mental health families & friends TASMANIA provides systemic advocacy from a family and friend perspective drawing upon lived experience to improve mental health and alcohol and drug services and the well-being of families and friends. Mental health families and friends are central to everything we do at mental health families & friends TASMANIA. Our purpose is to make sure the voices of mental health and AOD misuse families and friends are heard. We work with families and friends to support them and to champion their needs and aspirations. In order to be effective, we need to ensure that our approach to engagement is appropriate, inclusive and influential.
We provide input into state and national research, policy review and development. We are active members of TASCOSS and Mental Health Carers Australia.
You may also wish to contribute to the Sane Hocking Community Grant Survey. The research project aims to support the introduction of best practice community-based carer support services throughout Australia, and empower those caring for loved ones with complex mental health issues.
Family & Friends Representative Program
Government agencies, community service organisations and other employers are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of including people who have lived experience of mental ill health and AOD misuse in a range of workplace activities. These include planning, staff training, interview panels and policy and service development. One huge way that mental health families & friends TASMANIA provide systemic advocacy is through our Family & Friends Representative Program (FFRP). Through this program, mental health families & friends TASMANIA assists employers to access family and friends of someone with mental ill health and / or AOD misuse, who have the knowledge, skills, and commitment to assist them to achieve their aim to develop quality programs and services to support people with mental ill health in Tasmania.
There are many ways our Family & Friends Representative Program can benefit people. It provides support and opportunities to individuals to;
- Recognise the value of their lived experience
- Gain additional skills and experience which may increase self-confidence and well-being
- Participate in their local community
- Challenge stigma and discrimination related to mental ill health and AOD misuse
- Provide input directly into improving mental health services in Tasmania.
For more information on how you can become a Family & Friend Representative, you can give us a call, send us an email or drop into our Office in Glenorchy!
You can also find the Family & Friend Representative Application Form HERE
