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Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

DaisydreamerSenior Contributor09 Aug 2021, 3:51 pm AEST

Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

Hi SANE Community,

If you or someone you care about uses the Victorian Mental Health System for support, we have a special Topic Tuesday for you.

You might have heard the Victorian Government recently committed $3.8 billion to implement all recommendations of the Royal Commission into the Victorian Mental Health System, to rebuild the system from the ground up.

What will these changes look like for the mental health system and the people who use it?

To help us understand the future mental health system envisioned by the Royal Commission, we’re joined by special guest Graham Panther - a mental health advocate who was a witness before the Royal Commission. He is also the co-founder of the Big Feels Club - creating spaces for people with ‘big, scary feelings’ to hear from others with similar experiences.

What is the Victorian Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System?

The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System was an intensive two-year inquiry, producing a final report that stretches over five volumes and 3000 pages. Its recommendations provide a blueprint to completely rebuild the mental health system.

The Royal Commission called for lived experience to be embedded at every level of the future system.

This Topic Tuesday will be an opportunity to learn more, ask questions and find out how to get involved in mental health advocacy yourself.

To learn more about Graham, please feel free to check out the Big Feels Club and the amazing work he is doing in the lived experience leadership space in Australia!

Please join us here on Tuesday 17 August 2021 from 7:00pm-8:30pm AEST to follow this conversation.

Want to receive a reminder on the night? Hit the 'Support' button below.

New to the forums or want to get involved in this discussion? Check out the How To Guide for Topic Tuesdays.

_________________________

This topic is a big one for anyone invested in the future of the Victorian Mental Health System. While each of us have different experiences of the system – from positive to extremely challenging - we want to make sure that this space is an open and respectful space to hold all of our experiences. Before joining this discussion, we would encourage you to familiarise yourself with the community guidelines so we can make this space as supportive as possible.

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In response to: Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

complexNew Contributor17 Aug 2021, 7:06 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

I can't say I know a lot about the changes. I was in hospital about a decade ago or more and would like to know how the changes will impact people who might not have a say about their hospitalisation as that can be pretty rough!

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

BigFeelsClubSenior Contributor17 Aug 2021, 7:07 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

Kia ora koutou!

I'm Graham Panther.

So I run The Big Feels Club, an online club for anyone who feels sad or scared a bunch of the time. It’s ‘real content about mental health, made by people who’ve been there too’.

And I also work with government and mental health agencies, as a consultant, designing and evaluating services.

To borrow a phrase from Mary O’Hagan (one of New Zealand’s great consumer leaders!) I started my career in mental health as a service user. Basically, at age 23 I had a big old nervous breakdown, and all my work since then has been an attempt to make these sorts of experiences less lonely, and better understood.

More specifically, I’m here to talk a bit about the changes coming to Victoria’s mental health system as a result of the Royal Commission into Mental Health, which I was a witness to. Plus whatever else you all want to dive into??

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

frogSenior Contributor17 Aug 2021, 7:07 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

Hi @Daisydreamer @cloudcore @Former-Member and welcome Graham @BigFeelsClub

I am interested in how the macro level discussions/recommendations at the Royal Commission will play out on the ground. When you were participating Graham, did you have a sense that real change is possible?

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

cloudcoreSenior Contributor17 Aug 2021, 7:09 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

Hi everyone!

I am cloudcore and I'm a peer support worker here at SANE. I have a professional background in mental health but also have my own lived experiences dealing with mental illness and navgating the system. I'm so excited to learn more about the upcoming changes.

Welcome @complex , @frog, @Shaz51 and @AussieRecharger

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

AussieRechargerSenior Contributor17 Aug 2021, 7:09 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

What are you most interested in hearing about tonight?

I love the peer support model but i find agencies are already falling into the trap of employing people for peer support close to their HQ or hubs and are not looking for more online resources and backup resources. Why restrict peer support to a radius of 100k's from your main office? Does your team at the big feels feel like more could be done to allow services to be done online?

How do you feel about a membership-based service like RACV but for your health? You pay $100, you get access to help whenever you need it including carers and respite and peer worker support?

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

DaisydreamerSenior Contributor17 Aug 2021, 7:09 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

Brilliant question @frog 🙂 We might flag this one for @BigFeelsClub, looking forward to hearing your thoughts Graham

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

BigFeelsClubSenior Contributor17 Aug 2021, 7:10 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

When you were participating Graham, did you have a sense that real change is possible?

Hi @frog !

GREAT question. I was involved as a witness toward the end of the process, so late last year. I do have a sense that change is possible - with a few things I'm particuarly hopeful for, and a few things I'm shall we say cautiously optimistic about. Will definitely speak more on that tonight as we go.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

chibamSenior Contributor17 Aug 2021, 7:11 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

@Daisydreamer wrote:
To start off, we would love to hear from you: What are you most interested in hearing about tonight?

Wow. So many things.

But to start with:

The term "psychosocial" gets thrown about an awful lot in all the modern talk about system reform. I believe that the royal inquiry tries to substitute the phrase "wellbeing support" for this term.

I want to know: In plain english, what does this mean?

I have a real interest in what I call "real world help", as opposed to "mental health help". In other words, if you are being bullied, a helper makes the bullies go away; if you are single, a helper tries to set you up with a suitable boyfriend/girlfriend; if you are unemployed, a helper sends you to your proper job; ect., ect.

Is that what "psychosocial support"/"wellbeing support" actually means? @BigFeelsClub

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

KermitSenior Contributor17 Aug 2021, 7:13 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

Hi there,

I'd like to know if there are changes to enable people to access mental health care they can afford.

I'm gratefui I can access and afford private mental health specialist appointments but I know others aren't so fortunate.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

BigFeelsClubSenior Contributor17 Aug 2021, 7:14 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Let’s talk about systemic change: The Victorian Royal Commission // Tues 17th August, 7:00-8.30PM AEST

"Does your team at the big feels feel like more could be done to allow services to be done online?"

Hey @AussieRecharger

A bunch of good questions there but I'll jump into this one for now. I definitely think more could be done online. That's where we do most of what we do via Big Feels Club.

I think for a long time mainstream services were a bit wary of this, because it was new, but we're seeing some really cool stuff starting to happen in this space. Things like these forums. But always I think, in the end, what really makes this stuff work isn't the tech, it's the people involved, which includes the people using the platforms and making the community happen.

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