1. MENTAL HEALTH CARERS ARAFMI NSW INC Head office at: Suite 501, Level 5 80 William St Woolloomooloo NSW 2011 Tel: (02) 9332 0777 Fax: (02) 9332 0778 Email: admin@arafmi.orgadmin@arafmi.org

2. What is ARAFMI? ARAFMI NSW is the peak body for mental health carers in NSW. ARAFMI is a member of: Mental Health Carers ARAFMI Australia. ARAFMI is a community based, non-government organization that provides support, education and advocacy for the carers, family and friends of those experiencing mental illness. ARAFMI WANTS TO CHANGE THE WORLD!

3. Our Vision & Role ARAFMI NSW's vision is for a community that understands and responds to the impact of mental illness on families and carers and the many people living with a mental illness. To sum up this vision we say we want: Inclusive communities; Connected carers. To help achieve our goal to: Empower carers for mental health.

4. The following steps are key in undertaking ‘systemic advocacy’ which is what we do when carers (or others) wish to ‘lobby’ decision makers to help the whole system improve for all people using it (not only an individual case). 1. What are the challenges 2. Outline the policy changes needed 3. Identify decision-maker(s) 4. Determine why they have not made the changes and the other obstacles 5. Assess your strengths 6. Identify allies 7. Project manage advocacy activities Systemic Advocacy with Arafmi

5. Trauma Informed Care along with Recovery Focus and Person centred holistic approaches are all important to reform of mental health services. The basic first steps have been taken by our Mental Health Commission but we must now mobilise ourselves for advocacy to support the Implementation of the Strategic plan for mental health We can best do this by demanding all of these principles, along with the concept of the Peer Worker/ Workforce be applied to all human services. We can do this; because services based on these principles actually work. You can never spend enough money on services that don’t achieve their goals; with services that do, the budget can be achieved. These principles are all based on central concepts of respect and kindness. Kindness works; and kindness makes us stronger. Mental health Refom in NSW and Australia

6. QUESTIONS ? THANK YOU!