MI FELLOWSHIP VICTORIA – PRACTICAL
DESIGN FUND - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
MI FELLOWSHIP’S OBJECTIVE UNDER THE PRACTICAL
DESIGN FUND
MI Fellowship Victoria’s objective was to deliver evidence-based peer-education programs
across Australia to people with a mental illness and their families and carers. These
programs are designed to increase the capacity of consumers and carers to participate fully
in DisabilityCare Australia through the development of confidence and skills in key areas
such as exercising choice and control.
Deliverables
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Adapt the current evidence-based Well Ways peer-education programs to
include a module on preparing for DisabilityCare Australia
Develop web based resources which provide information, resources and tools for
consumers, carers and staff on DCA
Train 62 consumer peer workers and 62 carer peer workers to deliver peereducation programs
Deliver peer-education programs to 1240 consumers and carers
SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS AGAINST OBJECTIVES
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The Well Ways programs have been modified to include specific modules on
preparing for DisabilityCare Australia.
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120 peer workers were trained across Australia, 62 consumer peer facilitators
and 58 carer peer facilitators
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Accredited peer facilitators were provided with ongoing training and support to
deliver the peer-education programs
- 36 community mental health and disability organisations were directly
involved in the delivery of the project
- 79 peer education programs were delivered, including 587 sessions
totalling 1761 hours of direct support
- 65 peer facilitators participated in ongoing peer-education, training and
support throughout the program
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1004 carers, consumers and mental health workers participated in sessions
designed to improve preparedness for DisabilityCare
- Of the 1004 , 779 carers and consumers participated in peer-education
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programs and 225 carers, consumers and mental health workers
attended information sessions on preparing for DisabilityCare
10 peer education programs are confirmed to run in the coming months
with another 10 expected to start, providing support to an estimated 250
more consumers and carers by the end of 2013
Carer and consumer facilitators actively participated in the evaluation process
and future program design.
EVALUATION PROCESS
Evidence was gathered on the benefits of the peer education programs to carers and
consumers through various means including a participant evaluation process, evaluation of
training provided to peer workers and direct feedback from peer facilitators.
SUMMARY OF OUTCOMES AND BENEFITS
As a result of the Practical Design Fund, mental health peer workers have increased
capacity to support consumers and carers to participate fully in DisabilityCare. This includes
skill development in peer education, group facilitation, person-centred planning and utilising
strategies and tools to support the exercising of choice and control.
Peer facilitators will continue to provide peer education programs to carers and consumers
utilising the tools and resources developed from this project to prepare people with a severe
and enduring mental illness and their families for DisabilityCare. This includes delivering to
carer and consumer participants accessing a wide-range of services such as clinical,
PDRSS, PhAMS, respite, youth, employment, disability, forensic and housing programs.
Consumers and carers have increased capacity and skills in key areas which will allow them
to make the most of supports and resources available to them under DisabilityCare.
Evaluation results indicate some improvement in understanding and confidence across all
domains such as knowledge of mental illness and DisabilityCare, communication skills, use
of individual strategies to support recovery and the exercising of choice and control under
DisabilityCare. Results do not show a major shift in domains as the expected benefits of the
program are not likely to be fully realised until newly developed skills and confidence can be
put into practice leading up to and during participation in DisabilityCare.
Mental health services and peer workers have access to practical resources and tools which
are effective in supporting consumers and carers in preparing for DisabilityCare now and into
the future. Active peer networks have also been established which will enhance ongoing
training and professional development of the peer workforce
FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
The 120 peer facilitators accredited under this project will continue to be able to utilise the
practical design fund resources in delivering the peer education programs within their
organisations, in conjunction with other partner organisations and to any interested
consumer and carer groups within their area. Some organisations have indicated that they
will be inviting all PHaMS participants to attend the peer-education program in their region.
There is potential for further development of the programs to ensure that peer facilitators
from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds are engaged and programs delivered to
carers and consumers from a CALD background.
Carers and consumers who attended the peer-education programs also indicated that they
would like to receive ongoing support through public forums and peer-education in their
preparation for DisabilityCare.
CONCLUSION
This practical design fund project has enabled peer-facilitators across Australia with the skills
and resources to deliver effective peer-education to consumers and carers which support
them to participate more fully in DisabilityCare Australia. The peer facilitators involved in
delivering these programs have been dedicated in their learning and delivery of the project to
some of the most highly disadvantaged people in their communities across Australia. The
project has resulted in significant capacity building of the peer work force and will continue to
benefit consumers and carers as ongoing peer-education programs are delivered.