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Open Mind Newsletter
5th Edition, 2009
Contents
 Welcome to this edition of Open Mind.
In this edition you will notice some new sections including client contributions, specific carer information, more updates about our work in South Australia, a section on upcoming events and an interview with a support worker. These sections have been included in response to feedback from the Open Mind reader survey that accompanied the last edition. Thanks to all of you who responded. We really appreciated your feedback, it assisted us in building the relevance of material in this newsletter.
This edition leads with a feature article on the lack of suitable housing for people with mental health issues and highlights the need for more government action on housing. It discusses the roles Mind is playing in addressing housing shortages for people experiencing mental health issues. This is a major social problem and one that requires concerted action by Mind, government and the mental health sector.
Bill Healy the Chairman of the Board and I were delighted to welcome 22 people to the first meeting of the Victorian Reference Group for our strategic planning process. Participants included; consumer and carer representatives, key stakeholders including the Mental Health and Drugs Branch, clinical services, VICSERV and staff from across the organisation. Mind has engaged Tony McBride to assist the organisation in this strategic planning process and in the drafting of a new strategic plan for the organisation. Tony comes with a strong background in the consumer health movement.
This strategic planning exercise is important because of the changing policy and funding contexts in which the organisation is operating. At the national and state government levels, policy directions are changing.
The organisation needs to be continually listening and responding to consumer, family and carer expectations and feedback. Our staff are our key resource and we also need to be listening to them and their expectations of the organisation over the next five years.
The process and mechanisms that have been developed as part of this process have been designed to ensure that we are listening and seeking feedback from all interested parties.
The strategic planning process incorporates three main stages:
- Research to update our understanding of client and carer/family needs and to consider the intersection of our recovery practice with issues of social inclusion such as access to housing, adequate income and employment and the building of social networks.
- Consultation on future options that emerge from the research and the previous consultations in 2008/09.
- Development and consideration of the next strategic plan.
I am keen to engage the Board, staff, clients, carers, family members and other key stakeholders in consultations which will allow us to reflect on past performance and challenge our thinking going forward. We can then use this research and data to plot the most productive path for Mind and its clients over the next five years.
Finally, this is the last edition of our editor Cassie Duncan and I wish to acknowledge her contribution to this newsletter. Cassie is moving on to new career opportunities and we wish her well and thank her for her contribution.
I hope you enjoy this edition of Open Mind.
Note: For more information on the strategic planning process contact Tony McBride. tmcbride@mindaustralia.org.au or 03 9455 7916.
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Mind assesses the role it can play in addressing housing shortages for people with mental health issues
By: Gerry Naughtin, CEO
Housing affordability and availability have been widely recognised as major social problems that the Commonwealth and State Governments are seeking to address. However, the particular housing needs of people with mental health issues are receiving insufficient attention in the public discussion about housing affordability and homelessness. This lack of housing supply is having a major impact on many Mind clients who are doing it tough when trying to find affordable housing.
In response to the increasing housing crisis for people experiencing mental health issues, Mind is seeking to strengthen its role in securing housing for its clients and advocating for greater attention by State and Federal Governments on housing supply for this particular group of the population.
A range of government reports are highlighting this crisis of housing availability. The National Housing Supply Council estimated an under-supply of 85,000 dwellings in 2008.1
Total social housing stock has failed to keep pace with population growth with little growth in the stock over the past decade. Estimates suggest that an additional 80,000 social housing dwellings were required in this period just to keep pace with household growth.2
Through its residential rehabilitation and housing services and its nomination rights, Mind directly supports over 500 people with housing, which makes it a major provider of housing for people with mental health issues. However, the current housing crisis means that we need to do more.
If a Mind client on a public housing waiting list is offered a property during a period of being unwell, they are often forced to decline the offer, which then places them at the back of the queue. Because of the demand for public housing, allowances are not made for illness, and for people who experience episodic mental illnesses this can be quite challenging and very distressing.
The other undesirable outcome for people exiting Mind’s programs is that they are sometimes left with no option but to move into transitional or temporary accommodation, which again can be quite counter-productive for a person at a fairly vulnerable stage in their life.
Clients are often exiting our programs to unsuitable housing and lack of supply is delaying departure from residential programs. The availability of safe and affordable housing is such an important element of successful recovery.
Lack of housing is resulting in some clients revolving through a number of transitional housing and homelessness services rather than finding secure accommodation and getting on with their lives.
Recommendation 76 in the Federal Government’s recent report A Healthier Future For All Australians June 2009 states that ‘We recommend that each state and territory government provide those suffering from severe mental illness with stable housing that is linked to support services.’
This acknowledgement by government of the importance of stable housing being linked to support services is encouraging, yet where the system currently fails is that public and affordable housing is often operated quite separately from support services.
Whilst access to housing is a critical issue; provision of housing with appropriate support, linkage to ancillary services, and opportunity for employment, education and income, tailored to individual client need is also essential.3
People with mental health issues face the double jeopardy of lack of housing and the detrimental impact on their mental health. This is resulting in unnecessary use of transitional and homelessness services.
Over the coming months Mind will be considering the ways in which it can create better pathways for housing for its clients. We are examining ways in which we can become more active in housing provision and advocacy, whilst also looking at partnerships with major housing providers to ensure that we secure the best outcome for our clients.
Mind has set up a housing project team which is leading our work in this area. Led by Heather Thompson, Mind Regional Manager and Steve Price, Mind Program Manager, it is examining available options and developing a draft housing strategy.
I will endeavour to keep you informed on the important progress that is being made to secure long-term housing options for clients at Mind and thus ensuring that the best possible recovery outcomes can be achieved.
- National Housing Supply Council State of Supply Report 2008
- Milligan, Gurran, Lawson, Phibbs, Phillips, AHURI Final Report No134 – Innovation in affordable housing in Australia, June 2009
- (Housing Work Group (HWG) Adult Advisory Committee of the Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), 2006)
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Keeping families and carers in Mind
Since Mind employed its first Carer Consultant in Victoria over a year ago much progress has been made in developing ways to be more inclusive of families and carers.
The first step for Mind was to establish both a Family and Carer Inclusion Policy and a Carer Participation Policy to guide the interaction between the organisation and its families and carers. Mind has always recognised family members and carers as valued partners in the provision of care to Mind clients, however, more recently Mind has worked to enhance the capacity of staff to engage and collaborate with family members when delivering support to clients.
Thirty-one staff, carers and clients recently attended Family Sensitive Training (FaST) delivered by the Bouverie Centre. The result of the FaST training was extremely positive with 96% of participants indicating that the training had a reasonable to large impact in assisting them to implement closer collaboration with families and carers.
As part of the FaST training, workers were invited to ‘step into the shoes’ of carers and family members and gain an emotional and personal appreciation of their experience. This exercise may sound simple, but the needs of families and carers have not always been well understood or appreciated across the mental health sector.
 The lack of community support around mental illness places enormous stress on families and carers, who often feel misunderstood and undergo emotions such as guilt, grief, shame, confusion and isolation.
All these are natural companions of the trauma of mental illness as everyone struggles to make sense of the symptoms of the illness.
Once participants in the training were supported to identify with the grief and loss felt by families and carers, they showed great compassion and were able to direct this into innovative and practical ways to help families. Some examples of the initiatives that will be delivered over time include; hosting a southern region family and carer information night to be held on 14 September (see upcoming events); a Mind family and carer recovery forum (to be advertised); dedicated family and carer spaces at various Mind programs; carer notice boards and family and carer specific information resource packs.
Mind currently operates a specialised program available to people living in the western region of Melbourne called Building Family Skills Together (BFST). BFST works with the whole family to support the recovery of people living with a mental illness. There is also a detailed family and carer resource section of the Mind website. For more information visit www.mindaustralia.org.au
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New family and carer reference group
A bi-monthly Family and Carer Reference Group has recently been established in Victoria to act as an advisory body on carer issues for Mind. The Family and Carer Reference Group will enable carer input into planning, development, delivery and evaluation of Mind programs and policies. It also aims to facilitate greater carer participation at all levels of the organisation by encouraging the implementation of a shared vision for meeting the needs of family members and carers at Mind programs.
If you are a family member/carer interested in learning more about the Family and Carer Reference Group please contact the Carer Consultant, Michela Cardamone on 03 9455 7900 or mcardamone@mindaustralia.org.au
If you would like to be added to Mind’s carer database please contact Community Relations on 03 9455 7900.
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 Our recent reader survey highlighted the need to help people to understand the role that Mind and its staff play in helping people to recover from mental illness.
In this interview, Rohan, a support worker and team leader at Victoria Street Program (Vic St), one of Mind’s residential programs in Melbourne gives insight into the work that he undertakes each day to support clients as they recover from the effects of mental illness. We hope that this interview allows you to develop a deeper understanding of just what it means to be a support worker and illustrates the significant progress that can be achieved by working one-on-one with people.
What appealed to you about working in the mental health sector?
The clinical side of nursing didn’t really suit me, it didn’t fit into my ethics. When I started working around strengths-based approaches to people’s recovery it really got me energised about where people could go, rather than just minimising their disability. It was really about looking at where their strengths are and supporting them to progress.
I guess for me it was recognising that we all have different levels of mental health and sometimes people’s lives are affected so chronically that their mental health needs support and this is where we come into it.
How do people first come to Vic St?
When I first came here it was usually through referrals from clinical services, but in the last twelve months we have had self referrals, referrals from families and from prisons and remand centres. So referrals come from everywhere, it seems to be quite varied.
If you had to sum up what you do in one sentence, what would you say?
I support people who are homeless and who have mental health issues and I support them to live independently.
What does a regular day look like for you?
Because Vic St is a 24 hour service we come in and do a handover to find out if there is anything to follow up.
A regular day may be catching up with a resident and looking at what their issues are. You might reflect on their Individual Recovery Plan with them.
We’re a two to three year program, so people have that long to work on the skills that they want to refine, build or regain. We work with them to develop an Individual Recovery Plan that sets out what they want to do.
For some people this might be to find somewhere to live once they move on from the program, so we will provide assistance to residents to access and correctly complete Office of Housing applications and things like employment, education, family support or even helping residents to learn to live with their mental illness. Some of what we do is as basic as doing things such as helping people with budgeting. Residents may need to look at what they do once they move on from Vic St, how to budget and to make sure they can eat, pay bills and do things like that.
Service delivery is fairly flexible, we’re like a pivot. We’re here when people want us. A resident may come to us and say ‘I would like to seek employment’, so we will investigate things together and then network out into the community. We try to network out into the community rather than run programs within the program so that residents can access those services beyond their stay at Vic St.
Each day is quite varied, but what is important is that we’re totally focussed on what the individual wants, even though that will sometimes challenge us. It is about what the residents want to get out of their lives, not what we think they should get out of their lives.
How important is it for people to be able to live at a program for 2-3 years?
Stability of accommodation is a basic human need. Vic St provides them with a place they can call home and we try to make it as homely as we can. When people first come here they are often so unwell. We ask what their major issues are and so often they say, ‘I just want somewhere to live, I need somewhere to stay’.
There is one guy here who has lived in 30 places in ten years, but he’s been here for over twelve months now, which is great.
What do you think the benefits are of residential rehabilitation programs?
I think the key advantage is the flexibility in service delivery. If we have an appointment that a resident can’t make, there is flexibility to follow it up and we’re not time restricted. We can also do a lot of the things as a community.
Resi rehab seems to be a model that really works for the residents. I look at it in a way that we’re a 24 hour program and it fits that we support people who have 24 hour mental illnesses.
I guess the difference in what we do is that we can have shared experiences in the way we speak. If someone is unemployed I am able to say ‘yeah, I was unemployed at one stage’ so that the resident can look at it not as a mental health thing. I guess they call that normalising, but these are issues that everyone has.
To be able to work that way takes away a lot of the stigma of ‘I am worker, you are client, I know how to fix you’. It’s good to be able to break down those walls and say ‘I’m your support worker, tell me where I fit in and tell me if I’m doing the right thing or if I’m not being helpful.’
Relinquishing the onus of power, accountability and direction and placing it back with the individual is an integral part of what we do.
Also, within this community we often have clients say ‘such and such is really unwell’ or ‘x has got a stockpile of pills that they might want to take’. We are then able to use more of a peer support strategy and say ‘hey look, some of the guys here are really worried about you’ rather than saying ‘I’m worried about you.’ I think it is reassuring for residents to know that it isn’t just the people who are paid to look after them who are worried. It makes them feel valued as a member of the community.
What are some examples of progress you have seen in residents?
Someone came to the program and their anxiety was at such a level that they were passing out in front of me and using terms like ‘I can’t deal with this, I feel like my heart is out of my chest and I feel like I have no internal organs’. To follow that journey along to a stage where that same person can come in and say ‘Hi, how are you going? I’m creating an album’ is so rewarding. Now they are looking at how they can help the new people coming through.
Another example in particular was to see this guy who had a fairly regular heroin usage and without any huge pressure from us it has dissipated and he has been able to find other structures in life to support and fulfil him.
It is great for people to get to a point where they have relationships with people and to have friendships, which some people haven’t had in over ten years.
To see the change in people over two years has been really reassuring for me that programs like these really work.
What keeps you coming back to work each day?
One of the things that really keeps me coming back day-to-day is the diversity. The unique thing about being here at Vic St is that we have a really diverse range of skills within our staff base. I come from a nursing background, there is a staff member with a psych degree, someone with a social work degree, another comes from an education background, another has their post grad certificate in drug and alcohol counselling. We have this really broad range of resources to draw from, so when we sit down and we’re struggling with how best to support a resident, we are all able to bounce ideas off each other.
The other thing is the diversity of the people who come through the program. We have people from all sorts of ethnic backgrounds, all sorts of socio-economic backgrounds. From nuclear families, sole parent families, from extended families. People who come through are artists, musicians, they have been chefs and engineers. Variety is the spice of life and that creates a bit of energy around here. What’s going to happen tomorrow will be completely different to what happened today. That’s what I really love about being here.
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 Building on the success of the Victorian volunteer program Mind has launched a pilot volunteer program in South Australia. This will initially cover the south east metropolitan region of Adelaide with the aim to expand over time.
Mind offers community-based programs in South Australia including outreach and respite. By now offering a volunteer program clients can be provided with ongoing support to access the community, even after they have finished receiving outreach or respite support from Mind.
Mind Respite Manager Kaaren McSorley believes that many of Mind’s clients will be excited about being matched with someone who they can spend time with on a regular basis.
“Mind is piloting the volunteer program as part of its commitment to clients and will be seeking ongoing funding from philanthropic trusts, foundations and donors. There is a real demand from Mind clients to engage in more community activities and now with the right volunteer support they can,” explained Ms McSorley.
“Volunteers will provide support to people for around two hours a fortnight for at least six months. Activities that clients and volunteers may participate in together include going for coffee, attending local community and sporting events or just spending time together.
“People experiencing a mental illness sometimes feel quite isolated and may have lost touch with family and friends, so it is great if they can be matched with someone that they can relate to, share experiences with and get out and about with.”
Mind is currently looking to recruit twenty volunteers to be matched with clients who reside in south east metropolitan Adelaide. You do not need to have any formal training in mental health; you just need to have some spare time, community spirit, enthusiasm and be willing to commit to the program for at least six months.
Once you become a volunteer you will be provided with ongoing training and support to enable you to improve the life of someone living with a mental illness whilst also giving back to your local community.
If you would like to volunteer in Adelaide or Victoria please complete an online form at www.mindaustralia.org.au/volunteering or contact the Volunteer Recruitment Officer in your state.
 South Australia - 08 8368 7800
Victoria - 03 9455 7900
volunteering@mindaustralia.org.au
As Mind does not currently receive funding to deliver the SA volunteer program any donations or in-kind support would be much appreciated. Examples of donated items include; tickets to the football, café vouchers, movie tickets etc. If you would like to make an in-kind donation then please email volunteering@mindaustralia.org.au or make a donation online at www.mindaustralia.org.au
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A visit from the Indonesian Mental Health Association
(Perhimpunan Jiwa Sehat)
The Indonesian Mental Health Association (IMHA) visited Mind during their recent trip to Australia, which was funded by AusAID and initiated by Professor Harry Minas, the Director of the Centre for International Mental Health, School of Population Health at the University of Melbourne.
IMHA is a national member based organisation that was established in 2008 by clients and family members who advocate for and respond to the needs of people experiencing mental health problems and their families. They are a progressive organisation with a strong focus on the lived experience of mental illness.
IMHA was established out of a dire need and is striving for a society in which people with mental health problems are accepted and treated with the same respect and dignity as any other person. This includes working towards goals such as; having adequate information on mental health available to the public, being able to access good quality and affordable mental health services, reducing the stigma faced by people with mental health problems and setting up support groups for clients and carers within communities in Indonesia.
IMHA shared a presentation with Mind acknowledging the severe human rights abuses that take place against people experiencing mental illness in Indonesia. Many people are not only denied medical services, but also experience human rights abuses including being locked up, neglected, chained and beaten.
People experiencing mental health problems in Indonesia are often considered as untreatable, wasted, cursed, shameful and non-human. It is seen as being caused by the evil spirit and black magic. For many, information regarding mental health problems is almost non-existent.
Part of the problem is that mental health is severely underfunded, with just 1.5 % of the national health budget being dedicated to mental health. There are only 32 mental health hospitals (8,500 beds) to serve Indonesia’s 230 million population, with the number of people with mental health problems equivalent to the population of Australia. It is estimated that only 3.5% of people with severe mental illness have access to mental health services, the others are left with no treatment whatsoever.1
Through the School of Population Health, members of the IMHA are beginning to develop a strategic plan for the organisation and are exploring options for training people with a lived experience of mental illness to become peer workers as well as learning about how to ingrain a recovery approach into their work.
The staff at Mind were able to share their expertise and offer support to help members of the IMHA understand the way in which the Australian mental health system and community mental health organisations work. The visitors were also able to meet and speak with clients at some of Mind’s programs and have been highly impressed by the strength of the consumer movement in Australia.
With Indonesia being one of Australia’s closest neighbours it is important that Mind develops partnerships to ensure that valuable input and support can be provided. This has the potential to improve the lives of many people experiencing mental health problems in Indonesia, which is a very exciting prospect for Mind to be involved in.
- WHO and Ministry of Health, 2005 Leuwileang sub-district Bogor
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Due to popular demand we will now feature a regular section dedicated to client contributions, which shares and celebrates the many talents of the people who come to Mind, be it their artistic contributions and reflections or updates on projects they have been involved in (see below).
Thanks to all who have contributed!
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by Michele Mercer, Kinkora
writing group - Mind
My house is complete with
All things finer
I've paid a fortune to a
Landscape designer
Within these walls of
Brick and mortar
I've created a garden which
Goes no further
Than my arrogant living room
My totally conceited
Breath I fume
When with utmost pleasure
I breathe in
These plastic plants fragrance
I have exhumed
From Harrods in London
Dodi and Di's perfume
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It took me a couple of goes to get enough confidence in my work. It is done mainly in pastels and acrylic paint. I found the use of pastels very soothing on finger tips. I found doing this picture relaxing. The picture is of pine trees.
Mary-Anne
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The creatures I like to draw come from a kids cartoon. It is a challenge to draw with only one functioning arm. One character takes about 6 hrs to draw. I am looking to expand my skills and try different materials.
Luke (Huggie)
Artist - Luke Delaney
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 I sat for many months unable to paint or draw. One Sunny day I saw a small photo of a very bright landscape of trees so decided to try and reproduce a similar picture, using acrylics and turned out quite well.
From then on I experimented more and more and over several weeks found my old love of painting landscapes had returned.
I am so happy Mind has given me the opportunity to develop in artistic challenge.
J. Frost
Artist - Julia Frost
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By Popefred, a client at Amaroo
Amaroo movie project
 “Daily Rituals” was the working title of the movie-making project run by Amaroo [a program of Mind] this winter. Each participant was given the opportunity to portray an aspect of their life in the form of a short film with subjects ranging from playing with the dog at home to performing rap in an abandoned factory. I produced a story about my weekly search for a hotdog; braving a maze of alleyways and baffling places before the surprise ending, all to the sounds of “The Rites of Spring”. The complete product is going to be shown at SUB 12 (Newport Sub-Station, 1 Market St, Newport) from the 21st of August through to the 6th September.
Fridays became an adventure in motion pictures from storyboarding and filming to editing and post production. I was able to provide input for all aspects of my clip and I not only got to film and direct but also acted in another participant’s film. I got a taste of what Scorsese or Kubrick must feel; as a director supported by professional movie crew in bringing a mere concept to concrete reality. Although on a much smaller scale we experienced the full gamut of the cinematic art. Every one got fully immersed in their own productions as well as assisting each other. Some even developed their own soundtracks to go with their films. Balancing the creative ideal with the exigencies of filming was a good exercise for all of us.
During the course of filming and editing we had an opportunity to watch a wide range of short films made professionally and for screenings such as Tropfest and Youtube. Watching these and discussing their merits (or lack of) was instrumental in the development of my film and has given me a new perspective into the cinematic art.
We were extremely fortunate to have had skilled and creative staff from Amaroo backing us up and I have to particularly mention the assistance of Marcus who brought his myriad cinematic skills and willing attitude to the project. Big Thanks to Marcus and Amaroo for making it all possible.
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By Amber, Kinkora writing group - Mind
My mind is a cluttered mess, bits of debris refusing to be washed away lie all encompassing, distorted thoughts weaving their way in and out of my consciousness, suicidal images create havoc inside the shell that is called my mind. Images brush past my eyes of which there is no explanation. This is called schizophrenia – a so called illness that brushes its icy breath on my warm heart, leaving irreparable damage. Schizophrenia- a word that is not easy to associate with myself. Lying all night unable to sleep, due to my mind refusing to quiet of the images that I carry around in this damaged thing I call my mind.
Grandiose delusions or so they call them, float around my head, believing I am Jesus Christ I immediately heal the world of all its pain, believing I am special – that I am chosen to be someone of higher calibre. I look down on meagre experience as something I will never experience. Screams in the night are pushed from my lungs in a desperate attempt to free myself of the agony I hold deep inside me locked away in a place I deem unreachable to everyone, including myself.
Stigmatised by society for an illness which I cannot control I slowly feel myself drifting away from the few friends that I have made over the years.
Stop the pain I cry but no one listens. Frantically I rock myself to sleep, a sleep tainted by nightmares. From a part deep within me I cry like a little lost child wanting desperately to be loved.
Schizophrenia, that word both frightens and relieves me, it is a word that holds meaning for my delusions, an excuse I cling desperately to hoping someone will rescue me from my hell.
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South Australia respite program
Participating in an art day or going on a river cruise may be quite conceivable for most of us on any given weekend, yet for some this is a luxury that seldom presents itself.
At Mind, we recognise that the relationship between a carer or family member and someone experiencing a mental illness is very important, but the demands can sometimes be challenging for everyone involved. That is why Mind offers free respite programs to give people experiencing mental illness and their carers a break from the responsibilities and challenges of every day life.
Mind’s respite programs are based in metropolitan Adelaide, Melbourne and in Mount Gambier and offer services which include; one on one support to the person experiencing a mental illness, day activities and outings, individual activities and holidays and family activities and holidays. In South Australia services are offered to people experiencing a mental illness as well as their carers.
Two clients from Mind’s Mount Gambier respite program share what it means to them to be involved in the program (see below).
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View from the boat on the Glenelg River cruise
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Linda is currently a volunteer and is studying nursing. She first became a client of Mind when she heard about the Mind respite program in the carers newsletter and thought that it sounded like a fun thing to do.
Linda has since participated in a trip to the trout farm and the Glenelg River cruise. The highlight for her was meeting new people.
“Both events were good and fun but it was interacting with other people that was the highlight,” explains Linda.
“I lead a relatively normal life and just sometimes I get bored and I need new people to meet and new activities to do.
“I thought the staff were really good, they interacted with us on an equal level.”
Linda explains what she enjoyed about the cruise.
“There was a lot of bird life during our cruise and we received a commentary from the captain about the different types. There were so many twists and turns along the Glenelg River that we found ourselves crossing the Victorian – South Australian border several times.
“It was a wonderful day and I would encourage anyone with a mental illness and their carers to attend the day activities provided by Mind in Mt Gambier".
“I have already influenced one of my girlfriends to contact Mind as she was finding she had issues because of her depression.”
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Tony and his wife Marcia on the boat cruise
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Tony first found out about Mind through a pamphlet that advertised a BBQ in Mt Gambier. He and his wife went along and ended up joining the respite program.
Since joining the program, Tony has engaged in a 30 hour respite package, where a Mind worker, Stacey, visits him weekly to support him through his issues. He has also participated in two art days and a Glenelg River cruise.
“I have done three paintings about what’s wrong with my mind because sometimes it is all a bit higgledy piggledy".
“Doing art helps my mind. Also, you know that most of the other people have some mental problem too so you’re not on your own,” explains Tony.
“My wife Marcia came along to the first art class and she was there on the boat trip. All the carers did some painting as well.”
Tony acknowledges that he has good days and bad days, but he has now discovered an interest in art and wants to continue this in his own time. Going on the Glenelg River cruise was also the first time he had been on the river.
Tony has almost finished his 30 hour respite package and feels that it was just enough to help him get on top of things.
“For the first month or so I told her (Stacey) all my problems and now she still offers support but after half an hour I don’t need her as much anymore.
“Stacey says that there’s been a big change in me since the beginning.”
Tony at the art group for clients and carers
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For anyone thinking of participating in Mind’s respite program Tony says, “Go for it! It is very enjoyable and you have to have a go.”
If you would like to find out more about Mind’s respite programs, visit www.mindaustralia.org.au or call:
Adelaide 08 8368 7800
Melbourne 03 9455 7900
Mount Gambier & surrounding areas
08 8723 0801
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Daily rituals, a group journey – film viewing
 Artists from Amaroo Arts, a program of Mind, explore their daily rituals using film. Daily Rituals grew from a conversation around what we do every day. The film explores individual’s rituals, to remind the viewer of the connection we all have to habit and comfort. A musical creative soundscape compliments these films, produced by the participants of the Amaroo Music program.
For more information see the client contributions section of Open Mind.
The film is being shown as part of Sub 12 series three and will be on exhibition from 21st August to 6th September 2009 at The Substation, 1 Market St, Newport.
Opening night - August 21 6:30- 8:30pm Gallery opening hours 9-5 Mon to Fri, 10-4 Sat www.thesubstation.org.au
Southern region family and carer evening
Mind’s southern region will be hosting an evening for families and carers so that we can share information about the work of our programs and invite feedback from you about our services.
We hope this evening will provide a great opportunity for you to meet with staff and other family members and carers in a relaxed, informal setting.
When: Monday 14th September 2009
Where: St Andrews Gardiner Uniting Church, cnr Burke & Malvern Rds, Glen Iris (Melways 59 H7)
Time: 6pm – 8.30pm
RSVP: Venue may change so it is essential to contact Hans if you wish to attend. Hans VanDeGraaff, Regional Manager, 03 9455 7900 or hvandegraaff@mindaustralia.org.au
Sprout community market
 Entry is free and all are welcome! First Thursday of each Month 3 - 7pm Sprout - 40 Clapham St, cnr of Clapham and Watt streets, Thornbury
The market aims to engage Sprout program participants and the local community in an enterprise that celebrates the benefits of locally grown and made produce, plants and products that have been sourced within 100 miles (160kms) of the market site. Much of the fresh produce has been grown at Sprout and in backyards around Melbourne.
All profits from the market are reinvested into Sprout’s programs, which support the recovery of people experiencing mental illness.
Sprout also has an ‘Open Gate’ every Thursday 1- 4pm for plant and produce sales.
If you would like to host a stall at Sprout Community Market, then please visit www.mindaustralia.org.au or call Sprout on 03 9484 5565
Art of giving
Autumn Shades,
Bourke St
By Malcolm Beattie
Valued at $3,800
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Location: Liddiard Gallery, Oakleigh Anglican Church, Cnr Warrigal Rd and Princes Hwy, Oakleigh
Fri 9th October, 10am – 3pm, Sat 10th, 10am – 4pm, Sun 11th, 11.30 – 1pm
About art of giving
Shanta is a dedicated member of the community who has worked hard over the past year to put together an exhibition to raise money for Mind’s Ambassadors of Hope program. The new Ambassadors program is being developed to assist people with a lived experience of mental illness to share their story and raise awareness of the issues surrounding mental illness amongst school groups and the broader community.
Shanta is hosting the Art of Giving in memory of a dear friend, Carol, who took her own life six years ago.
“I wanted to find some meaning in her death and also to do something positive in her memory. Carol spent her whole life helping people, and I feel she would love for me to help others learn from what she went through,” explains Shanta.
“When I found out about Mind’s Ambassadors of Hope program, it really appealed to me, especially targeting young people and taking it to schools. I have three young children, and see the pressures they have on them already, even in primary school. I would love for them to learn, when appropriate, about depression, how to recognise it and learning effective ways of dealing with tough times.
“If through this art show we can raise some money towards this program, and we could save just one life, that would be amazing...”
Shanta has united her networks in pursuit of the cause, with many artists donating works that will be sold as part of the exhibition.
Mind Alpine Challenge 20 – 22 March 2010
Runners descending Mt Feathertop, Alpine Challenge 2009
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Imagine completing 4 marathons in 48 hours! Choose your challenge in support of Mind – the 100km Elmtree Corporate & Team Challenge or the 100 mile Alpine Skyrun, both are open to teams and solo participants. Be part of this challenge and commit to as little as 15km in a relay team or up to 160km as an endurance runner.
Set in Victoria’s stunning Alpine National Park, the Mind Alpine Challenge will test you to the limit as you traverse some of the toughest and most exposed areas of the Australian Alps.
Mind staff and clients have already signed up to participate and other important stakeholders such as the Department of Human Services are looking to enter a team.
Show that you care by going to great heights in support of people recovering from mental illness!
To register visit www.mindaustralia.org.au
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