Lived experience in evaluation: Power

This is part two of a two-part article that draws on my recent presentation at the TheMHS 2021 conference. Part one is here.  I’ve written before that evaluators perhaps don’t attend enough to issues of power in their projects. When thinking about how to write about the challenges I’ve faced as a lived experience evaluator, … Read more

Lived experience in evaluation: We’re not lab rats

Picture of a cute lil mouse eating something like a nut

It’s increasingly becoming ‘business as usual’ in the mental health sector to speak of the role of lived experience when conducting evaluations. I’m particularly passionate about the role of lived experience in evaluation, as someone who at various times has worn the hats of participant, evaluator and commissioner. I love evaluation because it has the … Read more

Some thoughts about workforce reform

3 older women sit around a table chatting with cups of tea

When the final report from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System was first released, I had lots of initial thoughts – some positive, some negative. But the area where I felt most disappointment was workforce. At the time I planned to write something summarising my thoughts, but life got away from me. Since … Read more

Commission submissions

Jo quoted in the Royal Commission report

I have a list as long as my arm of blog posts I have been meaning to write of late, not least a reflection or two on the recent Royal Commission Report into the Victorian Mental Health System. Unfortunately, they are all on the backburner a bit as I focus on client work. In the … Read more

Response to the Productivity Commission draft report

Late last year, the Productivity Commission inquiry into mental health released their draft report of findings and recommendations so far. It is a huge report (over 1000 pages!) that covers immense ground, picking up on many of the flaws in the current mental health system. I opted to provide a response to the draft report. … Read more