1 in 5 will be affected with mental illness. 5 in 5 can help. Be one of them. See back cover for details.

mivoice

spring 2011issue 123

advocacy matterspublic transport must be fair for all p6-7

Registered with the Department of Human Services Print Post Approved 350190 / 00023 ISSN 0816 7877

Annual General Meeting – Tues 8 November p10

anyone for tennis? p8-9

from our president

2mivoicespring 2011

www.mifellowship.orgcontents from our chief executive p3 | talking about tobacco p4 | to make the flowers grow p4 | your questions answered p5 | advocacy matters p6-7 | anyone for tennis p8-9 | meet Hai Nguyen p9| membership matters p10 | get on board p11 | media monitors back page | 4 9

Paul Montgomery

This high-level committee draws on expert advice to inform COAG (the Council of Australian Governments) in its development of national mental health policies and structures. Liz was nominated by Community Mental Health Australia to represent the community-based mental health sector, and she will be focussing on ensuring coordination between clinical and non-clinical mental health services.

New housing and support project up and running

Improving access to suitable and stable housing for people with mental illness has long been a priority for MI Fellowship Victoria. It is therefore extremely exciting for us to be implementing the innovative Doorway project.

Following the Victorian Government’s funding allocation of $3.2 million to MI Fellowship Victoria to operate a demonstration housing and support project, Doorway is partnering with providers of clinical mental health services and the private property market to make a total of 50 properties available, and to support people to maintain their tenancies.

The scheme is now being marketed to real estate agents and private property owners with support from the (REIV) Real Estate Institute of Victoria. It is expected that approximately 30 properties will be identified and tenanted by the beginning of next year.

The Doorway project represents a long-awaited new approach to providing people with a secure place from which to make their recovery journey, and we look forward to keeping you informed of the project’s progress.

I am delighted and proud to be able to congratulate MI Fellowship Victoria CEO Liz Crowther on her appointment to the Mental Health Standing Committee of the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council.

Welcome to new Board member

I am pleased to welcome Rob Hughes to the MI Fellowship Board of Directors. Rob took up his new role in June and brings 20 years’ experience in professional services, providing advice to major organisations across a range of sectors. MI Fellowship Victoria has been fortunate to benefit from Rob’s skills in developing Board reporting processes and in conducting executive reviews. We welcome Rob and the expertise he brings.

Thanks to Helpline volunteers

MI Fellowship Victoria’s Helpline provides invaluable information and referral advice to people with mental illness and their families, and is staffed by an impressive group of highly committed and empathetic people. Over the last few months, a number of long-term Helpline volunteers have left their roles for a variety reasons, and I want to acknowledge their terrific contributions. Phyllis Mules, Estelle Malseed and Elaine Price have between them given many years’ service to the Helpline and are now moving on. We thank you all for your dedication. Elaine and Estelle continue to make a significant contribution to our organisation through their respective roles on the MI Fellowship Board and the Directions Committee.

I trust you’ll enjoy this Spring issue of MI Voice, and thank you for your continuing support.

3mivoice

from our chief executive

Indeed, the mental health system is

characterised by a large number of diverse

and dispersed services. Mostly this is due

to the piecemeal nature of government and

philanthropic funding in the community

mental health sector.

However, with increasing government

recognition and funding of community-

based mental health care, it is time for the

organisations delivering that care to plan for a

larger role in the healthcare system, and to work

towards greater ease of access to our services.

MI Fellowship Victoria is participating in a

comprehensive strategy being developed

by Victoria’s community mental health

sector to improve the connectedness of our

services, and to ensure that the sector has the

necessary capacity to meet growing demand.

This is a challenging process, requiring frank

assessment of where increased capacity

is needed. It is also extremely exciting for

community mental health organisations like ours

to be embracing our growing role in the health

system, and to be working towards improved

experiences and outcomes for our clients.

Protecting your privacy

In recent weeks it has become known that

some charitable organisations have passed on

the details of their members and supporters

to third parties. MI Fellowship Victoria wishes

to reassure its members and supporters that

we do not make your personal information

available to any other organisation.

MI Fellowship Victoria is also keenly aware of

our participants’ right to privacy, and the need

to respect the choices of our participants

as to whether or not they disclose their

history of mental illness. We recognise that in

some cases, our very name – Mental Illness

Fellowship Victoria – makes public association

with our organisation difficult. This is an issue

we are currently considering.

Open Mind Fiesta

Next month we celebrate 10 years of Open

Mind Fiesta – a marvellously heart-warming

community celebration and the official closing

event of Mental Health Week in Victoria.

This year the Fiesta moves to the vibrant and

culturally diverse shopping precinct of High

Street, Preston, raising public awareness of

mental health issues in a new neighbourhood,

while continuing to attract support from

volunteers and visitors from around Victoria.

After ten years, the Fiesta continues to

thrive and evolve, bringing people together

in an affirmation of tolerance, openness and

enjoyment of life. This year the theme of the

Fiesta is physical health and wellbeing, and

there will be a range of performances, stalls

and activities to inspire us all to better health.

I thank the many people who volunteer their time to make the Fiesta a success, and look forward to seeing familiar and new faces down on High Street Preston on Sunday 16 October.

Many of our members and supporters won’t be surprised to know that an independent report into the needs of Victorians with mental illness found that navigating the health system was one of the key challenges facing people with mental illness and their families.

Elizabeth Crowther

Keynote speaker confirmed:

We are honoured to have Frank Quinlan, CEO of the Mental Health Council of Australia, presenting the keynote address at this year’s Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 8 November 2011.

The Mental Health Council of Australia is the peak, national organisation promoting the interests of the Australian mental health sector. Frank was appointed CEO of the organisation earlier this year, following a long history across a number of organisations, advocating for improved social and community services.

At our AGM, Frank will present the top challenges and opportunities we currently face in achieving better mental health services

in Australia.

Be sure to reserve

your seat

(details on page 10).

spring 2011

Wepiha and Matt are running the ‘Talking about

Tobacco’ smoking cessation program – a free program

for people experiencing difficulties with their mental

health who want to reduce or quit smoking cigarettes.

While levels of smoking in the general Australian

population continue to decline in the face of public health

campaigns, smoking among people with mental illness

remains steady at 75%.

The ‘Talking about Tobacco’ program is part of MI Fellowship’s

In it Together: Physical health and wellbeing for people with

mental illness – our two-year program aimed at removing the

barriers to good physical health for people with mental illness.

‘Talking about Tobacco’ groups meet once a week over 10

weeks. Each week a different topic is discussed, including

triggers to smoking, coping with withdrawal and nicotine

replacement therapy.

The program provides people experiencing difficulties

with their mental health with the tools they need to reduce

smoking at their own pace, with essential support and

strategies in place.

Matt has recently successfully quit

smoking himself, and brings this experience to the workshops.

“I’ve tried to quit more than once and this time I have

succeeded. I’ve been smokefree for 10 weeks. I was

successful because I used all the knowledge that I had gained

from trying to quit before, so I knew what to expect and how

to manage the quit process. Anyone can quit if they want to.

Having strategies helps.”

Matt and Wepiha will also be training mental health workers

so that they can support people to reduce or quit smoking.

Some flowers grow wild to fill the fields with colourOthers struggle to bloom hidden among the weedsSome wither before our eyes and no amount of care can save themExhausted and confused we seek assistanceAs the caretaker of our gardenWe try everything we knowTo make the flowers grow

Sometimes we need time to nurture ourselvesAnd we must leave our garden and hand over to interim carersIn a collaborated effortTo make the flowers grow

But we return to our gardenAnd in our heart we have never really left itAnd we continue to nurture and protect the plants we loveWhen stormy winds damage our precious gardenHope never leaves us and the cycle continuesAs the warm sun and gentle rain caress our battered flowers And we witness the healing

When insects attack unexpectedly we call for expertsAnd we stand aside once moreBut we are never far with our tolerance and compassionWhen anger and frustration overwhelms usWe find our own peace and continue to tend our garden To make the flowers grow

To make the flowers growby Margaret Pyers, MI Fellowship Victoria carer participant

4 physical health and wellbeing

talking about tobacco

mivoice

Painting by MI Fellowship Victoria staff member Cathy Kirwan. See more of her work at www.tinniegirl.com.au

Matt Morris

spring 2011

We are pleased to welcome Wepiha Gemmell and Matt Morris to MI Fellowship Victoria.

5

Visit www.mifellowship.org for news, views, events and mental health information. You may wish to make a secure online donation while you’re there, or subscribe to our free private e-newsletter mi voice update, which keeps you in touch with us in between magazines.

mivoice

My son has recently gone on to medication and

is concerned about possible weight gain. How

do we ensure he has a healthy diet? This question

comes from Rhonda in Eltham and is answered

by Emma Ladd, Regional Manager for Quality

and Service Development.

To make a start it’s good to have a clear, honest picture

of what you’re currently eating. The best way to see how

you’re using food is to keep a food diary for one week,

writing down what, when, and how much you’re eating.

By also noting how you’re feeling at different points

during the day in your food diary, you’ll get an even more

complete picture of how your emotions and your eating

behaviours may be interacting.

The food pyramid (http://www.nutritionaustralia.org/

national/resource/healthy-living-pyramid)

can be used as a good guide to help you determine

how to balance different food groups in a food plan.

If you have a medical condition such as diabetes or

food allergies, or other dietary restrictions including

those related to taking certain psychiatric medications,

you should follow your healthcare provider’s specific

dietary recommendations.

Small and frequent meals can help prevent you from

getting too hungry, which can lead to overeating. This

approach also feeds your brain a steady supply of

glucose which helps to keep cravings at a minimum.

Don’t skip breakfast. Skipping breakfast is associated

with reduced problem solving ability, lower energy

and decreased motivation. Eating breakfast may also

help you to manage your hunger and food intake

throughout the day.

Aim for variety. Ideally, your daily menu should include a

‘rainbow’ of fresh fruits and vegetables to ensure you’re

getting a balanced mix of nutrients. Limit fast food and

junk food as high-sugar and high-fat meals can have a

negative effect on mood.

Beverage choices are as important as your food choices.

Drink plenty of water, and avoid alcohol which can act

as a depressant and interfere with your sleep patterns.

Limit caffeinated beverages like coffee, soda, or energy

drinks. These can have a stimulating effect at first, only

to be followed by a drop in energy level and mood. Some

suggestions for energy-boosting snacks that are better

alternatives are bananas, apples or berries, yoghurt with

muesli, low-fat cheese, almonds and walnuts, hummus,

half a sandwich, or a single serve of popcorn.

Listen to your body’s signals to know when to eat and

when to stop. Eat when you feel physical hunger, and try

to eat slowly, remembering that it takes several minutes

for your body to signal fullness. Enjoy each bite, and stop

eating when you feel full.

Don’t give up everything you enjoy. Give yourself

permission to indulge on occasion. Remember:

everything in moderation.

You can find health recipes and tips at: https://www.

mindbodylife.com.au/RecipesforLife/RecipesMain.cfm

Do you have a question you want answered?

Send an email to kgarner@mifellowship.org with

“Your Questions Answered” in the subject line.

spring 2011

your questions answeredHow can I help my son with weight gain caused by medication?

mivoice update – email newsletterStay in touch with the latest news and events in mental health. Register your details at

www.mifellowship.org. It’s free, private and you can unsubscribe at any time.

6

It is time government policy on workforce participation by people with mental illness took note of the growing body of evidence that demonstrates people with severe mental illness can gain and sustain employment, given the right support.

mivoice

public transport, e-health and employment services on our agendaADVOCACY MATTERS

spring 2011

As part of MI Fellowship Victoria’s ongoing advocacy for

a new approach to employment support for people with

mental illness, Laura Collister, our General Manager for

Rehabilitation Services, met with the Federal Minister for

Social Housing and Homelessness, Senator Mark Arbib.

Laura joined Sacred Heart Mission CEO, Michael Perusco,

to discuss the impressive results being achieved by the

Journey to Social Inclusion Project.

The Journey to Social Inclusion (J2SI) project is a three

year pilot project which was initiated by Sacred Heart

Mission to demonstrate that long-term, intensive support

can permanently end a person’s chronic homelessness.

MI Fellowship Victoria provides employment services to

participants in the project through its My Recruitment

program. Laura Collister explains that even project staff have

been impressed by the results so far.

“The J2SI project is working with people who may well have believed they would never work again,” says Laura. “But by working closely with clients to identify their needs and preferences, and by using the Individual Placement and Support model which has been shown to improve a person’s chances of finding employment, we are seeing J2SI participants re-enter the workforce.”

MI Fellowship Victoria recently lodged a submission with the

Federal Parliamentary Inquiry into Mental Health Barriers to

Workforce Participation. The submission calls for:

Government funding of a national demonstration of

the Individual Placement and Support model which is

used by My Recruitment and has been demonstrated

internationally to increase the likelihood of getting a

person a job and increasing their weekly hours worked

over the long term.

Co-location of employment consultants with clinical

mental health services to enable job searching to

commence at the earliest point and integration of

employment support with other services.

Use of employment consultants with experience and

expertise in working with people with mental illness.

A system that enables people who want to work, to start

a job at the earliest point in their recovery by allowing

them to start with a small number of hours each week

if necessary, and then build up hours over time.

The full submission gives a comprehensive outline of

what can be done to increase workforce participation

among people with mental illness and is available at:

http://www.mifellowship.org/ip-submissions.shtml

7mivoice

public transport, e-health and employment services on our agenda

spring 2011

Public transport needs to be safe for all

MI Fellowship Victoria is concerned at the Victorian

Government’s proposal to deploy Protective Services Officers

(PSOs) at train stations with the power to make arrests,

including the authority to apprehend people who appear to be

mentally ill under the Mental Health Act.

Legislation recently introduced into the Victorian Parliament

authorises the use of PSOs in public places, and the focus

of Government policy and funding is on the placement of

940 PSOs on metropolitan and major regional train stations

every day from 6pm until the last train.

MI Fellowship Victoria is writing to the Premier, the Minister

for Mental Health and the Transport Minister expressing

concern regarding the role and training of these officers

who will be authorised under the Mental Health Act to ‘use

such force as may be reasonably necessary’ to apprehend

a person and then ‘as soon as practicable’ hand the person

into the custody of police or a mental health practitioner.

These proposed powers are even more concerning given

that the PSOs will be armed with semi-automatic firearms,

capsicum sprays and batons.

We believe there is significant potential for negative

interactions between the Officers and people with mental

illness who are regular users of the public transport

system. This is particularly concerning as the government

has given no assurance of providing officers with training

in dealing with people with mental illness or with other

vulnerable groups.

People with a mental illness are already over-represented

in the justice system. A 2009 study found that one in five

people in Australia taken into custody are current clients of

a public mental health service with their coming into custody

a consequence of their underlying illness. Without adequate

training in and understanding of the effects of mental illness,

PSOs are very likely to add to this inequity.

Electronic health records on the way

From July next year all Australians will have the option to

sign up for a personally controlled electronic health record

(PCEHR) – this is a secure, electronic health file which

contains key health information. The electronic record will

not contain all information held in healthcare providers’

records, but it will include frequently used information and

summaries of key healthcare events.

People with e-health records will be able to authorise

healthcare providers to access part or all of their files,

reducing the need to repeat information to a range of

different health professionals. People will also be able to

access their own electronic files. Privacy protection will be

in place to ensure that only the file owner, their authorised

healthcare providers, and their nominated representatives

will be able to access the files.

Of particular interest to people with mental illness, the

electronic records will have the following functions:

• You will be able to nominate your partner or a trusted

person to have access to your e-health record if you wish.

• If you have an advance care directive (containing

information about how you want health decisions to be

made at times when you are not in a position to make

those decisions yourself), you will be able to record

details of the location and custodian of your advance care

directive on your electronic health record.

• You will be able to add information to your electronic

record about allergies or reactions you have experienced

in response to medications.

The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing

has recently conducted a consultation process to gather

community feedback on how the PCEHR system will work.

More information on PCEHRs is available at:

http://www.nehta.gov.au/ehealth-implementation/what-is-a-pcher

MI Fellowship Victoria is concerned at the Victorian Government’s proposal to deploy Protective Services Officers at train stations with the power to make arrests.

ekey

8mivoicespring 2011

anyone for tennis? pathwayspeople and their stories

Table tennis is an exceptionally therapeutic game,

according to Hai Nguyen, MI Fellowship’s multi-

cultural program worker.

“It provides both physical and psychological exercise,”

explains Hai. “Anyone who can hold a bat can play. It

gives people the chance to get to know each other without

necessarily having to spend too much time talking. It

sharpens reflexes, it’s fun.”

Around 12 people with experience of mental illness turn up

to play table tennis each Thursday afternoon in Richmond.

The group started up in March after participants decided

that it was a regular activity they would like to get going.

Since then, through word of mouth, the numbers of regular

players is growing.

The Richmond location and Hai’s Vietnamese language

skills make the group a friendly and accessible place for

the local Vietnamese and Chinese communities.

“Through self-referral we are getting a growing number

of Vietnamese and Chinese people coming along. This is

very good for them because people from culturally diverse

backgrounds can often be cautious about using health and

community services. Coming to our group is helping them

build their confidence to seek support when they need it.”

The participants play a combination of singles and

doubles games, mixing up language groups and giving

people the opportunity to get to know people they haven’t

spent time with before.

Hai is often joined at the sessions by his English-speaking

colleagues, and, with participants speaking English, Vietnamese,

Cantonese and Mandarin, there are some interesting cross-

cultural exchanges across the ping pong table.

“We sometimes have to do informal interpreting for each other, but we usually manage to work things out,” says Hai.

Hai is driven by two big-picture goals that he is hoping

to achieve alongside the people he is working with. He

is passionate about building bridges of understanding

between people of different cultures, and of giving people

opportunities to find the similarities among themselves.

“People need time to get to know each other. At the end

of the day, mental health is mental health - it doesn’t

matter where a person comes from. We are all seeking the

same things,” says Hai.

How MI Fellowship Victoria participants are learning the international language of ‘ping pong’.

Julian Stutt Antony Joscelyne

conti

nued over the page

9mivoice

www.mifellowship.org

spring 2011

pathwaysHai arrived in Australia as a refugee from Vietnam

28 years ago at the age of 21. Speaking no English,

he took a job in the Ford factory and spent 15 years

there. Once he had established some financial stability

for himself and his family, Hai attended TAFE college

to learn English, and then completed a Diploma

in Community Development, before going on to

commence a degree in Community Development.

Before starting with MI Fellowship Victoria in January this

year, Hai had been employed with ADEC for eight years,

and prior to that had worked with people with mental

illness in a number of community organisations. Hai has

a keen interest in philosophy and Buddhism, and hopes

one day, when he has more time, to be able to pursue

these interests with further study. In the meantime, we are

keeping him busy at MI Fellowship Victoria.

Hai is also working to build confidence in mental health

consumers from culturally diverse backgrounds to seek

help when they need it. “For most of us, there will be a

time in our lives when we need to be able to communicate

with hospital staff, or aged care staff. Speaking a different

language should not be a barrier, and people need to feel

comfortable, wherever they come from, about getting the

care they need.”

Table tennis is just one of the ‘Connect’ activities that Hai

and other workers run in Richmond. Participants can also

take part in walking groups, coffee groups, excursions and

other social activities. For people who are not ready to

join a group, Hai and his colleagues deliver home-based

services to support people in their recovery.

dates for your diary in 2011 Mental Health Week 10-16 October | Open Mind Fiesta High Street Preston Sunday 16 October | Annual General Meeting Tuesday 8 November

Hai Nguyen, MI Fellowship Victoria multi-cultural program worker

Thoa Nguyen and Vu Thanh

meet Hai Nguyen

10

2011 election notice

mivoicespring 2011

In the previous edition of MI Voice we advised of the timetable

for the 2011 Board election. Following the appointment of the

Australian Electoral Commission as our Returning Officer, and

to make sure we provide you with all of the information you

need, we have changed the dates for the nomination period

and the ballot:

Nominations for Board positions open 6 September 2011

Nominations for Board positions close 5pm 19 September 2011

Nominations for a Board position must be in writing and comply

with the constitution and reach the Returning Officer by 5pm

on Monday 19 September. Nomination forms are available from

the website www.mifellowship.org or the Returning Officer.

Candidates may submit a passport sized photo and statement not

exceeding 100 words to be distributed with ballot material.

You can lodge nominations by post to:

Mario ChindamoReturning OfficerAustralian Electoral CommissionGPO Box 4382Melbourne Vic 3001

Or Fax to: 03 9285 7149

Or email to: Mario.chindamo@aec.gov.au

(please attach the nomination form)

If a ballot is necessary, voting material will be posted on

12 October 2011 to all eligible members at the address shown

on Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria records. Candidates will be

permitted to appoint scrutineers to oversee the ballot process.

Ballot closes 5pm Wednesday 26 October 2011

Election results will be announced Friday 4 November 2011.

members invited to AGMTuesday 8 November 2011 5.30pm, followed by supper

Middletons Lawyers, Level 25, South Tower, 525 Collins Street, Melbourne.

Keynote speaker – Frank Quinlan, CEO, Mental Health Council of Australia ‘Opportunities and challenges ahead for improving mental health services in Australia’

Announcement of 2011 MI Fellowship Victoria Award winners

RSVP by Friday 14 October. Tel: 03 8486 4200 Email: enquiries@mifellowship.org

Don’t forget to renew your membership for 2011 if you haven’t already done so!

You can renew online at www.mifellowship.org or complete the form included in this issue of MI Voice.

26 OctBallOt clOses at 5pm

8 NOVaNNUal GeNeRal meetING

REW64QLDSBZ%bnNeV?

Our Patron and former

President, The Hon Rob

Knowles AO, has been

appointed by the Victorian

Department of Human Services

to provide advice on how the

Department can increase its

focus on meeting client needs and improve the ease with

which people can interact with the Department.

Rob will join Dr Jeff Harmer AO in heading up a panel that

will give advice on the wide-ranging organisational review.

Rob continues to play a leading role in advocating for

improved mental health services as Chair of the Mental

Health Council of Australia and President of Mental Illness

Fellowship Australia. As Patron of Mental Illness Fellowship

Victoria, Rob continues to be an important source of advice,

particularly in regard to national issues.

Rob Knowles to advise on government review

11

get on board: meet Jenny and Theo

mivoice

Jenny King became concerned

about the impact of mental illness

having seen its effects on friends

and their families. It was through

the experiences of these friends

that she first became involved with

MI Fellowship Victoria and joined the Board in 2005.

As a Chief Financial Officer in the chemical industry and

with over 30 years’ experience in strategic planning, risk

management, and budgeting, Jenny brings significant skills

and nous to the MI Fellowship Victoria Board.

But it is her commitment to social inclusion and challenging

stigma around mental illness that underpins Jenny’s

contribution to MI Fellowship Victoria.

“I feel privileged that, as a MI Fellowship Board member, I can

contribute through the use of my financial and commercial

skills to help, wherever possible, make a better life for those

affected by mental illness and their families,” she says.

Jenny is an advocate for raising awareness of mental illness

by highlighting the facts and challenging misconceptions

and prejudices. She also sees social inclusion - through

personal support, education, work, and a home - as

essential not only to recovery but also to reducing stigma.

Jenny is also a founding Council Member of the YMCA’s

Juvenile Justice ‘Bridge Project’ and a specialist advisor

on Victoria University’s Audit and Risk Board Committee.

Theo Krambias was contributing to

MI Fellowship Victoria long before

his appointment to the Board in

2008 as an instigator of the first

Open Mind Fiesta in 2001. Through

the vision and commitment of

people like Theo, Open Mind Fiesta has gone on to

become a key event for raising awareness of mental

health and the importance of social inclusion.

With a background in the health industry and property

development, it is no surprise that Theo has a particular

interest in the provision of suitable and secure housing for

people with mental illness. People with mental illness face

a greater risk of homelessness or inadequate housing than

the rest of the population, and addressing this disadvantage

is a strong source of motivation for Theo’s involvement with

MI Fellowship Victoria.

Theo’s knowledge and experience in the real estate market

has proven invaluable as MI Fellowship Victoria embarks

on the innovative Doorway project, which is facilitating

stable and adequate housing for people with mental illness

in coordination with individualised tenant support.

Theo is also a Board member with OzChild and the Cyprus

Community of Melbourne and Victoria.

spring 2011

we have a winner...

The MI Fellowship Victoria Autumn Raffle was drawn on 16 June and Maria of Footscray was the lucky winner of a brand new Honda Civic VTi L auto sedan (luxury model). Maria was still in shock when she picked up her new car from Ferntree Gully Honda, valued at $30,000, plus a $1,000 fuel voucher and car mats.

“I just do what I can to help the community, but I never think I will win,” she said.

Thank you to all who bought and sold tickets.

Jenny King

Theo Krambias

12

Editor : : Kerryn Garner, Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria

Design : : Lisa Minichiello, Room44

Printing : : Bambra PressMI Voice aims to keep our readers informed of the latest information on mental illness and our advocacy work. It is also our opportunity to keep potential and existing supporters and donors informed of the Mental Illness Fellowship’s activities and the difference their contribution makes.

MI Voice is the quarterly publication of the Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria, Fairfield Place 276 Heidelberg Road, Fairfield, Victoria, Australia, 3078.

Telephone : : 03 8486 4200Fax : : 03 8486 4265Email : : enquiries@mifellowship.orgWebsite : : www.mifellowship.orgHelpline : : 03 8486 4222Mental Illness Fellowship retains the right to edit articles. Please note that the opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor or the Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria.

© Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria. PO Box 359 Clifton Hill, Vic 3068 All rights reserved.ACN 093 357 165 ABN 93 093 357 165 ISSN 0816 7877

media monitorsLiz Crowther was interviewed by Lindy Burns on ABC774 ‘Drive Time’ on the Victorian State Budget.

Woodcock presenter Assoc Prof Sharon Lawn and MI Fellowship Victoria peer participation worker Ben Rinaudo were interviewed by Richard Aedy on Radio National’s ‘Life Matters’ program on physical health and mental illness.

The 2011 Woodcock Lecture received mentions on Radio 3AW and RRR Radio.

The new location for Open Mind Fiesta was featured in Leader newspapers.

Liz Crowther and My Recruitment participant Frank Gallacher were interviewed in a feature story on employment and mental illness in the

national magazine HR Monthly.

board of directorsPresident : : Mr Paul Montgomery

Vice President : : Mrs Diane Brown

Directors : : Mr Kevin Abrahamson, Ms Lyn Allison, Mr Darrel Drieberg, Dr Julian Freidin, Ms Jan Hatt, Ms Jenny King, Mr Theo Krambias, Ms Louise Milne-Roch, Mrs Elaine Price

Chief Executive : : Ms Elizabeth Crowther

thank you to our supporters

Tuesday 2 August 2011, Preston Leader

spring 2011 newsmivoice