28 AUGUST 1998 .. A WEB NEWSLETTER FOR PSYCH CONSUMERS IN AUSTRALIA

In New Zealand, the peak survivors group, Aoteroa Network of Psychiatric Survivors ANOPS had a controversial conference in Rotorua in June. ANOPS has avoided collapse, however.

Apparently "the issue of cønsumer representation led to a lot of debate and divisiveness .. with more and more Health bodies (hospitals etc.) wanting 'cønsumer representation' - are the people giving these representations representing all cønsumers, just ANOPS, or just themselves? ".

ANOPS can be contacted by paper mail - write to Pauline at P.O. Box 5422 Dunedin N.Z. [ thanks Nick ]

a review of the recent Vicserv conference :
there were " .. lots of distinguished guests attending. Many fine speeches delivered, including the plenary on Thursday afternoon by Hon. Neil Cole .. also on Friday, the Member for Warrnambool delivered a fine oratory on networking the nation through national associations ... Vicserv is preparing a report due out in Nov. I met lots of cønsumers & reps...

I hope to assemble further feedback from fellow cønsumers later ... the food was good, the ambience warm and friendly, the workshops of world class quality, and I suspect lots got some solid personal networking happening spontaneously .. " (by Francis Beçu)

** UPDATED ** THEMHS is an annual conference for mental health services and cønsumers in Aussie land &N.Z. THEMHS 1998 will be held September 7 - 9 at the Wrest Point Convention Centre (oh yes, near the Casino) in Hobart, Tasmania .. with pre-conf. sessions on Sunday September 6.

One of these will be a cønsumer day (forum) .. 9:15am. to 5pm. Organised mostly by the national cønsumer Network , registration for this day is $10. [The carers forum will run concurrently] Invited speakers include Phil Iker, Leonie Manns, Simon Champ .. Chris Newell will be conducting a hypothetical . In the afternoon there will be several concurrent sessions, described as "cønsumer initiatives, consultation/participation, advocacy, a computer workshop, and self-care workshops" A karaoke night will follow the forum from 7:30pm. A detailed program is available from the THEMHS Office through the post; their e-mail address is enquiries@themhs.org (be quick)

Cønsumer issues which were suggested for THEMHS were the national cønsumer Network, escaping poverty, mainstreaming, self-esteem, employment, peer programs, rehabilitation, the clubhouse model, migrant and indigenous people ... however some of these will not be addressed this year. THEMHS 1998 has generally given lower emphasis to cønsumer topics. Still worth attending this conference if you can. A cønsumer/carer feedback session is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. Phil Iker, a well-known Koorie cønsumer will be a keynote speaker that morning. Lemon Looning is back during lunch-times.

The national cønsumer Network will conduct its 1998 AGM on Monday 7th. at 2 pm. at the Sandy Bay Senior Citizens Hall, near Wrest Point. Elections will be conducted for the Network Vice-Chair and Treasurer. The Network committee have not yet indicated who has been singly nominated for the positions of Chairperson or Secretary. The new State delegates will be announced.

A meeting and celebration to re-launch The Human Rights Centre for MH will be held in Melbourne on Friday, 11 September, starting at 7pm. .. this meeting will be of interest to anyone who genuinely wants to take up an advocacy role in the area of human rights and mental health.

Please contact Steafan Kilkeary for more information .. e-mail hrcmh@hotmail.com

by Lu

" after 15 years of hospitals, agencies, the CES .. they say to me social workers. What does this mean? My dictionary says that a social worker is a welfare worker, works with the poor .. so, I sat down and worked out my needs : housing, work, money education, access to hospitals, justice. So social workers deliver this. My main need, I decided, is for housing, then work, etc. Yet I do not see big progress on this anywhere. Why do I have to go to agencies and tell them I have this need? The agency should chase ME up and ask me - isn't this their job ? There's no stress on my needs; I have to live in the community as a disabled person when I am not well .. so whose needs are they working on? Theirs? It's all reversed. For 15 years I didn't question it - who are they working for? I saw seven social workers .."

".... they laugh because they know they're untouchable
not because what i said was wrong
i will live by my own policies, i will sleep with a clear conscience ....
you asked for the truth, and i told you " (Sinéad O'Connor)

	Across the world, the cønsumer movement is gathering momentum as users of psych. health services realise their own wisdom and resources. "an aussie cønsumer newsletter" is published on the Web by cønsumers, for cønsumers Down Under. This newsletter assists cønsumers to develop contacts across Australia. The editorial team is based in Melbourne, we aim to publish a new issue every two weeks. Printed copies are available by subscription ... ask us. This newsletter is optimised for Netscape browsers. We are independent of any cønsumer group or service provider. And this is an un-funded enterprise, so if you as a cønsumer can help us or suggest improvements, we need you. We particularly like news from states outside Victoria. Watch this space : we collect cønsumer stories and material.