This paper outlines the process that a group of committed people in NSW have gone through in the last 7 years to promote the Hearing Voice Approach in NSW. In 2008 a public meeting was organised at St Vincent Hospital to see what interest there was in the Hearing Voices approach. Both Arana Pearson and Ron Coleman had done a number of workshops during the previous 5 years. Sixteen people attended the meeting and from that start several people committed to meeting monthly to progress the concept. In 2011 we now have an independent and viable incorporated association called Hearing Voices Network NSW, 22 Hearing Voices groups across NSW, a carers group and a training workshop for aspiring group facilitators.

The management committees primary focus has been to establish due diligence in setting up the hearing voices groups and as a result of this each group that is establish under the HVN NSW umbrella is supplied with a start up kit that includes: • Self Help Groups User Manual • Group Locations & Contacts • Guidelines to Coping with Distressing Voices • Strategies for Coping • Hearing Voices Group Guidelines • Books More information about HVN NSW can be found at www.hvnnsw.org.au

Mental health articles analyse stigma’s impact on mental health patients and offer solutions but real action is often hampered by funding, commitment and in Australia, extreme distance. Major mental health programmes have been introduced in some countries and these are briefly described. Types of stigma including self-stigma and some relevant laws are discussed. Corrigan’s work clearly describes how mentally ill are robbed of opportunities including jobs, accommodation and valuable social life. Justice issues are discussed such as numerous patients in mental health hospitals could be discharged but suitable accommodation is not available.
Overwhelming research demonstrates the power of the personal story and face to face contact but the mentally ill are often unable to speak out for themselves. I endured discrimination as a teenager for very visible scars. Society’s fear and avoidance of mental illness is enhanced because of uncertainty and misunderstanding. My experience is that community attitudes can be changed and details of how and why will be provided. Change is needed especially from the community. Organizations including Government and non-government and funding alone cannot provide the all-encompassing care mentally ill people need to overcome the many challenges including stigma they face.

The inclusion and employment of people with lived experience is increasingly being seen as best practice in our mental health services. In June 2014 the Top End Mental Health Service created the role of Consumer Consultant. The role required a number of skills; the most important being the lived experience of mental illness but from there it was was very similar to the road to recovery - completely uncharted.
Reflecting on the first year within the service has been an interesting process. It is vital to maintain trusted relationships as a peer to those living with mental illness, to provide them with advocacy and ensure their needs are being noted at all levels. It is also essential to create respect and acceptance of your experience as a professional in your field.
The sharing of experiences is beneficial for the entire workforce. Those who are in lived experience roles often benefit from hearing the thoughts of others to help clarify their own thoughts and expectations. Our clinicians can learn from the understanding of what we are thinking and why. It is my intention to share these reflections to hopefully assist others on their path which ever it may be.

A survey of the consumers experience of Partners In Recovery (PIR) in Western Sydney was conducted by the Consumer Consultant employed in the program. The survey asked consumers to rate the program across a number of questions that related to their experiences of the staff and the program such as "I was treated with dignity and respect". As well as their own experience of recovery through questions such as "PIR has given me hope" and "I feel more socially connected".

The results of the survey will be used to look at the effectiveness of the program and the competencies that staff are required to have to provide a recovery oriented service from the consumers experience.

Government policy clearly insists on Recovery orientation as the future direction for mental health service provision within Australia. However, many mental health organisations and professionals are struggling to understand and meaningfully implement Recovery within the pre-existing system. Education and change management has been sporadic and ad hoc. People employed to work specifically from their lived experience of mental health challenge, service use and Recovery provide invaluable understanding and potential philosophical leadership to the ongoing implementation of Recovery concepts and practice.

PeerZone is a series of three hour peer led workshops in mental health and addiction where people explore recovery and whole of life wellbeing.
Since its inception in 2013, PeerZone has oriented over 100 facilitators in Australia and New Zealand who deliver workshops for their organisations and communities.

Using a statistical and colourful PowerPoint presentation this paper outlines PeerZone’s successes from its first orientation of facilitators in Canberra in 2013, through its growth in Australia and New Zealand to its franchise in Toronto, Ontario this year.

In a snappy, colourful display this paper shows how PeerZone has supported the peer workforce, their organisations and services users alike through the facilitation of a powerful shared learning experience.

My journey began in 1997 when I attended my first THEMHS Conference. I have attended THEMHS every year since then, in my different roles of consumer work I have been supported with costs to attend. I am now the Consumer Consultant for the Eastern Sydney Partners in Recovery. Part of my role is to organise the ESPIR Consumer Network Meetings, this is a network of consumers in the Eastern Sydney area who are interested in supporting ESPIR so that consumers can receive a better service.

I have had regular meetings to find out what are the local issues important to consumers. The main issue identified was stigma. In Eastern Sydney we have a range of stigma busting activities happening to address stigma: The Team Marbles Challenge, SUPER Group, and Film Workshops.

This year I am inviting the clients of ESPIR for an informal chat to meet me and other consumers. The forum is to find out if they needed help in the Eastern Sydney area but couldn’t find it in the Eastern Sydney Area, and to talk about what else would have been helpful.

My journey has been a long one, full of different experiences, all with the aim to change the mental health service and help other consumers have a better recovery journey than I had.

The presenter will describe her 46 year journey of addictions following a diagnosis in 1969. Her marriage partner also diagnosed with OCD posed a challenge of roller-coaster proportions that dogged the relationship. After 41 years they both found it too difficult to live with each other's problems as well as dealing with their own. The two daughters from the marriage also living with OCD complicated her progress and caused insurmountable issues and problems. The presenter will describe the purpose of each addiction as a crutch which she used to deal with the negative aspects of the family's mental health problems. The presentation will also include unhelpful behavioural problems that arose and interfered with daily life responsibilities and how it stymied relationship growth with her husband and the ability for positive parenting. Strategies for overcoming these negative behaviours were developed over the years and the presenter will share how she has progressed her recovery journey. As a registered nurse in 1963, smoking addiction was followed by coffee, overeating, shopping sprees, acquiring goods at garage sales and council clean-ups which led to hoarding, presenting mammoth challenges Overcoming these challenges have maintained smoother sailing into twilight years and her seventies.