Speaking frankly...                                       

Peer work is the future

Not peer work alone, not peer work to replace other practitioners, not peer work to save money on wages, but peer workers with a set of skills and expertise to work alongside other mental health workers in a wide variety of settings.

If peer work is to successfully deliver the kinds of outcomes suggested by the emerging literature, then governance arrangements for peer work becomes essential.  What is peer work? Who gets to call themselves a peer worker? How are standards for peer work determined? How are peer workers supported in their training and ongoing development?

It ought to be no surprise that these are matters for peer workers to determine, and as the peer workforce is emerging in Australia, so too are the structures and processes that will be required to support this workforce. 

You may have seen the recent ‘Peer Work Leadership Statement of Intent” which states a clear rationale for this work.  The statement says, in part:

The Australian peer work leaders resolved to issue a ‘Statement of Intent’ that would communicate our intention to form a national professional association for the Australian mental health consumer peer workforce. We feel that such statement is necessary to provide the focus for national consultations to occur that will lead to the development of a peer-run organisation that can support and sustain the development of the peer workforce across all sectors.

The ‘Statement of Intent’ is supported by the international peer work leaders who attended the match – Gary J Parker, Executive Director Kansas Consumer Advisory Council for Adult Mental Health and Sherry Tucker, Executive Director Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network. Both Kansas and Georgia offer certified peer specialist training, certification and support.

I have been lucky enough to meet with Gary Parker on a number of occasions during his visits to Australia, and to hear first-hand about the success this work is having in the American system.

The statement also indicates an intention to establish an organisation to support this work:

A national peer work organisation is essential for our growing workforce and it would aim to support and develop our profession in similar ways to other professional bodies such as the Australian Psychological Society, the Australian Association of Social Work, Occupational Therapy Australia and the Australian College of Nursing. 

Peer workers must lead the development of models of peer practice, so that our work retains its authenticity, mutuality and reciprocity in a diverse and expanding range of services and employment.
 
Professional certification of the peer workforce in both Kansas and Georgia allows peer specialists to claim Medicaid reimbursements for peer support services. In a similar way a national professional association of peer workers may allow the workforce to actively participate in the commissioning of mental health funding through Primary Health Networks (PHNs).

It is a truism to say that if this endeavour is going to be successful, it must be peer-led.  But it is also true to say that any emerging activities require the support of various stakeholders right across the system if the early buds of hope are to grow into successful new branches in our mental health system.

I would encourage everyone to take the time to consider this important statement, and to reflect on the role that you might play in supporting this endeavour – whether as a peer, a colleague, a policy maker, or a funder.

We can all learn more here…
 

Frank Quinlan
Chief Executive Officer

Changes to discriminatory practices in insurance welcome

As the week ends, we're seeing a positive shift away from the longstanding discriminatory practices of travel insurance agencies affecting people experiencing mental illness, with Cover-More Australia and QBE Insurance recently removing exclusions in their policies and amending clauses to properly protect their customers. These changes come after many years of hard work by Mental Health Australia and our members like beyondblue, along with advocacy and legal aid bodies, including the Public Interest Advocacy Centre which we congratulate for its ongoing work on behalf of individuals who have been treated unfairly. We also note the bravery of those individuals, like Ella Ingram who found the courage to fight for what was right.

We will continue our work in encouraging other insurers to do the sensible and right thing by following suit. You can find out more about the recent changes in this week's article from the Sydney Morning Herald, and this media release from Victoria Legal Aid.

It's NAIDOC Week - get involved

This week is NAIDOC week, a time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievements, culture and history. Mental Health Australia staff will be celebrating by encouraging staff to participate in a tour of the ‘Defying Empire: 3rd National Indigenous Art Triennial’ exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia as well as encouraging staff to attend other local events.

I hope that Mental Health Australia’s members and friends have had an opportunity to celebrate NAIDOC week as well. You can find out more about what’s happening near you on the ‘Celebrating NAIDOC Week’ website. 

New Co-design in Mental Health Policy

The team here at Mental Health Australia have produced a two-page document setting out the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved in co-design – government agencies, consumers and carers and other key stakeholders – to effectively co-design mental health policies and programs. The document, which has been developed with input from National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum members and Mental Health Australia members, encourages behaviours and attitudes that are conducive to genuine co-design partnerships. I encourage you to take a look at the new document and benefit from adopting such behaviours and attitudes for the best outcomes.

 

Meet a Mental Health Australia Member

Relationships Australia

Relationships Australia is a leading provider of relationship support services for individuals, families and communities. They aim to support all people in Australia to achieve positive and respectful relationships.

They are a community-based, not-for-profit Australian organisation with no religious affiliations. Their services are for all members of the community, regardless of religious belief, age, gender, sexual orientation, lifestyle choice, cultural background or economic circumstances. They offer services around the country that include counselling, family dispute resolution (mediation) and a range of family and community support and education programs.

Working in mental health

Listen to Mat Rowell, CEO of Relationships Australia TAS discussing mental health and the benefits of community connection, along with how Relationships Australia can help people with lived experience and their carers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xnXKfoBBDo

Web - https://www.relationships.org.au/
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/RelationshipsA2/

Become a Member of Mental Health Australia

As the peak body for the mental health sector in Australia, Mental Health Australia is uniquely placed to influence the national debate on mental health issues and achieve our vision of mentally healthy people and communities. Representing more than 100 organisations in the mental health sector, find out more about Membership at the link below.

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