Beyond Blue bus welcomed to the Gold Coast

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1 PIR News Nov 2014 Beyond Blue bus welcomed to the Gold Coast The Beyond Blue national roadshow visited the Gold Coast during October, raising awareness about anxiety and depression. Two community events were organised by Partners in Recovery (PIR) and Gold Coast Medicare Local (GCML). The launch event at Burleigh featured an address by Queensland Mental Health Commissioner Dr Lesley van Schoubroeck and a heartfelt speech by Janelle Reeves, who gave attendees an insight into her personal experiences. Mark Watego performed a welcome to country and J. Ferry entertained everyone with his musical talents. Many local services connected with community members, and attendees enjoyed activities including a handball competition hosted by the Gold Coast Suns, a jumping castle, a delicious free BBQ and an art exhibition by the Mental Illness Fellowship Queensland. More than a dozen stallholders exhibited at the Upper Coomera event the next day, providing local residents with useful information about various services available on the Gold Coast. Media coverage of the events highlighted the importance of mental health and where people can go for support.

2 To celebrate the conclusion of the Voicebox Project we are hosting two events on December 4. The events will showcase creative advocacy outcomes produced by participants with a lived experience of mental illness and/or disability through a series of workshops held in the Gold Coast region. Come along and be inspired by these powerful stories. When : Thursday 4 th December 2014 Event 1 : am (launch & demonstration) Event 2 : pm (celebration of achievements) Where : FSG Australia Head Office 20 Railway Street, Southport RSVP : Pauline by 27 th November pauline@human.org.au Phone Places are limited. Please indicate the event you would prefer to attend. (Event 1, Event 2 or Events 1&2) Do you want to explore what thriving would look and feel like in your life? If so, this creative session is for you. In each Ignite It session a skilled facilitator will work with you to explore what you want to give to and receive from your community. You will be supported individually and as part of a group to explore your own potential to thrive. By defining what thriving looks like in your life, Ignite It will help you to articulate the steps you want to take to create a more thriving future for you and your community. So come along and ignite your passion and potential to thrive. 1. Wed 19 Nov Robina 4pm-7pm 2. Fri 21 Nov Southport 9am-12pm Cost and RSVP: There is no cost to attend Ignite It, but you must book a spot by phoning or ing pir@gcml.com.au by Monday 17 November.

3 PIR Innovative Capacity-Building Funding Opportunities Partners in Recovery (PIR) invites Expressions of Interest from organisations seeking funding for innovative capacity-building projects to benefit people with severe and persistent mental illness with complex needs. The aim of these projects is to address the gaps Recent and Events barriers identified in PIR system mapping undertaken earlier this year. Applications are sought for the following outcome areas: Responding to diverse needs Responding to social inclusion Developing community knowledge and understanding Develop the capacity of primary health care providers Service integration. Information Session: Would you like to know how the EOI process aims to assist the Gold Coast PIR work towards addressing the priority areas identified through our system mapping process? Would you like to discuss the priority areas and what they mean for system change? Would you like to meet other people who may be interested in applying for these initiatives? Check It Fest It was a scorching hot day at Check It Fest on 12 th October 2014 at the Southport Broadwater Parklands perfect weather for Renee and Ursula from Mental Illness Fellowship Queensland who manned the Sink the Stigma Dunk Tank. Check it Fest is an annual youth event that aims to build on suicide prevention and mental health awareness among young people aged The main message of the event is to Check in with yourself. Check in with your mates. Check out services. The purpose of our presence at the community event was to provide accurate information and education in order to smash stigma around suicide and mental health. To achieve this we asked each and every participant of the dunk tank to answer some questions around suicide and mental health and who it affects in our community. One of the questions asked was whether anyone could develop a mental illness, with most young people agreeing that anyone could be affected by mental illness. Surprisingly, the young people who participated (over 50 young people) were quite knowledgeable, particularly about the language used around mental health. Contrasting responses regarding the perception of whether people living with mental illness were violent demonstrated the need for further education to reduce stigma in the wider community. Overall the event drew fantastic attendance by the Gold Coast community and many local youth and mental health services worked together to make the day the success it was. A big thank you and congratulations to Headspace and other services involved in the organisation of a great day filled with lots of fun, laughter and opportunity for young people to learn more about suicide and mental health. You are invited to attend an information session on Wednesday 19 November from 2-4pm at Burleigh Heads. pirfunding@gcml.com.au to register your attendance. For more information, application and expression of interest forms: Visit OR pirfunding@gcml.com.au CLOSING DATE: 5pm, December 8, 2014

4 My Story By IAN McDOUGALL It s been a topsy-turvy time for Phil Hankin over the past few years but he s now crafting his own future thanks to the mental and physical tools he receives through the Partners in Recovery (PIR) program. Most days he s head down at a work bench set up in his kitchen, creating all sorts of leather goods. Smiles have replaced frowns and while Phil s family has been fractured, it is functioning fairly well once again. Phil has been suffering depression and anxiety for five or six years but was in denial. He s done some time in The Big House, thought about suicide, gets anxious about his anxiety and is battling the booze. A social worker referred Phil to PIR. Adam Dreyer has been working with Phil for about six months, arranging links with various support mobs. Recovery from mental conditions is not a race it s a marathon, so we invite other services to cheer people along the way, Adam said. Through the Homeless Health Outreach Team (HHOT), Phil got into Blair Athol housing for a few months while he got his life back on track through life skills sessions, including budgeting to take control of his finances. He s now lives independently in private rental with his children Kirra, 17, and Nate, 12, who have foregone a dining table for Phil s workbench. I started leatherwork classes in jail and rediscovered my love for it. Leatherwork keeps me busy, and my mind creative and active, off bad things. I make lots of things. My goal is to have a stall at the Burleigh markets but I m a bit anxious about public interaction. Adam: I also presented a case to PIR s Flexible Funding Committee, explaining Phil s commitment to make his hobby sustainable by building it into a steady income stream. Adam is seeking more options for Phil under the Commonwealth Government s New Enterprise Incentive Scheme, which helps jobseekers with accredited small business training, business mentoring and income support to help them turn an idea into a viable business and help them to become a self-employed business owner. Adam also encouraged Phil to consider the StepUp Loan program which enabled him to buy a car so the family can get around easily. Over the past couple of years Kirra stepped up to take on the role of carer for Phil and Nate. Adam connected Kirra with the Young Carers program, which organised diversionary activities such as outings, horse riding, whale watching and a day at Sea World. These have been great distractions for me it can get a bit stressful sometimes at home, Kirra said. The Kids in Focus team encouraged Nate into You-Nique, a behavioural change program which addresses young people s emotional frustrations by helping them to express themselves rationally. The leather work is helping Phil tick off some goals: busting his anxiety, getting out more and finding employment. He s also working hard at sticking to a budget and drinking in moderation. Adam: Phil s progress is a great testament to the power of having a hobby, passion or interest to keep the mind occupied and focused on positive things. Postscript: Phil, coming from a place of gratitude, designed and created leather key rings for the PIR fleet vehicles.

5 PIR s Performance at a glance Here s an overview of the number of participants and total referrals as at 31 October 2014 against targets: An individual is not counted as a participant until they have agreed that they want PIR in their life and it has been established that they meet PIR eligibility criteria. This can take one to six appointments. The PIR participant targets were reset based on number of participants as of 30 June Contact pir@gcml.com.au or if you would like to arrange a PIR in-service at your workplace. New PIR Gold Coast website Contact us: If you d like to know more about Partners In Recovery Gold Coast, or would like to work with us, please get in contact: P: E: pir@gcml.com.au The PIR Intake Line is open: Monday-Thursday 9am-7pm, Friday 9am-4pm. Individuals are welcome to call PIR directly. Services, carers and family members should seek the consent of the individual before calling regarding their involvement in the PIR program. PIR does not offer a crisis response. For 24 hour specialist mental health care advice and crisis support call Gold Coast Health Call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. PIR is a Federally funded program.