Authors: Middle South Adult Mental Health Service, Victoria
Year: 2000
Event: 2000 TheMHS Awards
Subject:
Type of resource: TheMHS Awards
Award state: VIC
Award level: Gold
Award category: Consumer/ Carer Program or service
Abstract: Innovative Victorian Project puts consumer first. Effective communication of consumer needs capable representation in Management and vigorous promotion of consumer rights - these are the essence of a Consumer Consultant Project in Melbourne's Middle South Adult Mental Health Service. The Consultants have fostered genuine co-operation between themselves and staff, represent the consumer voice on the Adult Psychiatry Management Team and make recommendations to a number of key committees. As consumers themselves, they organise groups based on communication and education that work for consumers. The groups uniquely allow expression of consumers' experiences in an informal, therapeutic atmosphere. Among the Consultants' successful projects has been a Forum, which attracted around 140 participants and enhanced the relationships between the consumers and their GPs. They are planning a further Forum in October entitled " Mental Illness: A Recovery Approach". They believe their Project has made an appreciable difference to consumers' lives. Description of Facility/Organisation: The Consumer Consultants Project, based at the Clayton Community Mental Health Service, is part of the Middle South Adult Mental Health sErvice. The Service has an outreach to the middle south suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, encompassing the Monash Medical Centre, Clayton and Southern Community Mental Health Services and the COmmunity Care Units in Moorabbin. Potentially, the Service has an outreach to an estimated 215,000 people.
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