President's Report

Well it seems that life just gets busier with each week that passes.  We have had a very good yet harrowing few months but we’ve managed to keep smiling through it all. Special thanks to Aline and Margaret for their support.

I have been to the National Register Workshop and have brought back a terrific Wellness and Recovery Plan booklet which I want to share with all.  It is a way of encapsulating what our loved ones want and how they want to be treated when things go wrong for them.  It is like an Advanced Directive letting everyone know everything that is necessary – from who’s going to pay outstanding bills, to who feeds the cat, and which medications suit and which don’t.  I have had five copies bound for the PCC and will bring them along to our next meeting.  It also covers how to keep ourselves and other family members well which is often overlooked.

I am also on the PACER Evaluation committee which is a Government initiative to evaluate how the PACER program is working – this program is a joint effort of Police, Ambulance and Emergency Hospital Services, all working together for better outcomes in times of crisis – a very worthwhile achievement and one I hope is funded in the future.

Also I have been invited to attend training with the Victorian Transcultural Psychiatry Unit on working with CALD (Cultural and Linguistically Diverse) communities, which I am really looking forward to.  This is an area where many hidden carers are, who, through cultural differences are too ashamed/scared/unaware of coming forward as carers.

I would also like to ask if anyone is interested in attending the 6 week Partners in Depression course that Lynne is presently doing.  Could you please let me know if you would like to attend.

Kindest regards to all

Suzie Adam