Independent Mental Health Advocacy

'Speaking from experience': we've been listening to consumers

Tuesday 7 June 2016 1:02am

Speaking from experience': we've been listening to consumers

Tuesday, 7 June 2016

The formation of the ‘Speaking from Experience’ group is an exciting new initiative and recognition by Victoria Legal Aid (which operates the IMHA service) of the value of the consumer perspective.

It aims to integrate the consumer perspective into the way Victoria Legal Aid (VLA)External Link delivers services and ensure services respond to their clients.

Gaining consumer perspectives in mental health services has been recognised as critical for many years. It is a new focus for VLA and will lead the way in the legal landscape.

The group has 14 members and they bring a breadth of experience and expertise including the experience of living with mental health challenges. Diversity is a strength of the group and the multiple perspectives provided by the members will guide VLA’s two different but complementary services: the Mental Health & Disability LawExternal Link team and Independent Mental Health Advocacy.

Working within a human rights and recovery oriented framework, the group will:

  • develop priorities for service improvements and plans to strengthen and support consumer leadership at VLA including development of a Consumer Leadership and Engagement Strategy
  • provide leadership into the development of staff training and education.

'Speaking from Experience' will be participating in a planning day in July to start the process of identifying where their future energies will be channelled.

Reviewed 26 July 2021

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