President's Report: August 2006/7
Hornsby Ku-ring-Gai Assoc. Inc.
ACTION FOR MENTAL HEALTH
It has been an exciting and productive year, with our membership numbers increasing to over 175 members and a mail out of approximately 220 recipients.
We have been greatly encouraged by the continued support of a hard-working committee, with Nick Baines our Vice-President and Brian Brooker our Treasurer, obtaining grants and continued funding from Ku-ring-gai Council, Hornsby Council and Hornsby RSL. Through this funding assistance we are able to financially support the highly successful 'Personal Trainer' healthy lifestyle program, and other mental health consumer facilities currently being provided at WRS (Wahroonga Rehabilitation Services) Cottage-in-the-Park.
In addition, we have greatly appreciated being able to hear inspirational speakers, including Dr. Alan Rosen, who outlined for us successful community strategies in mental health service provisions currently being supplied in Victoria.
The Victorian Orygen Program, as it is termed, is situated in a local shopping precinct and is easily accessible to all, helping to increase local awareness of mental health issues and also reduce stigma, which is often more damaging than the illness itself.
It is a model we would seek to emulate, providing, as it does, a local 'one stop shop' at which mental health consumers can receive follow-up and on-going treatment in a 'user friendly' community environment.
Judy Hopwood and Gladys Berejiklian again gave of their valuable time to let us hear of advances in the area of mental health, not the least of which is the formulation of the Parliamentary Friends of the Mentally Ill of which we are so proud. We have seen great results from both Federal and State parliaments in the promises of funding, and in conjunction with other service providers such as SF NSW (Schizophrenia Fellowship New South Wales) and MHCC (Mental Health Co-ordinating Council) shall do our best to ensure that these are followed up.
Our own local hospital is undergoing some welcome changes, with greater facilities being provided in Accident and Emergency for the reception of persons experiencing psychosis, and also through the building of another ward to house the intensively ill. LMU (Lindsay Madew Unit) and Benowie will continue to provide existing services, as will the Palmerston Centre in providing Out Patient facilities.
Judy Thompson, as an HKA Committee Member and ex-President, continues to represent us at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, does regular presentations to staff on the work of HKA and attends monthly meetings to further represent Carers of people with mental illness.
Currently, locally, Health and Housing have joined forces, together looking at how to provide increased Boarding House facilities for the mentally ill. Whilst the term 'Boarding House' has sad connotations of failure to provide good facilities, it is apparently a term which is being used to attract further and extended funding for the mentally ill. Kate Jeffries, Community Participation Co-ordinator from Macquarie Hospital is heading up this consultative group.
In addition, Kate is also heading up a Community Consultative Group addressing how best to supply adequate community facilities for the mentally ill. We will receive feedback and updates from this group later in the year.
Earlier this year we saw the official launching of CAN the autonomous Consumer Activity Network at Parliament House and are very excited by the prospect of consumers having an independent voice. I am sure we will see great things by way of improvements in service provision and perhaps even the opening of our own 'One Stop Shop' for the mentally ill, perhaps the first of its kind in New South Wales.
I should like to take this opportunity to say thank you to WRS, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai hospital staff, the Hornsby RSL, our local Councils and MPs and all our loyal HKA members who have done their best to ensure the message of addressing the needs of the mentally ill remains in the forefront of 'governmental minds' and have continued to show their support for our organisation, now in its 20th year.
It was with great pleasure that I accepted a Certificate of Recognition for Community Service on behalf of the HKA and also a plaque acknowledging Community Service presented to me by Berowra Rotary by Judy Hopwood, MP for Hornsby.
Thank you all very much. It is a joy and a privilege to be able to continue to serve the community in this way.
Jane Woodall President |
