Mi Voice Summer 2006

Summer 2006/2007 No. 104

mivoice

People and their stories Dean’s journey

Fundraising Events Thank you to our partners

INSIDE Features AGM, Awards and ForumCongratulations to our award winners

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

For people with a mental illness, their families and friends

Reviewing

2006 and

the prospect

of 2007

mivoice SUMMER 2006/2007

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A Fabulous Reaction

“It was a lot of fun and there was a lot to do” and “the

day was well received by the community who are sensitive

to the issue of mental health” said two volunteers at the

finish of their volunteering shifts. Despite the threatening

weather the police estimated that there were 35 thousand

people in attendance at the Open Mind Fiesta on 15

October during mental health week this year.

“I shop here all the time and I’m glad the Traders are

behind this Fiesta” said a local resident. Why do we work

with the Fairfield Traders Association, individual traders,

the Council, schools and many others to stage this event?

Public attitudes about mental illness lead to individuals,

businesses, and institutions holding prejudices about

the capacity of people who have a mental illnesses

resulting in discrimination in housing, education,

employment, funding and loneliness and isolation for

many. Understanding that we can all contribute to better

community acceptance and inclusion of people who have

mental illnesses is the goal of the Fiesta.

One in Five - Am I One?

This year we wanted to make sure that the message, ‘one

in five of us experience a mental illness at some time

in our lives’ was prominent. We also wanted to make

sure that this message hit home, consequently we used

the anticipated Fiesta attendance of 35,000 people to

calculate that 7,000 people attending the day would have

a personal experience of mental illness. The message on

the front of the T shirt was ‘7,000 people here today have

a mental illness’ the back of shirt carried the message

‘Do I?’. Volunteers were given the option of wearing this

or not and were briefed about answering this question.

A Wonderful Result

During the day 300 people including traders wore these

shirts, some of whom were personally confronted by

their own attitudes and stereotypes. The story of one

volunteer is told to illustrate how many of us construct

our experiences.

A male volunteer in his mid forties, has had a significant

depression for some years, he has held senior executive

positions for many years, and had the following

conversation with his wife. “You know that this is the

forth year I have volunteered for the Fiesta, I have always

thought that I was volunteering to help people with a

mental illness. This T shirt really puts me in a difficult

spot, I guess I am one of them. I will wear it, and I will

say, if I am asked that I do have a mental illness.”

This volunteer is one of us; many of us see that the

experience belongs to someone else, as does the

responsibility for doing something about the injustices

that emerge as a consequence of stigma. Many of you

have been incredibly active this year in our advocacy

campaigns, and we enter the New Year with a Federal

election coming up, we have been able to influence the

state agenda on mental health, we need to ensure that

we have a voice at the national level. Please join with us

to increase our membership and step our advocacy to have

mental health policy at both Commonwealth and state levels

address these inequities.

This message of hope also brings with it, my very best wishes

for a happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year.

Elizabeth Crowther

IndexFundraising events – thanking our partners 5

AGM, Awards and Forum 6

MI Challenge – a personal account 7

Dean’s journey 8

MI Glass Creations – New Range 9

Membership drive 12

From the Chief Executive

This photo accompanied an article in the Northcote Leader Newspaper,

promoting Open Mond Fiesta

SUMMER 2006/2007 mivoice

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News bites

Mental Illness Education Schedule

4

Response Russ Bate, Country A l l ianceSpokesperson

CountryAllianceCountry Alliance (CA) will be contesting the three regional upper house seats at next month's election. CA

is based on a set of common values around which our candidates will be able to campaign rather than

attempting to develop a finite set of policies. The benefit of this is that they will have flexibility to support

positions and proposals put forward by the Government or other entities that are beneficial to their elec-

torates, and oppose those which are not. Their primary responsibility is to give primary priority to the inter-

ests of their constituents. We have posted some basic health policies on

our website (www.countryalliance.org <http://

www.countryalliance.org>) which among other

things support proposals which will have a posi-

tive impact on access to healthcare for regional

Victorians. While our policies do not extend into specific

areas such as mental health care, it goes without

saying that our candidates will support any proposal

that satisfies the values we stand for and which are

beneficial for their electorates.Should you wish to discuss these specific proposals

with our candidates in their respective regions

please let me know and I will put you in contact with

them.

Response from John Mulhol land, Secretary ,Democrat ic Labor Party (DLP)

Democratic Labor PartyOn behalf of the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) candidates, who will be contesting Upper House seats in

the coming State election, thankyou for your letter and invitation to respond to the Mental Illness

Fellowship ‘Call to Action’. Even as a small party with one or two representa-

tives in the parliament we could exercise a posi-

tive influence on governments and draw to their

attention proposals such as those you have iden-

tified in your ‘Call to Action’. This we undertake to

do.The Democratic Labor Party and our endorsed

candidates are in principle agreement with each

of the sets of measures you have proposed in

the ‘Call to Action’. We recognize that the practical benefits of the

measures you urge would be best appreciated by

those who suffer mental illness themselves, by

their families and friends and by the people who

provide the treatment, rehabilitation and support

services they need, often on a continuous basis,

to participate fully as members of the wider

community. This being so, DLP candidates elected

to the Upper House will give priority to maintaining

consultation with ‘hands on’ support organisations

like MI Fellowship and with the professional organi-

sations representing people in the health and help-

ing professions. In the context of the measures you have proposed

and based on our belief in the benefit to all commu-

nities, of decentralisation, it is a matter of no small

importance to Democratic labor Party candidates

that any steps taken to improve the well being,

status and participation in the community, of those

who suffer with a mental illness, be steps taken to

the greatest extent practicable across all local com-

munities, be they metropolitan, suburban, regional or

remote.

Response from Robyn Al lcock, Chair , Pol icy Committee, People Power

PeoplePowerThe following is an edited excerpt of People Power’s Mental Health Policy: .

The closure of mental health institutions over the

past twenty years has not been followed by the

development of appropriate service models to

assist people with mental illness. Families and carers are struggling to cope with

the aftermath of the State government’s retreat

from responsibility; and when crises occur, there

is increasing reliance on police intervention –

often with disastrous consequences.

Moreover, a national survey of mental health and

well-being has found that fourteen percent of

children and adolescents suffer with mental

health problems; and the death rate from sui-

cides is growing – it is now higher than the road

accident toll. The Government’s response to these crises has

been piecemeal and lacking in vision. There is an

urgent need to reform current practices. The People Power Mental Health Plan

People Power will: Include an entitlement to supports in Victo-

ria’s mental health legislation Establish a population-based benchmark for

the provision of bed-based services Introduce a treatment model based on

assessed needs Increase funding for the delivery of evidence-

based, peer-led education and support

programs for carers and consumers Conduct a pilot of the Crisis Intervention Team

model used in Memphis, USA

Create new Secure and Extended Care packages

Expand the scope of the mental impairment

defenceEstablish an independent Living and Supported

Accommodation Authority to develop new models

of independent living and supported

accommodation Expand home-based outreach services

Increase the number of Registered Training

Organisations providing supported education

programs for people with mental illness who wish

to return to study Establish an independent Human Services

OmbudsmanReview the role of the Office of Chief Psychiatrist

to ensure its independence Establish a position of Chief Nurse within the

Office of Chief Require the Coroner to conduct psychological

autopsies for people who suicide while in

treatment in mental health system Establish an all-stakeholder working party to

review the objects of the Mental Health Act Budgetary Implications The changes proposed in this policy will increase

spending on mental health to 12% of the total health

budget.

Victoria State Election 2006 CALL TO ACTION

mental illness fellowship Victoria ACN 093 357 165 ABN 93 093 357 165

for people with mental illness, their families and friends

Formerly Schizophrenia Fellowship Victoria

Fairfield Place 276 Heidelberg Road Fairfield Vic 3078

PO Box 359 Clifton Hill Vic 3068

Telephone 03 8486 4200 Facsimile 03 8486 4265

[email protected] www.mifellowship.org

A member of Mental Illness Fellowship Australia

responses

For all enquiries please contact: Gerard Reed

Ph: 03 8486 4200

Fax: 03 8486 4265

Email: [email protected]

MI Fel lowship cal ls on the next state government to increase spending on mental heal th to 12%

of the total heal th budget . V ictor ian spending has tradi t ional ly led the nat ion, but WA now spend

$119.00 per person compared with V ictor ia’s $107.00 per person. The new money wi l l help to

redress some of the shortcomings of the current system. MI Fel lowship cal ls on commitment to

the fo l lowing sets of measures:

For further information please contact

Gerard Reed on 03 8486 4200 or [email protected]

4

Crea te 21 s tep -up s tep -d own (P reven t i on & Recove r y

C a r e – P A R C ) u n i t s a c r os s V i c t o r i a 4 8 S e c u r e & E x t e n de d C a re U n i t ( SE C U ) p a c k a ge s

d e l i v e r e d th r ou g h t h e n o n gov e r n m en t s ec t o r ,

suppor t ed by 48 new p laces f r om Hous ing

Enhancement o f case m anagement and commun i t y

a s s e s s m e n t and t r e a t m e nt a n d e n h a n c eme n t o f s t a f f

sk i l l and o rgan i za t i ona l capac i t y t o manage peop l e w i th

e n d u r i n g m e nt a l i l l n e ss a nd s u bs t a n c e m i s us e i s s u es

w i l l p r ov id e read i l y access ib le i n te r ven t ions .

S t rengthenedc l in ica l care & t reatmentp lanning 1

10% reduct ion o f b lockage on acute beds

2 3 p i l o t s o f t he C r i s i s I n te r ven t i on T eam mode l

(Memph is mode l ) , po l i ce , menta l hea l th se rv i c e c r i s i s

response , t o be ove rseen by the Depar tment o f P remi er

& C ab i n e t

E f fec t iveness in c r is is response

Reduct ion in in jur ies , deaths and cr imina l charges

R ed u c t i o n i n hosp i ta l i za t i ons , p r e s s u r e o n acu te bed s , r e l a p s e a n d h o m e l e s s n es s . B e t t e r s o c i a l ou tcomes .

3230 new Home Bas ed Ou t r each packages , 58 o f wh i ch

a re I n tens i ve Home Based Ou t reach , and 172 o f

s t a n d a rd h o me bas e d o u t r eac h , 1 0 % i n c re a s e

2 0 0 n e w c a r e p a c k a g es f o r r e s i d e n t i a l r eh a b i l i t a t i o n ,

wi th enhancement f o r e x i s t i ng non 24 hour suppor t

s e r v i c es .

A range o f ta i l o red suppor ted hous ing op t ions

R ed u c t i o n i n c a r e r b u r d e n , b e t t e r m e n t a l hea l th and s o c i a l o u t c o me s

4F u nd i ng fo r pee r - l ed , ev idence based , s t ruc tu r ed fa mi l y

educa t i on p rog rams : We l l ways Doub le t rou b le C o n s u m e r d e l i v e r ed

S t reng thened educat ion fo r peop le w i th a menta l i l l ness , the i r fami l ies and f r iends

5 1 2 0 n e w p l a ce s f o r p e o p l e w i t h m e n t a l i l l n e ss

r e t u r n i n g t o s t u d y th r o u g h s p e c i a l i s t R e g i s t e r e d

T r a i n i n g O r g an i s a t i o ns r u nn i n g s u ppo r t ed e d u c at i o n

p r o g r a m s , f und e d th r o u gh Of f i c e o f T e r t i a r y T r a i n i n g

and Ed uc a t i on .

Re tu rn to l ea rn ing fo r peop le w i th a menta l i l l ness

Inc rease i n w o r k f o r c ep ar t i c i p a t i o n , r ed u c t i o n i n s t i g m a

Victoria State Election 2006

“We call upon all political parties and all candidates seeking

office at the next Victoria state election to state how they will

achieve better outcomes for people with a mental illness,

their families and friends, in particular, what new money they

will commit to addressing the needs for reform of the mental

health system?”

Elizabeth Crowther

Chief Executive

Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria

CALL TO ACTION

mental illness fellowship Victoria ACN 093 357 165 ABN 93 093 357 165

for people with mental illness, their families and friends

Formerly Schizophrenia Fellowship Victoria

Fairfield Place 276 Heidelberg Road Fairfield Vic 3078

PO Box 359 Clifton Hill Vic 3068

Telephone 03 8486 4200 Facsimile 03 8486 4265

[email protected] www.mifellowship.org

A member of Mental Illness Fellowship Australia

Where When

Heidelberg Wednesday 6.30pm – 9.30pm commencing February 7

Box Hill Thursday 10am - 1pm commencing March 8

Mitcham Tuesday 6.30pm – 9.30pm commencing March 13

Sunshine Thursday 6.30-9.30pm commencing March 22

Fairfield Thursday 6.30-9.30pm commencing April 12

Fairfield Tuesday 9.30am-12.30pm commencing April 17

Fairfield Friday 9.30am-12.30pm commencing April 20

Fairfield Monday 6.30 - 9.30pm commencing April 30

Northern suburbs (TBC) Monday 10am - 1pm commencing May 7

Where When

Fairfield Tuesday 6.30pm – 9.30pm commencing March 20

Fairfield Tuesday 10am-1pm commencing May 21

Well Ways: Mental illness education program, helping family and friends find better ways

The Well Ways program consists of eight 3hr weekly group education sessions plus follow-up workshops over 12 months.

Where When

MI Fellowship, Fairfield Place, 276 Heidelberg Rd, Fairfield.

2007 dates TBC

Double Trouble: A support and information program for families and friends of people with dual diagnosis (mental illness and substance abuse)

The Double Trouble program consists of six three-hour weekly group education sessions

Understanding Mental Illness Workshops

For more information about any of these courses or to book, please call 03 8486 4200 or email [email protected]

Election advocacy - Call to ActionThank you and congratulations to our members who participated in our state election advocacy campaign. The election itself was the culmination of 10 months of hard work, which started in February when we asked you to tell us, what YOU believed the critical issues were in mental health. The number of responses exceeded our expectations and we were proud of the ‘Call to Action’ document we were able to produce from those responses on your behalf. It was a powerful document, which one member commented was “the best thing MI Fellowship has ever done”.

The political parties were impressed and responded accordingly. By mailing these responses to our members, you were able to make an informed vote at the election on 25 November. By expanding this campaign to media, we were also able to influence the vote of other Victorians.

On 22 November, Elizabeth Crowther was interviewed on 774 ABC radio by Jon Faine, whose producers were also impressed by our ‘Call to

Action’ and ‘Responses’ documents and asked Elizabeth to be on the show to talk about how the parties policies on mental health measured up. During the interview, Jon Faine quite deliberately referred to MI Fellowship as a peak advocacy body in mental health, which is positive reinforcement of the work we do in this area. The state election was a terrific opportunity to advocate for people affected by mental illness and we are keen to utilise the 2007 federal election to further lobby politicians to support people affected by mental illness.

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mivoice SUMMER 2006/2007

Open Mind Fiesta - What The Research Revealed

Open Mind Fiesta

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• 90% of people believed that people with a mental illness both“want work” and are “capable of work”

• 78% of people agreed that people with a mental illness should work in a place of employment like theirs

• 90% of people were willing to have a person with a mental illness as a neighbour

• 90% of people believed that treatment can make a difference to people with a mental illness

• More than 90% were willing to socialise and be friends with someone with a mental illness

• 75% were willing to have a person with a mental illness marry someone related to them.

* Note that these are samples of data taken from an extensive survey, the results of which are still being fully collated and analysed. If you are interested in more detail, please contact Dee McAtee on 03 8486 4229 or email [email protected]

Open Mind Fiesta has long drawn a big

crowd of satisfied customers and 2006

was no exception. However this year MI

Fellowship extended the focus within

this event, to further our advocacy and

community education, as well as gather

data on mental illness awareness. We

achieved this by conducting research about

attitudes and awareness about mental illness

to random people attending the Fiesta, and

increasing the amount, vibrancy and improving

the mode of delivery of our messages.

Our volunteers on the day, as well as many of

the street traders, wore t-shirts and badges

which prominently displayed our messages

(see photographs). This was all in addition to

the fun activities and fundraising that have

made the event the popular community

event it is today. Our thanks again go to

our event partners, AMP Foundation,

Bank of Queensland, Commonwealth

Bank, the City of Darebin. the

Fairfield Traders Association

and Melbourne City Toyota.

Traders Night at Fairfield

Vic

tori

a Po

lice

band

Cod

e One

ent

erta

in the

cro

wd

Volunteers work on our stick lotto stand

Annmarie and Mel proudly

display their t-shirts

MI Fellowship volunteers running the plant stall

Our line da

ncers enjoy

themselves

Fundraising events - thank you to our partners

SEW-EurodriveSEW-Eurodrive remain a significant corporate supporter of MI

Fellowship and we are indebted to them for their continuing

support. Their annual fundraising golf day and charity dinner

in September together raised a record total of over $209,000.

The team at SEW-Eurodrive, led by Rob and Adel Merola,

work tirelessly for these two events and their commitment to

raising funds and awareness for mental illness is inspiring.

Many business organisations work together to make these

events successful, providing either sponsorships, donations or

corporate participation in the events.

We again extend our sincere thanks to the team at SEW-

Eurodrive and their corporate partners for their contribution,

which allows us to continue our programs ranging from

individual and membership-based advocacy to education

for people affected by mental illness such as Well Ways and

the Certificate in General Education for Adults to providing

resourcing for our volunteer program and to projects

enhancing the employment opportunities of people with a

mental illness.

SUMMER 2006/2007 mivoice

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Women in BlackThe women’s coterie group of the Collingwood Football Club,

the Women in Black, continued to actively raise funds and

awareness for MI Fellowship in 2006. We were delighted to

accept a cheque for $6000 from Women in Black President

Lois Park at their annual Christmas function on 1 December.

Lois was instrumental in MI Fellowship being chosen as

their supporting charity due to her own experience of caring

for people with a mental illness. We thank Lois as she steps

down as the group’s President and wish her well in her new

endeavours. We look forward to continuing our relationship

with the Women in Black under a new President and are

confident that this rewarding partnership will continue into

the future. The Women in Black welcome all supporters of

the Collingwood Football Club to become members with a

contribution from each membership passed onto

MI Fellowship.

This model of a strong, mutually beneficial partnership is one

which we are proud of and hope to replicate with other groups.

If you can think of any ways you might be able to facilitate

such a partnership with a group you are involved in or know of,

please contact Joanne Luciani, Fundraising Coordinator, on

03 8486 4250 or email [email protected]

Liz with Alan Didak and Lois Park

WIB’s sponsore

d player Rhys S

haw

draws th

e raffle

with Lois

Liz and Rob Merola from SEW-Eurodrive

Traders Night at Fairfield

Vic

tori

a Po

lice

band

Cod

e One

ent

erta

in the

cro

wd

Volunteers work on our stick lotto stand

Annmarie and Mel proudly

display their t-shirts

MI Fellowship volunteers running the plant stall

Our line da

ncers enjoy

themselves

Barb Edwards with Liz and

her local friends and supporters

A night to celebrate and educate The MI Fellowship Annual Awards is a night where MI Fellowship acknowledges people who have made an outstanding contribution to people affected by mental illness. The presentation of Awards is combined with our Annual General Meeting, and in 2006, a special forum featuring Senator Lyn Allison, Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Mental Health.

In her address on the night, Senator Allison said that the Senate inquiry provided an opportunity to hear from people in the mental health sector who work with mental health issues every day - consumers, carers, health professionals and administrators. Submissions came from state, territory and local government, from peak mental health organisations (including Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria), from consumers from doctors and nurses, from police and prison services and they told stories that provided the committee with a rich resource of material describing the complex system that is mental health in this country. Senator Allison reported having received an enormous range of evidence on many different issues. The Committee made over a hundred recommendations many of which proposed a whole new approach to mental health.

A few key messages came through very clearly in the inquiry however:

• the system is grossly under funded, and

• we need a fundamentally different approach to providing mental health care – one that is community not hospital-based and focused on promoting well-being and prevention and early intervention, rather than only treating people when they become seriously ill.

Copies of the two reports from the Inquiry can be found online at http://www.democrats.org.au/campaigns/mental_health/

Congratulations to MI Fellowship Award winnersMental Health Community Award – for a person working in the community, for their outstanding service to people living with a mental illness or carers of people with a mental illness:

• Barb Edwards

• Phillip Coglan

• Acting Inspector Doug Fryer

Mental Illness Fellowship Award – for a carer or participant associated with MI Fellowship, for their outstanding contribution to participants and/or carers in MI Fellowship programs:

• Ryan Mullavey

• Rosanna Di Battista

Volunteer of the Year – Awarded to a person who has provided outstanding volunteer service for MI Fellowship:

• Tim Nickson

AGM, Awards and Forum

mivoice SUMMER 2006/2007

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Rosanna Di Battista with Liz and Graeme

Ryan Mullavey with Diane

Tim Nickson with Michelle Marler and Kathy Collet Collet

Senator Lyn Allison

Phillip Coglan with Diane Brown

Doug Fryer with Liz

SUMMER 2006/2007 mivoice

MI Challenge

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Eifion & Jo have an excellent adventure

Close your eyes for just a minute.

Now, imagine flying into a

mountainous airstrip which drops

suddenly away into nothing. Or,

being so exhausted that the only

way to keep going is to count

each and every step and then

rest. Or, having a conversation

with two brothers from Lukla

transporting iron parts on

their heads to repair a huge

pressure cooker at the Everest

View Hotel. Or, the feeling of

accomplishment standing at your

ultimate destination, Everest

Base Camp.

When Eifion and I undertook

our Challenge to Everest Base

Camp earlier this year, these

were our experiences. From the

community service we undertook at Kalika Primary School,

to standing in awe at the foot of Mt Everest, to spending the

night at Gorak Shep situated at 5,180 metres to our ultimate

safe return, our 22 days were full of incredible landscapes,

marvellously interesting people and diverse cultural

experiences.

The first part of the journey was devoted to installing a

water tank and pipeline to Kalika Primary School from a

well 100 metres away. We stayed with local families and

shared their lives for 5 days. The trek to Everest Base Camp

commenced with a hair-raising and heart-beating swoop

onto Lukla airstrip and continued on an upward climb for 8

days, through Phakding, Namche Bazar, Phortse, Dingboche,

Lobuche and Gorak Shep. Eifion and I went through small

villages, past many shrines and temples, over increasingly

rocky, steep trails, dodged many yaks and stayed in a variety

of lodges along the way. After reaching Everest Base Camp

(or in my case, almost there), we made our way down over

the next 4 days to rest in Kathmandu before flying home.

We thank our families, friends, work colleagues and

supporters who very generously contributed to our

fundraising total of just over $9,000 to MI Fellowship. We

thank you for being part of our life-changing experiences.

Joanne Luciani

Fundraising Coordinator

Notice to members – library transformation:MI Fellowship’s library has now closed. If you have any books or other resources that you have borrowed, please return them to Fairfield Place as soon as possible at 276 Heidelberg Rd, Fairfield. A new and improved Resource Centre will open in 2007 with resources for members to borrow – stay tuned for more details. Thanks to all our library volunteers who have made it such a success and brought it to a level that is ready to transform into this exciting new facility, especially Bill Royston whose regular contribution over the last ten years is outstanding. For more information, contact Matilda Langley on 03 8486 4200 or email [email protected]

2007 MI Challenges are due to depart in March (Amazing

Race in Asia), May (Great Wall of China) and September

(Vietnam). Are you up to the Challenge? Please call Chris

Harrison at Memorable Challenges on 9417 5404 to register

your interest.

Jo and Eifion with one of their guides Indra, with Namche Bazar in the background

mivoice SUMMER 2006/2007

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People and their stories

Dean’s Journey

This is my journey with mental illness. I grew up in St Kilda. At

Elwood Primary I enjoyed a very happy life and had lots of friends.

I was a bit of a football player and when I was nine, I played with

St Kilda City.

I knew there was something wrong in year seven and eight,

because of others’ reaction to me and my behaviour. I always felt

that I was on the outside, always by myself. The only relief from

this feeling of anxiety and confusion was when I played football. I

was shy and withdrawn. I had trouble concentrating and slipped

behind at school because I couldn’t think clearly. I started to get

bullied, and got into trouble all the time. I couldn’t see out and the

teachers and other students couldn’t see in. I guess I got teased

because I was becoming paranoid and more and more anxious,

and I seemed strange to others. I left school when I was 15, I just

wanted to get a job and get out into the world and get away from

all the hassles.

I found the same hassles trying to get a job. I started hanging out

with boys and girls who also didn’t fit in. They were a bit rough.

Because I was on the outside I mixed with others who were also

on the outside. Mum couldn’t tell a 16 year old with problems what

to do, so she thought the best thing to was to send me away to live

with Dad in Brisbane. This was a really terrible time for me. Dad

and I were at loggerheads. I still didn’t know that I had a problem.

I was really suffering because I had to leave my gang and my

football team, which was a really big part of my life.

I lived in Queensland for two years but Dad’s family moved back

to Melbourne when I was 17. At this time other people started to

notice changes in me and I started to figure out that there was

something wrong. The paranoia started to get a lot worse. I lost all

my friends and didn’t feel like playing football anymore. I had no

plans for the future and felt depressed. This was the way I viewed

the world. Dad was so worried about me.

The anxious and fearful state had become such a part of me that

I could no longer tell the difference. I was so frightened of people

looking at me. Sometimes I would carry a knife around and would

have very violent thoughts about killing people. I was suicidal

because I was so fed up with the paranoia and delusions. I was

hearing voices and having hallucinations all the time. I didn’t pay

much attention to these symptoms because there were so many

other things going on. I told Dad I’d had enough. I was crying all

the time and upset.

Dad decided to send me to a psychiatrist. He sent me to a Royal

Park live-in rehabilitation program where I lived for two years.

Eventually the psychiatrist told me that all the trouble I was

having was because I had an illness called schizophrenia. He put

me on medication to take the edge off things. I made new friends,

joined in with the program along with the other residents. I lived

in a few group homes and learnt the ins and outs of this way of

life, the way of life for people like me who have a mental illness.

Royal Park hospital was like a prison.

There were a lot of sick people there and we were not treated

with compassion. I felt scared the whole time. I needed to sleep.

I was exhausted but they wouldn’t let me sleep. But I was around

people going through the same thing as me. I had a routine, a

structure and a function. My life had a purpose. The medication

did the trick. I figured out how to use the services. I left the Royal

Park program when I was 21.

I became a participant of Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria when

I was about 24 years old. I moved to Rossdale in Alma Road, East

St Kilda where I lived for about 16 years.

At Rossdale, or Rossie as we call it, I was part of a group. I had

somewhere to sleep and had friends. I loved Rossie. I would go

to karaoke with Tom on Friday nights and hung around Rossdale

most of the day and chatted to staff and other residents. I wasn’t

very independent. I guess I was a bit withdrawn and not really

motivated to do things on my own. I wasn’t confident and pretty

much kept to myself. The old building was not all that pretty or

welcoming. For the last few years I lived upstairs in Flat D with

Tom and Peter. It wasn’t very clean most of the time. I was kind of

happy but something wasn’t right. I didn’t feel independent.

My world changed last year when I was asked by Stav (MI

Fellowship’s Southern metropolitan Regional Manager) if I would

like to move into more independent living. I said YES! So before

long, as part of the Opening Doors Program, I moved into a

lovely little house in Armadale, with just one other person. I was

relieved, excited and scared all at the same time. When I moved in

there, my whole life changed for the better.

This is how it is… I have the support of MI Fellowship, but I have

gained some independence. I am finally living a life on my own

in my own way I feel so blessed with this opportunity. And I can

proudly say that I have grown enormously. It’s a good, amazing

feeling. I feel that I am treated with great respect from everyone

in my present life. I have choices. I make my own decisions. I

am finally living as a normal adult. Someone with a valuable life,

living in the real world. I am part of the community. Finally I can

say, I AM MY OWN BOSS. Thank you!

Dean is a MI Fellowship participant whose life has been changed dramatically by the Opening Doors Program. This is his story.

Dean

Op Shops

Kew and Northcote MI Shops 2006

What a year this has been! The MI Shops seem

to go from strength to strength and it can certainly

be attributed to our wonderful and dedicated team

of volunteers in both shops and the overwhelming

generosity of the community supporting our cause.

The shops, while raising funds for us to further

support the operation and delivery of programs

for those living with a mental illness, also give

us a valuable shop-front to the community for

further education.

They also provide an opportunity for people

with a mental illness to contribute in a safe and caring

environment, giving them confidence and self esteem with

the ability to contribute, while gaining or enhancing some

very valuable skills, such as retailing and customer service.

The environment of MI Shops can also be helpful for those

volunteers touched by mental illness and who may benefit

from being in an understanding and supportive environment.

SUMMER 2006/2007 mivoice

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MI Glass Creations

MI glass creations started as

The Flat Bottle Company, which moved from

WA to Melbourne in 2001 to take advantage of

a growing marker. The Flat Bottle Company

was purchased by MI Fellowship in July

2004 to create employment opportunities

for people with a mental illness. In 2006 the

business expanded its product range to include

contemporary and striking corporate gifts.

The core purpose of MI glass creations is to

create employment opportunities for people

with a mental illness. We have created an

integrated workshop environment where all our

employees, with a mental illness or without,

work along side each other in an equal capacity

for award wages.

Recovery from mental illness entails far more than just

recovery from the illness itself. The isolations of mental

illness, the loss of opportunity and the long-term side effects

of unemployment all need to be dealt with in the recovery

process. Many people with a mental illness can and want to

work but aren’t given the opportunity.

Our thanks to all involved, and invite those who are

considering volunteering to consider the MI Shops as

the place to be.

For more information about becoming involved with

MI Shops, contact Jennifer Collins on 03 8486 4224 or

email [email protected]

Purchasing from MI glass creations ensures that you are

not only purchasing a unique and personal gift but also

supporting members of our community with a mental illness.

MI glass creations has an exciting new range of

contemporary jewellery which make great gifts or a treat

for youself. For more information, phone MI glass creations

on 03 9380 8080 or MI Fellowship on 03 8486 4200

Our MI Shop voluneers at the volunteer Christmas party

Naomi and Annmarie model the new range of jewellery

mivoice SUMMER 2006/2007

10.

mivoice SUMMER 2006/2007

10.

The Samsung Melbourne Marathon has come to be an

important part of MI Fellowship’s annual fundraising efforts.

Held on Sunday 8 October 2006, the Marathon this year enabled

a fantastic partnership with Fox FM’s ‘The Matt and Jo Show’,

on week days from 6-9am at 101.9. Matt Tilley was training

to participate in the full Marathon (42.2km) and together

with his on-air colleagues Jo Stanley, Adam Richard and

Troy Ellis, as well as their producers, they came up with a

terrific fundraising concept for MI Fellowship.

On Friday 8 September, Matt broadcast the entire three

hour show while running on a treadmill in the studio!

Listeners were encouraged to phone in and sponsor

Matt “a K for a K”, which they did with enthusiasm,

resulting in a total of $41,000 for MI Fellowship. We

presented them with thank you gifts from the MI

Glass Creations range. (Find out more about MI Glass

Creations on page 9 of this edition).

Our thanks again to Matt, Jo and the team at Fox FM for

their commitment to raising awareness and funds for mental

health, as well as the Samsung Melbourne Marathon

organisers IMG who allow us to be a partner in the annual

event. Stay tuned for more information about the 2007

Marathon, which we are confident will be bigger and

better than ever.

Samsung Melbourne Marathon

Park Bench© Observations of Daily life

Created by Peter Barker ‘Park Bench’ is a cartoon series, looking at life and social issues, provided by Peter Barker, who has lived with schizophrenia for over twenty years.

SUMMER 2006 /2007 mivoice

11.Dates for your diary in �00�Big Day Out Sunday 28 January

Bruce Woodcock Memorial Lecture Thursday 17 May

Schizophrenia Awareness Week 20-27 May

Autumn car raffle draw Thursday 7 June

Mental Health Week 7-14 October

Samsung Melbourne Marathon Sunday 7 October

Open Mind Fiesta Sunday 14 October

Carers Week 15-21 October

AGM, Awards and Annual Lecture Friday 19 October

Volunteer thank you party Wednesday 5 December

Spring car raffle draw December (date TBC)

Please find out more about all activities by calling

03 8486 4200 or visit www.mifellowship.org/newsevents.asp

From the President

2006 has been a year of consolidation and progress. The

depth of the experience within MI Fellowship continues to

grow rapidly thanks to the enormous contribution of our

members, participants, volunteers, staffs and supporters.

Our capacity and commitment to quality was demonstrated

by being awarded QICSA accreditation - in particular leading

practice in leadership management, service agreement

and partnership and community and professional capacity

building. Our external reviewer congratulated us on achieving

this in our first review.

The AGM

Held on 20 October, was well attended and especially

important was the forum featuring Senator Lyn

Allison, who, as Chair of the Senate Inquiry into

Mental Health Issues provided many insights and

critical additions to knowledge.

I am delighted to have been re-elected and

consequently have the priviledge of writing this

column. I am also delighted to report that the

three members who were up for re-election will

be continuing as members of a dedicated and hard

working Board.

Advocacy

The success of the “Call To Action” campaign has

been well noted from government to corporations,

members of the mental health profession, the

general public, our members and friends, but most

of all by those we strive to help. This success has provided

us with a template for the future – thank you all for your

participation.

2007 – What lies ahead?

There are many exciting projects that we will work on in 2007

but there are two that I would like to especially bring to your

attention.

Membership: To cement our position as a leading voice for

mental illness in Victoria, and allow us to be more effective

in our advocacy work, we need to increase the size of our

membership. I don’t think a membership of 6000 is beyond

our capacity but we need every one of you to assist by talking

about mental illness and encouraging your friends, family

and colleagues to become members.

Capital Appeal: Commencing early in 2007 we will be

conducting a capital appeal to expand, extend and develop

the Opening Doors Program which is aimed at providing

people with a mental illness access to a range of community

based residential rehabilitation opportunities. Dean’s story

in this edition of MI Voice clearly demonstrates how this

program changes the lives of people with a mental illness.

Thankyou for being part of MI Fellowship.

Best Wishes for Christmas and for a great 2007.

Rob Knowles

Rob and Liz show Daniel Andrews, Parliamentary Secretary for Health,

the MI glass creations range at Open Mind Fiesta

mivoice SUMMER 2006/2007

1500 members

Our ‘Call to Action’ election advocacy was a strong and successful campaign with

but imagine what we could achieve with 6000 members

6000 members

You can be part of making our voice stronger when we advocate for people affected by

mental illness. Our goal is to increase our membership base to 6000 individuals.

If each of you uses the enclosed form to encourage a friend, family member, colleague

or other acquaintance, we’re already half way there.

If you need more membership forms visit www.mifellowship.org/membership.htm or call

Ben on 03 8486 4249.

M e m b e r s h i p Why it’s so critical to our work

1�.