2017 Annual Issues & Opportunities Workshop Report

Each year, Mental Health Australia hosts an Annual Issues and Opportunities Workshop for members of the National Register of Mental Health Consumer and Carer Representatives (National Register) and the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF).

These two-day workshops aim to further develop the representative skills of mental health consumers and carers already participating in national policy initiatives. In particular, the workshops are designed to develop representatives’ advocacy, policy development and leadership skills. The workshops also provide important networking opportunities for representatives.

The 2017 Annual Issues and Opportunities Workshop was held in Melbourne on Thursday 28 and Friday 29 September 2017 and was attended by 50 mental health consumer and carer representatives.

An evaluation survey was sent to all participants following the 2017 Workshop, which close to 65% of attendees responded to. These responses have helped gauge the learning outcomes from the workshop sessions as well as the level of participant satisfaction.

This report provides highlights from the two day event and a summary of the key themes and outcomes raised by mental health consumers and carers during the workshop sessions or through the subsequent evaluation survey.