Speaker Reports

May 07: Barbara LeBas & Sharron Steer

We were fortunate to have two speakers at the May meeting Barbara LeBas - Occupational Therapist - speaking about EPIS and Sharron Steer who is a family program consultant working for NSCC AMH.

Barbara joined Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Mental Health 'Service in 2001 as an Occupational Therapist on the in patient unit and moved to EPIS two years ago as team leader. Barbara is currently completing a course in Clinical Leadership with the Clinical Excellence Commission.

EPIS - The Early Psychosis Intervention Service addresses the needs of young people between the ages of 18 and 26, who have recently experienced a first episode of psychosis. EPIS is a multi disciplinary team with an Occupational Therapist, Psychologist, Clinical Nurse Specialist and a Registered Nurse. EPIS operates Monday' to Friday between the hours of 8.30a.m. and 5.00p.m. The service is designed to be as informal and user friendly as possible whilst providing easy access to the facilities. Some of these facilities include family education and support in the form of evening meetings, comprehensive assertive case management, and therapeutic groups encompassing Psycho education, self-esteem and communication skills. There is one Registrar clinic and one Consultant clinic per week. Other groups include a fitness group, a social group called "Nightworks" which is run by the clients in the evening (where staff do not attend), and currently EPIS has a team, aptly named "Le Team" of consumers competing in an indoor Soccer competition in Thornleigh.

To contact EPIS call 9477 9177

Sharron commenced this work in August 2006. She works basically in research and told us that the Family and Carer Mental Health Program is working towards building better support for the families and carers of people with a mental illness. This program is a state wide initiative of the NSW government whose aims are to improve the recovery and quality of life of people with a mental illness by:

• Supporting families and carers in their caring role
• Promoting the wellbeing of families and carers
• Improving family and carer participation in service planning and delivery.

It is based on developing partnerships between families and carers, consumers, non government organisations and mental health services.

At the moment the organisation is in the process of researching current practice, developing guidelines and initiating training programs

Sharron may be contacted on 8877 5299 or ssteer@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au