18 20 July 2011
Psych Action & Training Group (PAT) Centre for Psychiatric Nursing University of Melbourne
What this presentation covers Cath Roper will talk about the history of PAT & some examples of our work Evan Bichara will talk about the collective vision, support and inspiration PAT has given him in his daily work with CALD Communities in Mental Health Wanda Bennetts will talk about the value of PAT both professionally and personally Vrinda Edan will talk about the importance of PAT to developing consumer perspective as an academic discipline Bridget Hamilton will talk about a PhD student involving PAT as an expert reference group for the project about medication cessation
Cath: Background & History Established 2002 Interdisciplinary membership Meet every 6 weeks or so Training & education brief Members paid for their time not representative group, but expertise group Collective vision: consumer perspective is a discrete discipline in mental health Aims to advance consumer perspective across various settings of its members Provide mutual support & problem solving
Some examples of the work Submissions MHA review Vic Senate select committee on MH DOH Consumer participation policy Host functions with luminaries of the CSX movement: Sandy Watson, David Webb, Judi Chamberlin, Provide ed & training skills to consumers who want to teach mh clinicians (in partnership with eg VMIAC) Training mh practitioners
Evan Bichara, Transcultural Consumer Advocate PAT definitely Provides broad experiences broad expert advice broad knowledge Brings a fresh approach Adds new insights Injects enthusiastic ideas Using Consumers as number 1 priority A network of people I have thoroughly enjoyed belonging to has always assisted with my work
Some of the ways PAT has helped me: Setting up & Facilitating Multicultural groups Networking effectively with other PAT members Empowering consumers to lead in advocacy BETTER WAY for valuable participation in my advocacy work with the CALD Communities highly beneficial in my Professional work as a Consumer Advocate The PAT group comes together to Get organised Participate Find a collective voice Create a social movement Articulate their views And it ALL makes sense. Thank you PAT for helping carve a career path for my job as the CALD MH Consumer Advocate
Wanda Bennetts Mutual co-supervision Bringing our work to the group Sharing what is happening elsewhere Reflective practice Developing ideas and our thinking My sanity a safe place
Vrinda Edan Consumer Participation is often considered a grass roots movement. This position can impinge on the development of knowledge and theory and the succession of work from one worker to another. Experience of other disciplines has been that the development of a theory base has been beneficial to the growth and development of the work, and as a consequence of this, to outcomes of the work
Consumer workers have been isolated with little opportunities to explore what a theory base to our work may look like. The level of oppression that consumers of mental health services experience, is reflected in the difficulties that consumer workers have in attempting to undertake this development of our work. PAT has enabled an independent and supportive space to start this work. The placement with in a university has provided opportunities to test this theory development.
Dr Bridget Hamilton Expertise in research Generosity to learners Multiple perspectives to offer Stakeholders, audiences & language Practice run & refinement Power of group process to advance ideas
Future..the time is ripe International interest in collaborating re academic alliances for mad studies Ryerson Uni, Canada Survivor s history network (UK) MindFreedom (USA) & Aust Question: is the academy a good place to nurture mad studies?