A big small step.

As you said, it will not fix everything. "It will not fix the inaccessible transport, buildings, community prejudices, workplace discrimination."

I mention this because I just had a look at the TheMHS 2011 Conference agenda. While "RESILIENCE IN CHANGE" might be a really cool title, just check the TheMHS Summer Forum, with the focus on "Tackling Aggression – understand, respond and prevent".

The discussion appears completely one sided and is as clinically systemically dominant as the rhetoric advocating Tasser guns.

Utterly unbelievable..

The brief on the conference itself says; "Resilience in Change. This coming of age 21st TheMHS conference moves forward from contributing to the rebirth and revitalising of mental health services, to capacity building in resilience and adaptability, recognising that reform and change is an ongoing process. Extending on from the strengths of the past and acknowledging and discarding what has not worked is the driver of reform. This coming of age conference is focussing on Resilience in Change working hand in hand, providing a platform for consumers, carers, service providers, policy makers and other stakeholders to consider ideas, programming and collaborations which inspire determination, tolerance, endurance and growth in individuals and in the systems within which we work. "

http://www.themhs.org/2011-conference

For me the key words are definitely "determination, tolerance, endurance and growth in individuals". The rest leaves me spare of faith. It is as if our voices within the community is being stolen without the action or awareness necessary to create real revitalisation, a clean sense of renewal with the mental health services.

As a hands-on [real live] community development worker, if I could have my way, I would have us "ALL" focus on community awareness and education, where health is inclusive of projects and program provisions key to health actions through community development. We miss the mark vertically and laterally where the knowledge is competitive between those with a systemic lens. Too many issues are over looked, mis-understood, too many people are simply left out of the loop in development.

Alma Ata. Is also a village pro-active concept!

http://www.miacat.com/

I heard a discussion about this on ABC Radio today and they said the new disability support system won't come in until 2018... why does it take so long when many families caring for people with disabilities are desperate? There are people in their 80s worrying about becoming ill or dying because they are still caring for disabled adult children who they can't find supported accomodation for. Due to shortage of respite care, in many families with disabled children, one parent can't work due to lack of school holiday care; no before or after school care - normal school holiday and before and after school care programs won't take severely disabled children. In a city like Sydney (unless one partner is an investment banker) in most families one parent not working = poverty, particularly when you factor in the extra expenses of a disabled child (specialist therapies, equipment if there is physical disability). The $90 per fortnight carer's allowance often doesn't even cover one week's therapy expenses.

People who have become disabled through life permanently and at one time or another, hits me in the heart, none more so than coming across a child who is blind or an adult who is blind and the determination and courage of the utmost degree venturing outdoors mixing in with the community risking their lives.

Tears well in my eyes seeing a teenager who resides near me catching a bus with his guide dog, having to cross a couple of extremely busy roads to reach his destination. It is the boy leading the dog I have noticed, listening for every little rev or non-sound of vehicles zooming by. The young fellow using his senses to feel any vibrations felt in the road, the kerb judged on both sides, hooligan sounds to monitor, people to avoid, the list goes on. My heart goes out to his family who love their son dearly yet made many sacrifices during their son's life that most of us without any dependant who is disabled, have taken for granted.

Centrelink payments have ALWAYS been an utter disgrace to both people who are disabled and their fantastic loving Carers. Centrelink require a person to be dying with full ongoing proof of zilch income or no sick leave, before they will allow a couple of hundred dollars per week, otherwise tough, work through until your funeral.

For people who paid taxes for 30 years now disabled and dying of cancer, how lovely, to be handed only enough to purchase a little food and pay an electricity bill

A hug to you weareunique. You put the issue right at the heart, where it belongs in community.

While you over the years Miacat have been carrying out all of the fantastic remarkable hard work along with making Australians aware of the true situation. Love and Blessings to you Miacat.

Thank You 'weareunique'. Your appreciation means a real lot. TA.