CONSUMER PARTICIPATION AT INNERWEST -- Frequently asked questions

CONSUMER PARTICIPAION FAQ What is Consumer Participation? How can I get involved? What is consumer participation? It is consumers coming together, getting involved and being provided with opportunities to express their views about the mental health services they utilize. How does it work? Consumer participation involves consumers, staff and management working together to resolve issues, improve the quality of our service and bring a shared vision to our service about how best to meet the needs of ourselves and others. It’s based on the understanding that service users have a great deal of expertise to give to mental health services about what good practice is and how it should be delivered. How can I get involved? The InnerWest Area Mental Health Service appreciates and acknowledges the valuable role that consumer participation plays in improving our service and in increasing consumer satisfaction. Consumer involvement is valued and practiced on a daily basis as part of the shared ethos that our mental programs embrace. We believe it is a basic right that the services we supply are answerable to you—the consumer. What are the benefits? Why get involved? Well firstly we need your help and the assistance and support of other consumers to really make a difference. As a consumer it is your right to make decisions that directly affect you. By the same token it is also your right to have your say about the way that the service operates. Having your say can make a direct impact on decisions that are made about the running and management of this service. The agency benefits and in turn you benefit. What can I gain personally from my involvement in participatory activities? Many consumers say their recovery has benefited from participating in the decision making processes that involve their life. Another common observation is that participation allows people to gain further insights into their own recovery through broadening their perspectives and understanding about mental illness and mental health in general.By being involved in consumer participation activities you will be brought in touch with the Mental Health Consumer Network which is active state-wide. This movement of allied mental health consumers gives voice to the views of people with a mental illness and has played a significant role in changing public perceptions and attitudes to mental illness. What are the ways that consumer paricipation takes place at InnerWest? Many people find Consumer Participation to be an enjoyable activity: that can often lead on to other opportunities for individuals. It can take place within a variety of settings and for a number of different purposes. Examples of typical consumer participation activities and involvements are Committee meetings, Community forums, consumer run discussion groups, contributing to our newsletter, providing education and training to InnerWest staff on consumer perspectives on mental health, BBQ’s and other informal get-togethers. What is the InnerWest CAG? The InnerWest Consumer Advisory Group(CAG)is made up of consumers who meet monthly basis at Waratah and who make recommendations to IWAMHS management about what they feel needs to be undertaken in order to make services more open, accountable and responsive to the needs of their clients. The group is virtually self run and members are reimbursed for their time and valued work. How do I find out more? To find out more about consumer participation you can contact the Consumer Consultants Leonie, James and Neil on 93773505 or 9377 3504 or send us an email on Neil.Turton-Lane@mh.org.au , James.Kelso@mh.org.au , Leonie.Walsh@mh.org.au alternatively you can access information from the display board on Consumer Participation at the Waratah Clinic Level 2 641 Mt Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds