S010: Lived Experience and Research
Tracks
Track 7
| Wednesday, August 26, 2015 |
| 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM |
| Swan Room |
Speaker
Ching-I Hsu
Senior Research and Evaluation Coordinator
RichmondPRA
Lived Experience and Research
Abstract
Would you like to see people experiencing mental health issues and accessing services, take on the role of researcher - actively leading research rather than being the passive subjects of it? We will tell you how we did it.
RichmondPRA’s Recovery Action Framework commits us to creating training led by people with lived experience through the principles of Recovery.
Through collaboration, the ‘Discovering Research’ training was facilitated over six weeks to learners which included people accessing RichmondPRA services and peer workers. The course covered eight topics relevant to basic quantitative and qualitative research methods. The course emphasised the need for rigour in research as well as ethical issues. Presentation skills were also imparted. Impressions from the learners were positive and encouraging for future revision and extension of the course. Since then, the facilitators of the course have been referring research opportunities to former learners as they come become available.
RichmondPRA’s Recovery Action Framework commits us to creating training led by people with lived experience through the principles of Recovery.
Through collaboration, the ‘Discovering Research’ training was facilitated over six weeks to learners which included people accessing RichmondPRA services and peer workers. The course covered eight topics relevant to basic quantitative and qualitative research methods. The course emphasised the need for rigour in research as well as ethical issues. Presentation skills were also imparted. Impressions from the learners were positive and encouraging for future revision and extension of the course. Since then, the facilitators of the course have been referring research opportunities to former learners as they come become available.
Biography
Sally Cineta works in hospitality for a RichmondPRA transitional employment program. She has a lived experience of mental health issues. Previously she worked in hospitality management for Pizza Hut and also Novotel and has danced professionally. She has a BA (Economics) and a Dip Ed.
Catherine D'Angelo works in hospitality for the Figtree Conference Centre, a transitional employment program. She has a lived experience of mental health issues and also experience in acting and singing. One day she hopes to have her own restaurant or be a Maitre D'.
Tim Heffernan
Peer Worker
Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District/ RichmondPRA
The NSW Consumer Led Research Network
Abstract
The Strategic Plan for Mental Health in NSW has announced the establishment of a Collaborative Research Framework for Mental Health in NSW. A key principle underpinning this framework is ‘the engagement of consumers and carers at all stages of research, including its translation into practice and policy’ . A recommended action of the plan is to, ‘Establish a model for developing and supporting consumer researchers that takes the principles of recovery into account.’ In this context a group of consumer researchers, led by Bradley Foxlewin, has established the ‘ NSW Consumer Led Research Network’, an independent body, supported by the NSW Mental Health Commission.
The Network has been established to support an environment for the discussion and development of consumer led mental health and drug and alcohol research activities, in NSW. This paper will introduce founding members of the Network, present an overview of our work so far, and it will seek to widen the Network’s membership base. There will also be the opportunity to explore past, present and future consumer led research and opportunities, and to seek partnerships with consumer researchers in other states.
The Network has been established to support an environment for the discussion and development of consumer led mental health and drug and alcohol research activities, in NSW. This paper will introduce founding members of the Network, present an overview of our work so far, and it will seek to widen the Network’s membership base. There will also be the opportunity to explore past, present and future consumer led research and opportunities, and to seek partnerships with consumer researchers in other states.
Biography
Tim Heffernan is a Peer Support worker working in both public and NGO positions. He is passionate about providing the evidence for peer support. Tim chairs the board of Being (NSW CAG) and the NSW Consumer Worker Committee. He is a member of the NSW MH Commission’s Community Advisory Council.
Dr. Katherine Gill is one of the founding members of the NSW Consumer Research Network. Kate is a registered Occupational Therapist with a background in medical, scientific and mental health research; program implementation and service evaluation. Kate is currently leading the consumer research and evaluation for the Recovery Colleges.
Yvonne Samuel is one of the founding members of the NSW Consumer Research Network. Yvonne is the Policy Coordinator for the NSW-Users-and-AIDS-Association (NUAA). Her role includes harm reduction, hepatitis-C treatment and self-care. Yvonne is educated in psychology and sociology and has worked in the community welfare sector for 20 years.
Nicola Hancock
Academic
University of Sydney
A consumer-led research project: Sharing our experiences
Abstract
Recognition of the importance of consumer collaboration in mental health research has developed to the degree that it is now considered expected practice and is often required for funding approval (e.g., NHMRC/Consumers’ Health Forum of Australia, 2004).
In a consumer-led model of research, rather than shared responsibility, consumer researchers within the team take the lead role throughout the research process from project conceptualisation through to data collection, data analysis, interpretation and dissemination of findings (Happell, 2007). It is this form of research that we are reporting on. Partners in Recovery (PIR) is an Australia-wide, federally funded initiative charged with enhancing inter-sectorial links and thus supports for people living with serious and persistent mental illness thereby, facilitating recovery. One PIR program has partnered with academics at the University of Sydney to initiate and support a consumer-led research project.
The aim of this presentation is to share our consumer and academic researcher experiences of consumer-led research. We will discuss obstacles faced; successes achieved, and lessons learnt so far. This information will be useful to research teams and services endeavouring to initiate and/or support consumer led research or evaluation projects.
In a consumer-led model of research, rather than shared responsibility, consumer researchers within the team take the lead role throughout the research process from project conceptualisation through to data collection, data analysis, interpretation and dissemination of findings (Happell, 2007). It is this form of research that we are reporting on. Partners in Recovery (PIR) is an Australia-wide, federally funded initiative charged with enhancing inter-sectorial links and thus supports for people living with serious and persistent mental illness thereby, facilitating recovery. One PIR program has partnered with academics at the University of Sydney to initiate and support a consumer-led research project.
The aim of this presentation is to share our consumer and academic researcher experiences of consumer-led research. We will discuss obstacles faced; successes achieved, and lessons learnt so far. This information will be useful to research teams and services endeavouring to initiate and/or support consumer led research or evaluation projects.
Biography
Bridget Berry is a consumer-researcher in Occupational Therapy at the University of Sydney. With an Honours degree in sociology, a Masters in Museum Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies, she has worked in a wide variety of positions. In her current position, she is part of a team evaluating a Partners in Recovery program in Sydney.
Richard Schweizer is a consumer-researcher based at Sydney University. He has completed degrees in Arts and Law at the Sydney University and Journalism at the University of Technology Sydney. He is currently completing a PhD at Sydney University about the sociology of schizophrenia.
Shifra Waks was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder in 2009 when she was 19. Shifra hopes to use her Masters in International Public Health and her personal experience to help others and advocate for consumers. Shifra works as a consumer-researcher at the University of Sydney evaluating PIR Northern Beaches and is a peer educator at the Recovery College in Sydney.
