Strategic Lived Experience Engagement

Following the release of the Review of the Clinical Governance of Public Mental Health Services in Western Australia new governance arrangements were announced for mental health, alcohol and other drug services in Western Australia.

The Mental Health Executive Committee (MHEC), which relates to the public mental health system, and the Community Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Council (CMC), which relates to the community mental health sector, were established to bring the sector together.

The MHEC and the CMC focus on improving partnerships, particularly with the community sector, and on strengthening consumer focused care to ensure that lived experience is central to mental health and AOD policy development and service delivery. The new governance model can be found here with more information about the MHEC and CMC here.

Lived experience is represented by on both the MHEC and the CMC by Ms Lyn Mahboub and Ms Kerry Hawkins.  

MHEC communiques can be located here and  CMC communiques here.

The Mental Health Advisory Council (MHAC) provides strategic advice and guidance to the Mental Health Commissioner regarding major issues affecting people with mental health problems, their families and service providers. The MHAC includes lived experience and health professionals.  More information about the work of the MHAC can be found here.

The Alcohol and Other Drugs Advisory Board (AODAB) provides advice to the Mental Health Commissioner about matters relevant to section 11 functions of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Act 1974. To ensure the advice provided is considerate of the diverse perspectives and experience in the sector AODAB members have expertise across areas impacted by alcohol and other drugs. More information about the work of the AOD AB can be found here.

Additionally, the Mental Health Commission has a number of strategic committees that include lived experience members:

If you are interested in being part of the Commission’s work we invite you to subscribe to Stakeholder Connect.

You can find more information about Stakeholder Connect here.

The National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF) is the combined national voice for consumers and carers participating in the development of mental health policy and sector development in Australia. Through its membership, the NMHCCF gives mental health consumers and carers the opportunity to meet, form partnerships and be involved in the development and implementation of mental health reform. The Western Australian NMHCCF representatives are Ms Carli Sheers and Ms Hayley Solich.  More information about the work of the NMHCCF, including a list of representatives and how they can be contacted can be found here.

Mental Health Australia maintains a National Register of 60 trained mental health consumer and carer representatives from across Australia, who work at a national level to provide a strong consumer and carer voice in the mental health sector. Members of the National Register use their lived experience, knowledge of the mental health system and communication skills to advocate and promote the issues and concerns of mental health consumers and carers. There are a number of National Register members in Western Australia; their profiles can be found here. More information about the National Register and how to contact them can be found here. 

Formed in 2002, Lived Experience Australia was previously known as the Private Mental Health Consumer Carer Network (Australia) to promote the interests of members of the community requiring private mental health services. While their focus is on private sector mental health services, they provide national systemic advocacy for consumers, families and carers in all mental health settings. The WA Co-ordinator for the State Advisory Forum is Lorraine Powell.

 

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