Annual Report 2012 - Lifeline Darling Downs

Lifeline Darling Downs & South West Queensland Ltd 2012 Annual Report
Personal Helpers and Mentors
by Alan Dean, Manager Federal & Other Funding
Personal Helpers and Mentors (known as PHaMs) is a Commonwealth funded mental health
initiative. PHaMs is a program that adopts a Strength Based Recovery approach. Strength
Based Recovery approach confirms that people seriously affected by mental illness can and
do recover to live productive lives in their community. Recovery is a journey towards a new
and valued sense of identity, role and purpose outside the parameters of mental illness. The
program works within a framework of recovery and incorporates philosophies of hope,
empowerment and partnership into practice and ensuring that participants set their own
goals and measure their own success. Lifeline workers are contracted to provide ongoing
support to participants in achieving and realising their abilities to embrace future challenges.
The Team
The Team comprises of two peer support workers, three Recovery workers and a Senior
Practitioner. Much of the work is guided by those members of the team who have a lived
experience of Mental illness; together they bring knowledge and ongoing wisdom and
understanding to the team. Peer support workers and participants through narratives
together build a great understanding and awareness of mental illness for themselves, the
team and the wider community.
This year, there have been staff changes and some have left PHaMs for different
challenges. The Senior Practitioner Shelly Gapp left PHaMs at end of May 2012 and the
position is being filled by Mary Rose-Miller on a temporary basis while the vacant position is
filled. The team consists of Korey Peters, Brian Reilly, Anita Baills and Vicky McLennan.
The team has benefited from the assistance of students through their enthusiastic approach
to work with people affected by mental illness.
Psychology student, Julie Blundell, from USQ in Toowoomba.
Social work student, Joseph Magomo, from JCU in Cairns.
We would like to thank these students for their skill and service to PHaMs during their field
placement.
Participants
The program comprises participants from the Southern Downs from places including
Warwick, Stanthorpe, Texas, Inglewood, Goondiwindi, Clifton, Pittsworth and Cambooya.
Achievements
The service continues to develop steadily. There have been many reports from services
within these small communities that acknowledge and recognize the value of PHaMS. Our
program is building on ideas and plans from participants. Some achievements over the past
twelve months have been:-
An educational camp at Leslie Dam (Warwick) offered participants an opportunity to
share stories, hopes and dreams and to learn more and build on their own skills and
abilities.
Nurturing through leisure.
Continuous peer support to participants who are often isolated.
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