PDRS Service Networks

The contact person is John Dunton. Phone John at Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria (VICSERV)on (03) 9519 7000 or see our Contact page for his email address.

Sector co-ordination and support is a key function of Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria (VICSERV). It consults with and represents the views of the psychiatric disability support sector, develops collaborative working relationships between the sector and other mental health service systems, and supports the development of organisational infrastructure for the sector. Each year, Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria (VICSERV)develops key priorities through a strategic planning process of consultation with its membership.

Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria (VICSERV) auspices several networks for psychiatric disability support service providers.

Please review the information in pdf or word file describing the various networks. Click on the title of the network to view the dates for meetings for 2007.

1. 1. Mutual Support / Self Help
2. 2. Coordinators Network
3. 3. Quarterly Infomation Network (all PDRS staff in Home Based Outreach, Respite, Day Programs & Housing & Home Based Outreach services)
4. 4. CEO Network
5. 5. Victorian Women & Mental Health Network

1. Mutual Support and Self Help (MSSH) Network 2008

More information about our networks is available in PDF or Word format

2. Co-ordinators Network 2008

The VICSERV Co-ordinators network provides the opportunity for program managers, co-ordinators, team leaders and/or senior key workers throughout the psychiatric disability rehabilitation and support sector to come together monthly to share information and ideas, discuss practical delivery issues, promote service and systems development ideas and issues, provide peer support and provide information and feedback to VICSERV on policy and practice issues.

VICSERV values this network highly as a source of policy advice, as it brings people together who have both a practical understanding of service delivery issues at ground level, as well as an understanding of policy issues. This is an inclusive network, which welcomes discussion, debate and thinking on issues relevant to PDRS service provision.

3. Quarterly Information Network

We invite you to submit your suggestions for topics, guest speakers and issues for consideration in for next year's Network events. In 2007, we organised a Forum for Mutual Support & Self Help organisations and a Recovery Workshop delivered by Judi Chamberlin (USA), a Psychiatric Survivor and one of the living legends of the survivor/consumer/ex-patient movement.

The Quarterly Network is open to all PDRS staff in Victoria. More information about all our networks is available. Further details please contact John Dunton at VICSERV.

4. CEO Network

The Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria (VICSERV) CEO network provides the opportunity for CEO's of organisations with responsibility for PDRS services, to come together every two months, to:

• Share information and ideas
• Discuss policy issues affecting their organisations
• Discuss issues which affect the strategic focus of their organisations
• Provide peer support; and
• Exchange information with Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria (VICSERV) on policy and practice issues

This network is highly useful to CEO's in supporting them to maintain peer networks, and discuss issues of common concern to organisations that run PDRS services.

If you are a CEO on our mailing list, you will be informed of meetings. For more information, please contact Bill Wallace or Michael Cassar at VICSERV on (03) 9519 7000.

5. Victorian Women & Mental Health Network

Background

In 1998 a group of women with an interest in mental health recognised a need to come together to discuss common issues and work for a change in the mental health system. The result was the formation of the Victorian Women and Mental Health Network Inc.

Network Aims & Objectives

• Unite women around mental health issues
• Provide the opportunity for consumers and workers to share experiences and information
• Support women in the provision of women sensitive services
• Promote opportunities for training and education in women's issues and women sensitive practice
• Lobby for change in order to make policy and services more responsive to women
• Advocate on behalf of disempowered women within the psychiatric system

Survey for Mental Health Workers - Women's Experience of mixed Sex psychiatric Wards

In 2006 we invited mental health consumers and workers to fill out a survey to give the Network an indication of the issues facing women consumers in mixed sex psychiatric wards. The Network is still keen for Consumers and Mental Health staff to complete and return these surveys if they haven't yet done so.The survey questions are contained in these documents.

• Survey for Mental Health Workers - Women's Experience of Mixed Sex Wards pdf file  or word file
• Survey Questions for Women Consumers: Women's Experience of Mixed Wards pdf file   or word file

Some preliminary results from these surveys are now available. Safety and Privacy for Women in Mixed Sex Psychiatric Wards pdf file  or word file

Membership is open to All Women including staff of mental health services, consumers of mental health services, and any other women in the community with an interest in women and mental health issues.

Meetings Planning meetings are held monthly on the first Tuesday of each month from 9.30am - 11.30am at VICSERV Open Meetings are also organised with guest speakers on a quarterly basis. Interested women are most welcome to attend.

Meetings will generally be held at the office of Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria (VICSERV) Level 2, 22 Horne Street Elsternwick.Location and transport details However, some meetings rotate to other member organisations, so please contact the people below to check location of any meeting you wish to attend.

Further Information:Kim Waugh (03) 9692 9549 (work) or email [kim at prahranmission.org.au] Please adjust email address to @.