Invitation for People Who Have a Lived Experience of Mental Health Issues and Their Carers

Invitation for people who have a Lived Experience of Mental Health Issues and their Carers

We are looking for peopleto join our Mental Health Forum and/orto act as Consultants for other projects and activities

We have four vacancies at present.

We are particularly interested in:

A person with lived experience of mental health issues from the Tweed-Byron geographical area
An Aboriginal person who has experience caring for someone with a mental health issue.
Two people who either have a lived experience of mental health issues or who supports someone with mental health issues – anywhere in the Northern Rivers.

Applications Close: 8amMonday 16 February 2018

What is the Mental Health Forum?

It is a very exciting Forum which looks at how to improve our mental health services. We have been growing from strength to strength. Consumer (those with lived experience) and carer voices have been having an increasing influence in how we do business. The Forum has been active since July 2013.

What does the Mental Health Forum do?

Consultson ways of improving services includingre-designing inpatient units and advising on models of care;
Consultson how Mental Health Services can work more collaboratively and effectively with people accessing our services and their carers and key support people;
Reviewsdraft and existing policies and procedures;
Consults on action plans arising from surveys that are undertaken.
And many other things

Also have a look at the website:

What has the MHF achieved?

Since 2013 members of the Mental Health Forum have effectively advocated for the improvement of the NNSW LHDMental Health Services in many areas. Significant contributions include:

Improvements in the physical environment of the services provided. New developments have a particular focus on creating more warm places for receiving services;
Improving the way people are supported by Mental Health Services including a stronger focus on Recovery and Trauma Informed Care;
Better consultation and services for people from Aboriginal communities who access Mental Health Services;
Development of pamphlets and materials to better inform people who access services;
The establishment of new Peer Support Worker positions – employees that use their Lived Experience of and recovery from mental health issues to support others experiencing mental health issues.

Who is on the Forum?

The Mental Health Forum isa subcommittee of the NNSW LHD Board and consists of people with a Lived Experience of Mental Health Issues, their Carers, community representatives, Community Managed Organisations (CMO) representatives, Board representatives, and Mental Health Service representatives.

Membership of the Mental Health Forum comprises:

Four Community members who have a Lived Experience of Mental Health Issues;
Four Carers who have cared for a person with a Lived Experience of Mental Health Issues;
Two Community representatives who have had extensive contact with people with a Lived Experience of Mental Health Issues or Carers;
At least two Aboriginal people who have Lived Experience of Mental Health Issuesor have had extensive contact with people who have a lived experience;
Three Community Managed Organisation (CMO) representatives who have a Lived Experience of Mental Health Issuesor as a carer;
Two people with either lived experience of mental health issues, or experience as a carer from anywhere in the Northern Rivers.
Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSW LHD) General Manager Mental Health Drug and Alcohol;
Mental Health Manager representative;
Consumer Participation Coordinator, NNSW LHD Mental Health;
Mental Health Program Coordinator (Families and Carers), NNSW LHD Mental Health;
Three NNSW LHD Board Members.

What is expected of Forum members?

Forum participants will need to commit to:

A meeting every two months for three hours. Meetings are held in Lismoreand video or telephone conferencing is available;
Preparation and reading time for each meeting;
Short orientation and training sessions as required;
If possible, contributing to short term working parties;
Membership involves a two-year term which can extend for a further two years or until the member retires (whichever comes first).

Is there any payment?

People with a Lived Experience of Mental Health Issues, Carer and Community consultants will be offered a travel reimbursement payment of $20 for those travelling within the local government district and, $40 for those travelling from another local government district.

What happens next?

We are distributing this invitation as broadly as possible and invite people to complete the attached form. After the closing date we will interview applicants and work out who might be suitable for the vacancies we have on the Forum, and who might be valuable to contribute in other ways.

I’m keen to be involved. What do I do?

Please complete the attached form and return to: Mim Weber, District Mental Health, Locked Mail Bag 11, Lismore 2480. Or you can send it by email – see below.

Please feel free to contact Mim for further information.

Mental Health Program Coordinator: 02 6620 2629

Email:

You can also contact Heidi Keevers on Mondays and Tuesdays:

Consumer Partnerships Coordinator: 02 6629 4031

Email:

Thank you for your interest

Northern NSW Local Health District

Mental Health Forum

Expression of Interest

The Mental Health Forum has a number of vacancies. We are looking for people who are interested in being consultants from across the whole of the Northern Rivers in each of the representative membership areas described in the invitation.

Closing Date: 8am Monday 16 February 2018

Please return your expression of interest to Mim Weber or Heidi Keevers

by email:

Email:

or by post

c/- District Mental Health, Locked Mail Bag 11, Lismore 2480

Contact details

Name:

Preferred contact address:

Post code:

Preferred telephone contact:

Email address:

Age group

(we ask this because we want a mix of age groups in our group of Consultants)

16-25□

26-35□

36-50□

51-65□

Over 65□

Please tell us what you are applying for (tick either or both):

Member of the Mental Health Forum □
Other Consultant □

Do you identify as (tick all relevant boxes)

A person with a Lived Experience of Mental Health Issues □
A person who caresfor, or has cared for, a person with mental health issues□
An Aboriginal person □
A person who works in a Community Managed Organisation □
A community member who has extensive contact with people who

experience mental health issues □

For the following questions, please feel free to add one additional page if you do not have enough space below. However, please keep your responses short.

Please tell us what Mental Health Services you or the person you care for have used?

Please state your reasons for wanting to be a member of the Mental Health Forum.

Please tell us why you believe you can effectively represent the interests of mental health Consumers/clients/patients or Carers.

If you work in a Community Managed Organisation (CMO), please tell us which organisation, and what your role is.

Please provide the details of your membership of any previous or current community or health related organisations, groups or networks, and any experience you may have had as a community representative.

Please provide any further comments to support your application.