National Register - QLD Representative Profiles

Michael Burge, Consumer Representative

Michael Burge OAM was awarded Order of Australia Medal (OAM) June 2014 for his work as a Mental Health Advocate since 1995. He has represented consumers on numerous local, state, national and international committees. He is the former Chair of the National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum (NMHCCF) and member 2006-2017. He is a master Mental Health First Aid Instructor, having conducted 102 courses throughout rural and remote Australia.

Michael is a graduate of the National Mental Health Commission’s Future Leaders in Mental Health Program 2014-2015; member of the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership (IIMHL); and has participated in exchanges to America, Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland and New Zealand. He was appointed to the World Federation of Mental Health (WFMH) board 2017-2021. He presented on a Lived Experience Panel at World Congress of Mental Health in November 2017 in New Delhi, India; and attended the WFMH Conference in Houston, Texas 2018.

Michael is presenting on “Value of Peer Work” and running a course in Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAPs) in Buenos Aires, Argentina in November 2019. Michael has also accepted new appointments as a WFMH board member and VP Programme Development from November 2019.

Michael believes discrimination against people with a lived experience of mental health in workplaces could potentially be the biggest modern-day systemic failure with regards to consumer rights in Australia and around the world.

Carmel Murray, Carer Representative

I currently hold the position of Cairns Hinterland Consumer and Carer Advisory Group Secretary and the Carer Representative at the Performance and Management Committee meetings for the Cairns and Hinterland Mental Health and ATODS Service. I have extensive knowledge of peer work in supporting carers and consumers. I have been involved in a wide range of activities in the Cairns region. Highlights for me have been establishing a mental health carer support group, publishing a book for carers and consumers, being part of a team which this year secured funding for the establishment of a Warm Line. I believe that we are all here to support each other and this is part of why I am so passionate about the importance of establishing and supporting peer work, peer workers and peer work training.

Ailsa Rayner, Consumer Representative

After joining the National Register in 2010 I have been very fortunate to speak at conferences, contribute at a national and state level in significant roles including being a member of a committee providing advice to COAG, being a consumer representative on the Qld Mental Health Advisory Council, and start a network online of consumers and carers through social media.  These opportunities would not have arisen without the impetus from the NMHCCF and the National Register.