Who we are. Our vision. Our mission. What we value. What we do

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2 Who we are RichmondPRA is Australia s newest not-for-profit mental health organisation. We work in local communities to help people on their mental health recovery journey. Our vision To enable full participation within a diverse and inclusive community. Our mission To work in the community with people with a mental health issue or psychosocial disability, their families and carers to provide recoveryorientated supports and resources. What we value Hopes and dreams, people focus and individual strengths, inclusion, partnership, diversity and recovery journeys. What we do We help people with a mental health issue, and families and carers, link to services that can help them fully participate within a diverse and inclusive community.

3 RichmondPRA helps people get back on track and reconnect with the community to live a contributing life - To find somewhere to live that is safe and secure Over 600 people every year live in stable accommodation linked to the support they need because of the services RichmondPRA provides. This keeps people out of hospital, helps them to live independently, connects them to their communities, families and friends, and provides the platform for personal growth and recovery. Tailored programs ensure that women with children, young people and Aboriginal people can also benefit from this help. To make friends, get involved and learn new things Unique to RichmondPRA is a network of services around New South Wales and southern Queensland used by over 1200 people every month to engage in the broader life of their communities. Run by the participants as much as the staff, these are places where recovery is enabled through member and staff led activities on site and in the community. People are able to feel safe while engaging in individual and group self-help programs around activities that the people themselves select because they are important to the individual s own recovery. For me, it was an honour to represent RichmondPRA WestClub at the national Day-to-Day Living conference in Melbourne. When you know what the big picture looks like, you re in a better position to contribute. Tony, Penrith To get a job RichmondPRA is the largest specialist employer of people with mental health issues in the country. We understand that finding a job can be the most important step on a person s recovery journey, and we understand what works best to help people get work ready. From 5 Star employment placement programs to the ground breaking PreEmploy Institute, our employment programs help with everything from getting skills up to date, right through to providing full or part-time work in one of our community businesses. We are a leader in running businesses that create work ready people and meaningful employment opportunities for people with a mental illness. To get well and stay well Finding the right place to live, getting a job, being supported and staying connected are all important components of the recovery journey. But in Australia, people with mental health problems and disorders also face the reality of a drastically reduced life expectancy because of poor physical health. RichmondPRA s Back on Track Health (BOTH) Program aims to help clients stay on the right track. This program integrates holistic care with a flexible, coordinated individual support system to help people who use our services maintain and improve their general health. To support others RichmondPRA values the lived experience of mental illness. 30% of our staff disclose a lived experience, and through affirmative action, we aim to increase this to 50%, and at all levels throughout the organisation. A lived experience of mental illness means that a person can use their own experience to assist others to take the steps along the recovery journey: what it feels like, how they tried and adjusted strategies for living in order to make their hopes and dreams a reality. RichmondPRA provides consumers the opportunity for real, not tokenistic, consumer involvement; valued paid roles in the organisation; reasonable accommodations for the effects of peoples disabilities; and an open and constructive environment in which peoples grievances can be dealt with fairly. When I was 19 I didn t know what to do with my life which caused me to get depressed. During this time I abused a lot of drugs and alcohol because I didn t care about life. PRA s Young Peoples Program turned my life around. They have helped me realise how awesome life is and I have grown more confident and independent. I now have a purpose studying at TAFE, and I ve also learnt how to drive. James, Penrith

4 Helps young people Our Young People s Programs have reduced the rate of hospitalisation of the year olds involved in the program by 80% over two years. We specialise in supporting the young people in education, training, work, socialisation and family relationships, while partnering with primary care specialists. Works with rural and regional communities RichmondPRA was one of the first NSW mental health specialist NGOs to extend the reach of our community based mental health programs to Aboriginal communities. Through our collaboration approach with Aboriginal communities, we have been able to develop new ways of working to ensure that our services are culturally safe and inclusive, working holistically with the community and the person s wellness network. The Tamworth Linkages program demonstrates RichmondPRA s partnership approach with other agencies, by trialing a homelessness project in Tamworth. This program provides housing and support for people with a mental illness. Targets set have already been exceeded with 26 clients accepted into the program. The Dubbo Social Inclusion Partnership Project, a partnership between Housing NSW, Western Area Local Health District and RichmondPRA, takes a community development approach to the needs of families, working with wider community resources to build social networks and inclusion. Since its inception this project has helped 10 families to link with support facilities in the local community and safeguard their tenancies. 12 families are now receiving this support. My life has been a rollercoaster; I ve struggled with drugs on and off and I lost a lot of time. RichmondPRA really helped me achieve some stability, even with simple things like how to cook balanced meals. It s let me spend quality time with my family it s not a typical family but it s my family. Renee, Tamworth Keeps families together Our Women and Children s Program based at Charmian Clift Cottages in Blacktown, provides safe, supported accommodation to mothers and children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Each year we help approximately 23 mothers and 31 children. The independent evaluation of this program has shown outstanding results in maintaining the family unit, improving the mother s mental health and parenting skills and confidence, reducing hospitalization, and maintaining stable housing over a three year period after leaving the program. Pioneers social enterprise in mental health From printing to gardening, digital scanning to CRT recycling, RichmondPRA directly employs over 500 people with a mental illness each year in social enterprises and community businesses in a growing number of areas across Sydney and the Illawarra. The purpose of running social enterprises and community businesses is to provide jobs to people who would otherwise miss out. As people become more confident and skilled, they can move on and work in the open labour market. Contributes to community understanding Men s Only Forums have been facilitated in Parkes, Newcastle and Wagga Wagga to raise awareness around men s mental health. Publicity was generated locally and nationally around the evenings, and attendance at each event was excellent. With local speakers plus experienced psychiatrists on hand, attendees could relate to stories relayed throughout the evening. Through these successful forums RichmondPRA is able to connect with communities and increase the understanding of mental health issues. More forums are planned through the year. My experience at Charmian Clift Cottages has been like a friendship, it has given me moral support, helped me to learn about babies, helped me to become independent and do things positively for myself and my son. I have met lots of people and learnt how to talk more, before I was very quiet and now I can see the positives in other people and I am not as quiet as I used to be. I love it here, staff are very communicative and I feel comfortable talking to them about anything. It is helping me to get my self-esteem back and kick-start my future. I am going to miss everyone when I move out, I would recommend women in need of assistance come here to start a new life. Paula, Blacktown I feel on top of the world thanks to the help of the HASI program. I have a 17 year history of drug and alcohol abuse, combined with diagnosed schizophrenia, and this has meant I ve spent only 10 days in the community this century. Now I m studying construction at TAFE, and I m learning to manage my money too. I feel really positive. Daniel Tamworth Feeling happy - allowing myself to feel happy for the first time in a long time - gave me hope and the courage to continue with my goal of returning to nursing. I m currently studying for my Bachelor of Nursing at QUT. Kamryn, Caboolture

5 After my wife s funeral, I just went downhill and had quite a few hospital stays. But with the help of RichmondPRA, my family and through my own determination, I got to where I am now: I choose to live in a boarding house, I got back into photography and I ve even overcome my fear of flying to visit my brother in Mt Isa - twice! Phillip, Newcastle On the first day of RichmondPRA operations, we provided different services and programs around New South Wales and Queensland to people Our major services are: Helping people make friends, get involved and learn new things (1172 people) Working with people to find a job (805 people) Supporting people where they live (635 people) RichmondPRA employs staff in our total operations, of whom In the beginning I felt isolated and very low. I didn t have any family support. I didn t know what I was going through or where to seek help. Then I was referred to the Young People s Program and they helped me recognise my depression. The support workers plan goals with me and help me achieve and maintain them. I have made friends, gone through new experiences and participated in workshops. I have a life now I m motivated and I m supported. Ashleigh, Penrith disclose having a lived experience of mental illness To be an older jobseeker is a different challenge altogether. Through my course and work placement at RichmondPRA s PreEmploy I ve worked hard to find a job. I m ready. Keith, Sydney

6 I ve always wanted to work with horses and around the races. I did a work placement at MC Conner s Racing; it wasn t all plain sailing but RichmondPRA helped me be brave and talk to my boss about what I was feeling. I m thrilled now because I ve been accepted into an Advanced Stablehand Traineeship. Kristi, Liverpool And together we can do more to ensure people with a mental health issue can lead the lives they want to live. Together, we re better encapsulates our dedication to moving forward and building on our past strengths; to provide quality evidence based services that facilitate meaningful life choices, learning opportunities and purposeful activities for people with psychosocial disability. As a new but richly experienced organisation, we affirm our commitment to partnering with people on their recovery journeys, and representing their interests to government and the community. Pamela Rutledge, CEo John Hall, Chairman

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