Consumers and carers expressions of interest to join the Community Collaboration Committee

Sorry, but where does "whanau" come from? Is it an aboriginal word?

Thanks for your question!

Whānau – (pronunciation: far:no) is a Māori word used to describe immediate family members (grandparents, parents, siblings, children and grandchildren) and extended family group (sometimes referred to as whanaunga). The whānau forms the basic unit of Māori society which connects Māori to their hapu (sub-tribe), which connects to their iwi (tribe) and ancestors (Tipuna/Tupuna). Therefore the whānau forms the foundation unit for Māori identity and belonging.

Thanks,

Alexandra

Cool! Thanks!

Can you elaborate more on;

• the role of the committee;
• a member's responsibilities and obligations;
• what skills the potential member will need;
• what the time commitment would be; and
• where the role is based.

I'm very much interested but would like to know more before getting in contact.

I looked on website. It is in PDF form.

Thanks MrKotter for getting in touch!

If you would like to email huseyin.mustafa@ranzcp.org we will be happy to go into further detail about your enquiry.

Thanks,

Alexandra.

@RANZCP will do. Thanks Alexandra

Hi Alexandra,

I llived and worked in NZ for a while and felt that the Maori culture and practices were more integrated in society than our own aboriginal aspects.

Perhaps, as an inclusive practice we could start using comparable aboriginal terms for families...at least an acknowledgement that there are similarities between the Maori social structure and aboriginal ones might be a good starting point. i am confident that aboriginal cultures too have the concept of family, group, and tribe as being the building blocks of their society.... just a thought.

yes, i am interested and will apply. I am both consumer and a carer.

Hi @mhsw,

Thank you for your message expressing your interest in joining the Community Collaboration Committee.

If you could please send an email to huseyin.mustafa@ranzcp.org, we will send you through the relevant information to express your interest in the committee.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks

Alexandra

Sounds interesting. Would you be interested in an older person from Australia now living in NZ . I was diagnosed with DID after years of mucking about in the truly revolting Qld public system and not so repellant private system. I have a good sense of humor.....

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@RANZCP wrote:

Hello All,

My name is Alexandra from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP).

The RANZCP is responsible for training, educating and representing psychiatrists in Australia and New Zealand.Psychiatrists specialise in diagnosing and treating people with mental illnesses. As the trainers and examiners of future psychiatrists, the RANZCP works with consumers and carers to achieve the best possible mental health care for the community.

Consumers and carers know what it is like to live with symptoms of mental illness and experience recovery. They also understand the impact of hardship, prejudice and isolation which often goes with it. The lived experience of consumers and their families, whãnau and carers is invaluable, offering personal insight, unique expertise and a different point of view to that of doctors, as well as contributing new ideas to help improve the mental health system.

There is the opportunity for you to get involved. Currently we are seeking expressions of interest for community members to join the RANZCP Community Collaboration Committee.

The Community Collaboration Committee is made up of six psychiatrists (RANZCP Fellows) and eight community members: two carers and two consumers from Australia, and two carers and two consumers from New Zealand.

The role of the Committee is to:

• develop policy, advice and standards of practice with respect to involving carers and family (whānau) in mental health care
• increase awareness of consumer and carer concerns in the training of psychiatrists
• build relationships with other mental health organisations
• contribute to RANZCP publications and present at RANZCP Congress.

Community representatives also sit on a broad range of other RANZCP committees – as full voting members – to ensure the views of the community are considered in all RANZCP activities.

The term on the Committee will be from May 2016 to May 2018. For further information or to express an interest in joining, please contact Huseyin Mustafa, Manager Practice and Partnerships via huseyin.mustafa@ranzcp.org by COB Monday 18 April 2016.

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