Consumer & Carer Participation

The COPMI Team is committed to participation in the COPMI initiative by parents with mental health problems and disorders, their children, and other family members.

Becoming Involved

Purpose of consumer and carer participation

Outcomes of consumer and carer participation

Opportunities for consumer and carer participation

Register Your Interest in Being Involved

Consumer and Carer Participation Strategy document (PDF 156 kb)

Survey of the Workforce Educator Training Undertaken by Consumers Consultants, Carer Consultants and Peer Educators

Becoming Involved

There will be a range of flexible and dynamic participation strategies to provide consumers and carers with a variety of opportunities to have their voice heard in the development and implementation of the national COPMI initiative (e.g. some participants may wish to be involved in the COPMI National Family Forum (CNFF) or provide advice on resource development whilst others may wish to participate as a peer researcher). You can register your interest by simply filling in the online form.

Purpose of consumer and carer participation:

• to build on the existing body of COPMI knowledge through reciprocal partnerships with consumers, carers and young people
• to acknowledge, value and incorporate the perspectives and understandings of consumers, carers and young people gained through their lived experience of COPMI issues
• to use the information gained to enhance COPMI knowledge, information and resources.

Outcomes of consumer and carer participation may include:

• providing a voice from a consumer, carer and young person's perspective to inform the work of the COPMI initiative
• identifying strengths within the COPMI arena
• identifying those COPMI areas that need further work or work that needs to be initiated
• acting as a conduit for receiving and sharing information through formal and informal networks and contacts.

Opportunities for consumer and carer participation may include:

• COPMI e-list
• the COPMI National Family Forum (CNFF)
• workshops
• peer reviewer for information and resources
• peer researcher
• participating in work force development - education and training of workers
• media and communication
• contributng to newsletters or COPMI news items
• participating in focus groups for particular communities or interest groups e.g. rural consumers and carers, young carers.

Survey of the Workforce Educator Training Undertaken by Consumers Consultants, Carer Consultants and Peer Educators

During May-June 2010 a survey was conducted with the Carer Consultants, Consumer Consultants and Peer Educators who had completed the 'Keeping Families and Children in Mind: COPMI Mental Health Worker Education Resource' training. The purpose of the survey was to gain feedback to enhance future training programs involving these educators and to publish the findings on the COPMI website in order to assist future Carer Consultants, Consumer Consultants and Peer Educators who are involved in workforce education and the organisations that support them. Click here for the final report.

Contacts

Please contact Elizabeth Fudge (Project Manager) for more information.