connections between the role of storytelling in facilitating recovery, the role
listeners can play in supporting recovery stories, and opportunities to tell recovery stories safely and
effectively. Audience members will be invited to explore elements that support recovery in the
storytelling, and will have the opportunity to put recovery-oriented listening and story crafting skills
into practice. The workshop will facilitate: Increased understanding of the contributions that
storytelling can make to personal recovery, based on direct story sharing experience; Increased
understanding of how listeners can support individuals sharing stories, in ways that enhance
recovery; and Personal insights and clarity on the relevance of storytelling to personal recovery
The Practice of
Compassion
Thursday 13 July
11.15am
Wellbeing Zone
Luke Be, Creative Expressionismsismmms
Luke Be is one of the founders, and current head misfit,
at Creative Expressionismsismmms - A not for profit
organization that provides a creative approach to health
and wellbeing. Through his work, Luke uses his colourful
life experiences to provide support and services for
different corporate, community and social groups.
People are designed to feel empathy It helps us to develop new skills, connect with others and work
together to achieve meaningful outcomes. As such, it plays an important role in the therapeutic
process. Not only in creating positive relationships, but as a way to support ourselves, and each
other, through times of difficulty. In this informative session, we will discuss the value of empathy
and the different processes that allow the sharing of experiences between people. Then, through a
series of light and fun social exercises, we will explore practical techniques that use these processes
and experience the many benefits they may bring to our lives and practices.
The Right to
Work! Mental
Health Recovery
through
Employment
Friday 14 July
2pm
2: Wardle Room
Philleen Dickson, WAAMH Philleen is passionate about recovery orientated practice and bringing evidence-based supported employment to life. Having worked in the mental health sector as a consultant, advocate and trainer in NZ before dedicating her main area of expertise to implementing IPS in WA and across Australia.
Philleen has been a high performing IPS employment specialist having formally trained at Massey University as a social policy graduate. She is one of just a few IPS professionals in Australia having trained under the auspices of the Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Centre.
Recent decades have seen significant change in workplace equality. However, people with experience
of severe and enduring mental ill-health continue to be amongst the most disadvantaged. They face
multiple barriers to finding and keeping jobs. The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model of
evidence-based supported employment follows eight core practice principles. Substantial
international research consistently demonstrates the efficacy of the IPS model in achieving far
superior employment outcomes compared to traditional vocational programs. Employment rates as
high as 54% have been documented internationally. The WA Association for Mental Health made IPS
implementation a priority in 2011, establishing the first IPS Development Unit in Australia.
The presenter will share key learnings, successes and challenges of implementing an internationally
recognised evidence-based model of practice in WA and the subsequent roll-out of IPS technical
assistance to programs across Australia.
Session Presenter/s Description
The START
court.
Therapeutic
justice and
consumer focus.
Thursday 13 July
1pm
3: Terrace foyer,
city side
Drew Vagg, Mark Edmunds, Dr Adam Brett,
START Court
Drew is peer worker for Start court, peer group
facilitator, consumer consultant for Palmerston Assoc.
Mark is Clinical manager of the Start court, extensive
experience in mental health nursing across WA.
Adam is Consultant psychiatrist at the Start court, also
works for the Autism Association, South West Mental
Health Services and the Mental Health Tribunal.
The START mental health diversion court began as a 2013 pilot after years of persistent lobbying, and
this year managed to secure funding to operate for a further three years.
The START court is a therapeutic court for people who have committed a criminal offence whilst
suffering mental health challenges. This means rather than receive punitive sentencing, court
participants are offered the chance to take part in a person centred program which is designed
individually to help them improve their mental health and reconnect socially. Part of the challenge
taken on by the START court is helping court participants to reconnect with what is often their
greatest resource in recovery, community; for this purpose the court employs a team of people who
have lived experience of recovery to support this endeavour. The START court also acknowledges the
importance of family support in recovery as well as the immense challenges faced by families, which
is why it also employs a carer peer who has a lived experience of supporting a family member
through the START court process. This presentation aims to showcase the work done by the START
court team in helping participants improve their lives, the importance of family and consumer
involvement as well as the ongoing success of the court.
The
vulnerability of
children
bereaved by
suicide
Thursday 13 July
2pm
2: Wardle Room
Hon. Alison Xamon MLC
Alison Xamon is a current State Member of Parliament
and holds many portfolios including Mental Health and
Suicide Prevention. Prior to being re-elected Alison was
the President of the WA Association for Mental Health,
Vice Chair of Community Mental Health Australia, a
Director of Mental Health Australia, was the Co-Lead for
the Statewide Mental Health Network and was a
Member of the Ministerial Council for Suicide
Prevention. Alison has Lived Experience of family
suicide and child bereavement having lost her father at
the age of 11.
This session will talk about the unique needs of children who have been bereaved by suicide,
particularly parental and sibling suicide. Children's grief is often misunderstood and the particular
complexities surrounding suicide even more so. This session discusses these complexities including
the challenges for children developmentally as they get older, learned behaviours, genetic risks and
fractured family systems.
The session also explores the different therapeutic approaches being undertaken internationally and
why public education around the vulnerabilities of children also plays a role in suicide prevention.
Tobacco and
Mental Health:
Exploring the
Myths
Thursday 13 July
2pm
Conversation
Café
Doris Neuwerth, Cancer Council WA Doris is the Make Smoking History Community Services Coordinator at Cancer Council WA where her work involves providing brief intervention training to social services staff, enabling them to support clients who want to quit or cut down.
Under the Healthier Workplace Initiative in her previous role as Fresh Start Workplace Services Coordinator at Cancer Council WA, Doris provided smoking cessation group courses to workplaces. Doris is a trained Social Worker and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist with over 7
ea s experience working as AOD counsellor at the Salvation Army, and 11 years in private practice.
There are various myth around Mental Health and tobacco including;
Myth: People living with a mental illness do not want to quit.
Myth: Quitting smoking is a low priority for people living with a mental illness
Myth: People living with a mental illness need to smoke to manage their condition.
The aim of the session is to enable participants to come to an informed conclusion around these
discussion points.
Session Presenter/s Description
Turning Lemons
into Lemonade
Friday 14 July
12.45pm
Wellbeing Zone
Carli Sheers Since joining WAAMH in 2014 Carli has worked across a number of departments, but now undertakes the role of Engagement and Administration Support Officer for conferences, symposiums, workshops and events. Having recovered from psychosocial disability herself, Ca li feels p i ileged to e a e e of WAAMH s Li ed Experience Participation Board Sub Committee. Prior to joining WAAMH, Carli spent eight years at Grow as Branch Se eta a d P oje t Offi e . Ca li s qualifications include a Bachelor of Business from Edith Cowan University, Certificate IV in Mental Health and Certificate III in Community Services.
I am sharing my personal journey of mental illness and recovery by using an activity to demonstrate
that people can and do recover from serious mental illness with complex needs. The aim of telling
my story is to inspire people that they are not alone and provide hope for recovery.
My presentation will use an activit to e gage ith the audie e, a d I i te d to use le o s to pai t a pi tu e of fa to s that led to dete io atio i e tal health, the la el o diag osis gi e to e, and involuntary treatment that followed. These lemons will be transformed into lemonade whilst
focusing on my personal strengths with the help of audience members, and will be used to show my
journey of recovery in a creative manner that is easy to understand. Expertise in self-care and self-
age ill e e plo ed also. You alo e a do it, ut ou a t do it alo e. G o P og a
We actually
have quite a lot
of power: The
rising influence
of Mental
Health
Consumer &
Carer Advisory
Groups in
Southwest WA
Friday 14 July
11.45am
2: Wardle Room
Kim Loader, Community First International
Southwest Mental Health consumer and carer
representatives
Presenters were chosen from and by the Consumer and
Carer Advisory groups.
I so , I p o a l o g, I ot a o e i po ta t ut… is ofte the a e e e s ill fi st speak up i a eeti g ut those ho e ee i o e of the South est Me tal Health Co su e or Carer Advisory Groups for a little while ill ui kl ad ise the You ie s a e alua le he e, ou
ill e hea d a d e a tuall do ake ha ge happe .
This presentation covers the recent history and development of the Consumer & Carer Mental Health
Advisory Groups in Southwest WA, the personal stories of how and why members came to join the
group and the impact we are having on all levels of mental health services to influence better
outcomes in the Southwest. This presentation includes an interactive workshop on power dynamics
and the strength in numbers approach to collaborative, supportive & realistic organisational
influence. People who attend this session will take away an understanding of the role & work of the
CAGS, an understanding of the way the groups have built collective power and practical tips on how
to achieve this in your own roles elsewhere. This Abstract was developed in a collaborative process,
written and submitted by Kim Loader, Partners in Recovery Area Support Coordinator, Community
Frist International and Nadia Adams, Safety and Quality Coordinator, South West Mental Health
Se i e o Behalf of the CAG s.
Session Presenter/s Description
What can
schools do?
Integrating
Responses in
Schools (IRiS)
for Mental
Health support
Thursday 13 July
3pm
5: Assembly
Room
Debbie DeLacy, Stella Rodgers
Department of Education
Deb has worked in a wide variety of education settings
for 25 years with a strong interest in promoting
inclusive education and success for all students.
Currently she works for the School of Special
Educational Needs: Medical and Mental Health. One of
her roles is working with education networks within WA
to assist in addressing student mental health needs and
support for capacity building in schools, alongside
community agencies and organizations to maintain
sustainable models of care for students.
Stella Rodgers is a registered teacher and school
psychologist and has worked in a range of roles. These
include the Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) program with
the Department of Health, CAMHS Education Liaison
Teacher (CELT) and as a mental health clinician in
CAMHS across the Pilbara and Kimberley regions. She is
a trained facilitator in TCI and now works as Principal
Consultant (mental health) within Statewide Services,
Department of Education.
Access of school support by students with mental disorders has risen from 19.2% in 1998 to 50.9% in
2014 based on the second national household survey of the mental health and wellbeing of
Australian children (Young Minds Matter). The Integrated Response in Schools (IRiS) project works
with education networks to develop supports for student mental health care. Interventions are based
on an ecological model to support sustainability. Project intended outcomes include;
• Pa t e ships that e ha e effe ti e i te age liaiso a d o sultatio et ee ental health
services and the education sector.
• The de elop e t of a s hool ased tea as pa t of a e ide e ased se i e deli e odel as appropriate to each school.
• I p o ed ide tifi atio of at-risk populations.
• A f a e o k to assist the de elopment of integrated mental health responses in education settings
specific to local ecology.
• The sessio ill p o ide e a ples of a a iet of tools ei g de eloped s hools i suppo t of identifying students struggling at school, highlighting specific difficulties including mental health
signs. This tool is used to identify possible school based strategies as well as assisting appropriate
referral pathways for students and their families.
• Sessio pa ti ipa ts ill e a le to e ie these tools a d provide helpful contributions to be fed
back to schools participating in this project.
• Othe st ategies ei g used i this p oje t ill e sha ed ith o e ts a d suggestio s ei g gathered for project feedback. Session participants will be able to comment using Mobile Meet (a
free app that would need to be downloaded on devices before the meeting) or Twitter. Devices with
data and/or wifi will be required to facilitate the capacity for comment.
What everyone
ought to know
about screening
and treatment
of sleep
problems in
mental illness
Friday 14 July
2pm
5: Assembly
Room
Vivian Chiu and Professor Flavie Waters, Clinical
Research Centre; University of Western Australia
Vivian is a PhD candidate working with North Metro
Health Services to deliver psychosis sleep interventions.
She holds a Psychology degree (Hon), and worked as a
technician at Sleep Studies Australia. She has published
academic papers on sleep and psychosis.
Flavie PhD, is a leading cognitive neuroscientist who has
made important contributions to understanding
psychosis. She is founder and scientific chair of the
International Consortium on Hallucination Research and
has authored of numerous articles. She works at the
Clinical Research Centre at Graylands and UWA.
Between 30% and 80% of people with severe mental illness experience difficulties with their sleep.
Approximately half meet the criteria for insomnia disorder and/or co-morbid sleep complaints such
as hypersomnia, circadian rhythm disturbances and nightmares. These disorders of sleep are often
dist essi g, a d a di e tl i pa t o li i al s pto s a d the li i al ou se of a i di idual s psychiatric disorder, as well as their physical health, cognition and quality of life. Consequently, to
optimise the health and functional recovery of people with severe mental illness, there is a critical
need to also address, and to provide effective treatment options for, their disturbed sleep. This
session is an introduction to common sleep problems experienced by people living with mental
illness, how to assess for sleep disorders, and how sleep problems can be addressed using an
adapted type of treatment called Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). We will be
discussing some content in the Sleep Well, Feel Well program, which has been developed and trialled
with people living with severe mental illness.
Session Presenter/s Description
Why "The Fast
Track Pit Stop"
Works
Thursday 13 July
2pm
5: Assembly
Room
Owen Catto, Regional Men's Health Initiative
Owen is married with three children. He has completed
a Bachelor of Business in Agriculture and farmed in
partnership with his father for 18 years in Morawa while
also operating a farm consultancy business. After
selling the family farm in 2005 Owen and his family
travelled across Australia for a year whilst home
s hooli g the hild e . O e s i te est is i empowering men to move forward and embrace
progressive changes in their family relationships and
their wellbeing and health. For the past 9-10 years
O e has o ked spe ifi all i e s holistic wellbeing
and health. He presents a range of educational
programs and strategies for rural and regional men,
their families and communities.
There is a strong correlation between male attitudes to machines and male wellbeing. If we do not
service machines regularly it eventually catches up and problems are compounded. Why do we think
it is any different for us men? If we neglect our health and wellbeing (physical, mental or
social/spiritual) it will catch up with us in the same way as neglected machine servicing does.
O e ethod of e gage e t e use is the Fast T a k Pit Stop , a i te a ti e health a a e ess a d listening tool themed around the servicing of a vehicle:- § Chassis - waist measurement; § Oil
pressure - blood pressure; § Shock absorbers - coping skills. The Fast Track Pit Stop works because it
is mobile, user friendly, cost effective and can be set up in any environment. This is a great
e gage e t tool e ause it o ks i a o edi al e i o e t, is i te a ti e, a d deli e s e s
health and wellbeing messages in a variety of community settings and the workplace. We engage
with men on their terms and go to where the blokes are! We aim to connect people to the
appropriate services that can assist people deal with their underlying concerns. Often services are
a aila le ut e , i pa ti ula , esist seeki g help. We p o ote the si ple sloga efo e it all gets too u h….Talk to a Mate . This sloga is the asis of all ou i itiati es. Mate-ship, empathy and the
appropriate use of humor is the key to connectedness in our programs.
Working
together
Thursday 13 July
3pm
Wellbeing Zone
Jessica Sharp, Helen McLean TRACS WA Jessica Sharp currently works as a Development Facilitator in the Training Centre for sub-acute care (TRACS WA). Jessica has been a Social Worker for nearly 20 years and has specialised in group facilitation, and training. Jessica has a passion for communication and collaboration and brings this passion to her facilitation. Jessica believes that our worlds be it personal or work involve communicating with different people and the more we understand about our own communication the more we can be open to others ways of communication. Jessica has a strong belief in the power of the group and that we all have vital role to play. Helen McLean has over 40 years of nursing/midwifery experience Helen has a wealth of experience as a li i ia a d as a edu ato . Hele s passio fo lie t
centred care has seen her patient advocacy recognised in a number of awards including being a finalist in the WA Health Nursing Awards 2013. Helen is a highly motivated educator and through compassion and good communication Helen assists consumers to be managers of their own health and clinicians to be the managers of their own learning.
This session is suitable for anyone who works in a team. The three elements covered:
• Individual learning styles - th ough the use of Ho e a d Mu fo d s odel. • Understanding team roles - Bel i s odel. • Team development – Tu k a s odel.
Thus, the learning flows from the individual to the team resulting in best practice services. Each
model will be understood through the facilitator using a creative, innovative and fun approach. The
three elements are facilitated through an interesting, engaging participatory approach, using group
activities.
Individual participants gain insight into their own differing perspectives to communicating and
problem solving. Through interaction, opportunities to learn, share ideas, tools, resources, and
experience occur in an open friendly environment. The learning is suitable for any consumers, allied
health, nursing, medical and support staff. This workshop has previously been presented to teams
working with Older Adults with Mental Health concerns. Including metropolitan, community and
rural hospitals in WA including Osborne Park Hospital, Fremantle Hospital, Selby Older Adult Mental
Health Service, Bentley Hospital, Armadale Hospital, Rockingham General Hospital and Bunbury
Regional Hospital. Although the training has been delivered in hospital settings it is appropriate to
anyone working in a team who wants to understand themselves and their own learning styles and
how to communicate and work most effectively within a team.
Session Presenter/s Description
Yokai - Healing
our Spirit
Friday 14 July
12.15pm
2: Wardle Room
Jim Morrison, Yokai
Jim is a prominent Noongar Elder, has been a leader in
pivotal Aboriginal advancement roles for four decades,
working for the rights of the Stolen Generations; child
protection; mental health and suicide issues; equity in
access to culturally safe human services; prison reforms
and deaths in custody; the protection of young street
people and the formation of new, non-government
agencies providing services to Aboriginal families.
He has recently taken up leadership of YOKAI! Healing
our Spirit, the operational umbrella of the WA Stolen
Generations Aboriginal Corporation and the Bringing
Them Home Committee (WA).
His current and past roles include: Stolen Generations'
Co g ess a to the Natio al Co g ess of Aust alia s First Peoples, Aboriginal Chair of the National Stolen
Generations Alliance, Aboriginal Convenor Bringing
Them Home Committee WA, Member Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Advisory Group and
Manager Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service.
This will reflect on the causes of the low position of Australia's First Peoples on the international
Human Development Index and the inequitable level of social and emotional wellbeing underpinning
their mental health issues. It will expand on Aboriginal thinking regarding aspects of the Roadmap For
National ATSI Mental Health, particularly the following principles:
1.The mental health of Aboriginal peoples is connected to the health of their families, communities
and cultures, relationships to country, ancestors and spirituality.
2. Healthy communities and cultures are protective factors against the impacts of stress and trauma
on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples e tal health. 3. All services and professionals in contact with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young
people a d othe ul e a le populatio oho ts fo e a ple, p iso e s should e t au a se siti e and should be able to direct traumatised individuals into defined clinical healing pathways.
4. Aboriginal peoples have a right to be different and to have that difference accommodated by the
mental health system.
5. Culturally competent mental health services are a human right of Aboriginal peoples.
6. Self-determination is central to the provision of Aboriginal mental health wellbeing services.
7. Holistic community-controlled providers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander professionals are
the preferred deliverers of such to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The presenters will discuss with delegates how Stolen Generations survivors and their families, a
particularly disadvantaged part of the Aboriginal community are taking charge of their own healing
based on the principles above and embedded in joined-up service relationships enabling a holistic
journey towards gaining equity in mental health and social and emotional wellbeing.
Youth Mental
Health; From
the present to
the future
Thursday 13 July
10.45am
1: Auditorium
Warwick Smith, NMHS
Warwick Smith is the inaugural Director of Youth
Mental Health, North Metropolitan Health Service
Mental Health, and has been in this position since July
2013. He is an Accredited Surveyor with the Australian
Council of Health Standards (ACHS). Warwick has over
ea s e pe ie e o ki g i the health se to of Western Australia, this has included 27 years with the
Department of Health WA and four years as the
Coordinator then Director of Richmond Fellowship (Inc).
Warwick has significant experience at senior
management level of health services both at Peel and
Rockingham Kwinana Health Service, Fremantle Health
Service and Executive Management in South
Metropolitan Health Service.
The transition from childhood to adulthood is a critical stage of development for young people (16-24 years). There are a number of young people experiencing significant mental health difficulties during this pe iod of ti e. The e tal health diffi ulties i lude: • 5% of adults with psychiatric disorders e pe ie e the o set of thei ill ess the age of ea s of age Kessle et al, • Me tal health is responsible for 55% of the burden of disease for young people aged 15- Mathis et al ; • I 2015 more young people aged 15-24 died by suicide than any other means. Twice as many young women aged 15- died sui ide i tha i Ro i so et al, ; • Sui ide ates a o g Indigenous people in the Kimberley region of Western Australia are among the highest in the world. 27% of completed suicides in the region were young people under 20 years. 70 per cent of all Indigenous people who completed suicide were never known to or referred to the Kimberley Mental Health and Drug Service (McHugh, et al 2 . • Ge de Di e se a d T a sge de ou g people ha e been found to have higher rates of diagnosed Anxiety (45%) and Depression (47%), with higher rates of Self Harm (70%) and attempted suicide (37%) (Smith et al 2014). International, National and State initiatives have acknowledged the need to improve mental health services for young people. This p ese tatio ill fo us o : • the u e t suite of e tal health se i es fo outh; • e e gi g issues i deli e i g e tal health se i es fo outh; • u ent plans for youth mental health service deli e i Weste Aust alia; • o e ie of the o k u de take the Youth Me tal Health Su Net o k; • a update o the p og ess of the WA Me tal Health, Al ohol a d Othe D ug Se i es Plan 2015-2025, including an update on the proposed youth stream.
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