a Web newsletter for psych. cønsumers in Australia
8 May, 1998
next edition 29 May - optimised for Netscape

[NATIONAL] On May 2, cønsumers joined a global Walk, inspired by the United States project "Walk the Walk" that day for people whose lives have been touched by mental illness, called the Mad Million March.

In Australia, unfortunately the March was abandoned, except for a Carnation project - anyone who can provide us with more details, please do.

Check out Mad Nation for a review of the US marches etc..

[FUTURE EDITIONS] the newsletter will include an update on the ongoing harrassment of a social worker in NZ who allowed a client to refuse treatment, and a story about the developing consumer intiatives in Caboolture, Queensland.

[VIC] VICSERV is requesting cønsumer involvement for their 1998 conference in Caulfield, Melbourne [August 13-14] .. the conference theme will be "reconnections" (?) .. sorry, it is too late for sending abstracts.

(VIC) Allan Pinches is now developing and trialling a homepage on the Internet. Topics covered will include: community development, social justice, mental health consumer advocacy, psychiatric disability support, and innovative solution-seeking for social problems.

[NATIONAL] THEMHS is an annual conference for mental health services AND cønsumers in Aussie land & NZ. At THEMHS last year, there were several cønsumer events, including the AGM of the Aussie MH Consumer network, and papers given by Australian cønsumers. THEMHS 1998 will be held at Wrest Point Hotel (yes, near the Casino) in Hobart, Tasmania. Cønsumer issues to be covered : "the national Cønsumer Network, escaping poverty, mainstreaming, self-esteem, employment, peer programs, rehabilitation, the Clubhouse model, migrant and indigenous people .. "

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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 by cønsumers, for cønsumers Down Under. This document is composed and edited in Melbourne; a new issue is usually published every second Friday. This cønsumer newsletter is independent of any cønsumer group, network 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 value news from states outside Victoria. Watch this space .. we collect consumer stories and material. We will accept files and GIFs/JPEGs up to 64K . Printed copies of this newsletter are available - ask us.