Programs

Consumer & Carer Caucus

Our Unique Governance

The Consumer and Carer Caucus (the Caucus) is a unique group that sits within the structure of MHCC ACT. The Caucus works with the Board to ensure that the work of the organisation is informed by, and supportive of, the interests and views of Mental Health consumers and carers. The Caucus is made up of consumer and carer representatives, volunteers and people who work in the capacity as paid consultants for government and community services. 

Two consumer and two carer members are elected from the Caucus to sit on the MHCC’s Board.  This ensures that the views of consumer and carer caucus members are heard in the decisions made about the MHCC ACT and material produced by the organisation.  

The Caucus structure

MHCC ACT has over 60 Consumer and Carer members who participate in Caucus and related activities. This includes monthly meetings, input into submissions and consultations, and general feedback on policy and service issues. 

The aim of a Caucus meeting is to provide support for Consumer and Carer Representatives and individuals that have a particular interest in systemic advocacy and influencing policy and service development.  Consumers are supported by Mental Health Consumer Network, and Caucus provides a shared platform for both Consumer and Carer representatives to discuss and act upon identified and emerging issues. Caucus provides a continuing avenue for individual Mental Health Consumers and Carers to discuss policy and sector development issues in a neutral arena and also address issues of participation within the community sector more broadly. 

The main issues and aims identified by MHCC ACT fall into two areas: 

1.         Mental Health community organisations – to support member organisations in developing new and innovative participation policies, systems and practice through a coordinated sector development approach.  

 2.         Mental Health Consumers and Carers – to increase the number of Mental Health Consumers and Carers participating in Caucus, to identify shared and emerging issues, and to collaboratively address those through systemic advocacy and service development levels.  

Consumer, Carer and Community Quarterly Forums

In partnership with the ACT Mental Health Consumer Network and ACT Health, MHCC ACT arranges four community forums each year to discuss and raise awareness of current issues identified by Caucus and Consumer and Carer members. 

Training

Caucus has developed a training program called ‘Telling It Like It Is’. This training promotes communication between consumers, carers, and service providers, and offers individuals information on mental health services and participation opportunities. 

Representation

Caucus members represent and advocate on behalf of consumers and carers in local, national, and international forums.

Working groups

Caucus members participate in various working groups on ‘hot’ policy topics or issues that are raised during the year.  Currently the Advance Directives working group meets once per month.  Other groups planned for 2008 include Accommodation and Homelessness/ Mental Health Week/Mental Health Legal Centre.

Forums

Consumer, Carer and Community Quarterly Forums

In partnership with the ACT Mental Health Consumer Network and ACT Health, MHCC ACT arranges four community forums each year to discuss and raise awareness of current issues identified by Caucus and Consumer and Carer members. 

Community Sector Forums

An integral function of MHCC ACT is to support, initiate and respond to the issues ACT mental health consumers, carers and community organisations identify. The Coalition's role is to research and represent the interests of its members and support appropriate service and policy development initiatives. 

Since 2004 MHCC ACT has held regular community sector forums to address issues concerning the mental health community in the ACT. These forums are organised quarterly at MHCC ACT and have been very well attended. Opportunities to share information and opinion on Welfare Reform, Recovery-Focussed Care, Housing and Accommodation and Inpatient facilities have been some of the topics the forums have covered. A range of local and interstate speakers have been involved including politicians, consumer and carer advocates, clinicians, researchers and community organisation representatives.

Service Provider Network

Mental Health Provider Network is facilitated by the MHCC ACT and meets bimonthly to share information and learn more about the projects and programmes of member organisations. The knowledge is essential in maintaining linkages and forming partnerships between community organisations, consumers and carer groups to address sector promotion and broader service and policy development issues. 

Members' Sector Development Forum

The Members' Sector Development Forum (previously known as the Sector Development Reference Group) was formed following release of the “Building Capacity” report. This bi-monthly forum was established to bring together senior managers from member organisations to set the scene for engagement in sector development issues utilising the framework and recommendations set out in the Building Capacity report. The forum has established a practice of inviting participation from special guest speakers, which may include government representatives, as the need arises as a means of advancing discussion and projects on relevant issues including:·        

• Core Pricing (see publications for MHCC ACT core pricing submission);

• Outcome measurement (and service evaluation);

• Workforce Development (and workforce strategy);

• Care Coordination;

• Quality Improvement (uniform service standards and monitoring across the ACT); and

• The need to establish a comprehensive and proactive service development framework for the mental health community services sector.

This forum also provides an opportunity for senior staff in member agencies to share their knowledge and experience of organisational development and governance and to promote their interagency partnerships.  

Work Practices Forum

The quarterly work practices forum provides an opportunity for community support workers, clinicians and volunteers to share and reflect on work practice and care coordination issues.  Case studies or other issues based practice materials are presented to further discussion on practice approaches, information sharing and referral.   

Transforming Perceptions

Christine Bowman is the Co-ordinator of Transforming Perceptions, a mental health stigma reduction program with particular interest in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities.  

Transforming perceptions program is designed to help raise awareness of mental illness, dispel myths and misunderstanding, assist families and encourage people to seek medical help (if required). The training is to provide knowledge and awareness of:

• What we know about mental health and how we feel about it?

• Where stigma of mental illness comes from?

• What can we do?

• How we can work together for a community without stigma.

The program will support bi-lingual community trainers (CALD Trainers) to deliver mental health promotion sessions for ethnic communities. We welcome people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities to come and join in this program.

To view the Transforming Perceptions brochure click here.

If you are interested in attending, or have any questions please contact Christine on 6249 7756 or email christine.bowman@mhccact.org.au

Research and Policy

Research and Policy Development

The MHCC ACT policy and research agenda is directed to the development of: 

• Quality responses to government initiatives and inquiries; and

• The establishment of policy positions targeted to proactive leadership of debate on issues affecting the sector’s viability and effectiveness. 

Policy development in the ACT is increasingly being informed by and being undertaken in collaboration with the recently formed alliance of state and territory mental health peak organisations, Community Mental Health Australia. Policy papers currently available are as follows: 

• MHCC ACT & ACT COSS (2007), Building Capacity in the ACT Community Mental Health Sector, MHCC ACT Canberra.

• MHCC ACT (2008), Submission in Response to the Joint Community Government Reference Group’s Discussion Paper on Pricing Principles for Community Services in the ACT.

• Mental Health Community Coalition ACT & Consumer and Carer Caucus (2007), ACT Government Budget Submission 2007-2008  

Policy papers planned or currently under development include: 

• a position paper on housing and mental health;

• a proposal outlining requirements for the planned development of mental health community services to support a community focused mental health services system by 2012; and

• a response to the Commonwealth government’s green paper on homelessness issued in May 2008.

National Project: Building Capacity in Community Mental Health Family Support and Carer Respite: A FaHCSIA funded national project in collaboration with Community Mental Health Australia

Project Overview – Read about this exciting national project and the Coalition’s role

Progress Reports – Follow the project’s progress

Next Steps Forum in Building Respite and Family Support Partnerships – Read about the outcomes of the first workshop of interested ACT agencies

For more information:

Leanne Craze, Project Coordinator ACT, p: 02 6249 7756, m: 0408 869 051, e: leanne.craze@mhccact.org.au

Education

MHCC ACT is currently working on developing an education and workforce development program for the community mental health sector. The program aims to offer education opportunities to community service providers and consumer and carers groups.

Work Force Education and Development

MHCC ACT will be introducing a range of programs in partnership with ACT and interstate training providers for the ACT community mental health service sector.

These programs will focus exclusively on delivering skills and knowledge in psychosocial rehabilitation, recovery and strengths based practice models. The future programs offered by MHCC ACT will be informed by a comprehensive sector wide work force needs survey. For further information about upcomming programs please email admin@mhccact.org.au

Consumer and Carer Education Programs

Healthpact provided funds for an ‘action training’ program whereby in 2005, 12 members of the Consumer and Carer Caucus received training in organisational and community development simultaneously with participation in the next phase of the organisation’s development. Subject units covered by the training program included:

1. overview of mental illness and mental health treatment and care;
2. communication skills;
3. establishing and running a community organisation;
4. being a board member;
5. submission writing;
6. advocacy, lobbying and community development;
7. group facilitation;
8. handling difficult situations as a representative; and
9. self care.