Community members are invited to have their say on the new Regional Peer Workforce Framework which is currently being developed by COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW PHN, Southern NSW Local Health District, and Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District.

According to Dianne Kitcher, CEO of the South Eastern NSW PHN, the Framework supports the development of peer workers who apply their personal lived experience of mental illness and recovery in supporting consumers.

“Work has begun on developing a localised Peer Workforce Framework for our region which is the first priority action of the Regional Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan (the Plan). This Plan is set to bring about positive change for consumers of mental health services together with their families and carers,” said Ms Kitcher.

“We are delighted to invite consumers to be a part of this consultation, and contribute to shaping our local Framework. Peer workers, stakeholders and communities are able to share their ideas and experiences via survey, video conference, telephone, and online conversations,” she added.

Dr Leanne Craze from Craze Lateral Solutions is leading this work. She is partnering with Being, an independent and state-wide peak organisation for people with lived experience of mental illness (consumers) in NSW and Bé Aadam, a lived experience consultant.

“We are very excited to have engaged Dr Craze to undertake extensive consultation, as she is highly regarded within the consumer movement and the peer workforce,” said Julie Carter, Director Mental Health Services at Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District.

Damien Eggleton, Director Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol for Southern NSW Local Health District said the project, which is being funded through the NSW Ministry of Health, has three phases of co-design – discovery, design and development, and positioning for success.

“We are currently in the discovery phase of our consultation, and have designed an online survey which allows peer workers to share their views, identify aspects of their work and challenges they’ve experienced,” said Mr Eggleton.

There are also opportunities for peer workers, carers, community members and organisations to take part in or host group conversation sessions via video conference, telephone or other online alternatives. Questions will be provided for consideration to aid the informal discussions and ideas sharing.

The Framework seeks to contribute to more effective services and better outcomes for people accessing mental health services. Once the Framework is developed locally, the intention is that it will be made available to other PHNs and Local Health Districts to use as they seek to develop their own Frameworks.

To find out more about the Regional Peer Workforce Framework, and opportunities to contribute, go to: http://bit.ly/regionalpeerworkforceframework

COORDINARE news, Illawarra Shoalhaven, Media release, Mental health, Southern NSW, Suicide prevention,