Green light for mental health help service
Funding of more than $1 million from the Victorian Coalition Government has secured the future of an agency that gives people with a mental illness the opportunity to help others in the same situation.
Minister for Mental Health Mary Wooldridge announced today that the Coalition Government will provide annual funding of $255,000 over four years to Our Consumer Place, which has a valuable role in supporting people with a mental illness.
Our Consumer Place was established in 2007 with time-limited funding to produce a range of web-based material developed by people with a mental illness.
The service also provides training and development opportunities and has built strong partnerships both nationally and overseas with people with a mental illness and their support groups.
“It is important that people with a mental illness have the opportunity to help others in the same situation and that they feel their views and contributions are valued,” Ms Wooldridge said.
“The Our Consumer Place website averages 1,500 hits per day and more than 4,000 people have attended training workshops.”
“Up to 1,000 people with a mental illness are available at any given time to provide advice and help in the production of materials.”
A founding member of Our Consumer Place, Merinda Epstein, welcomed the Coalition Government’s decision.
“This is great news and a clear demonstration of how Victoria is leading the way in supporting the growth of mental health consumer leadership,” Ms Epstein said.
“We are the only consumer-run resource in Australia. This funding will allow us to continue our groundbreaking work to ensure the insights of lived experience become enmeshed in our state’s mental health system and society as a whole.”
For more information about Our Consumer Place, visit www.ourconsumerplace.com.au
