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Collective Voices – Te Waipounamu
Collective Voices aims to elevate and amplify the voice of those who are experiencing or have experienced mental distress or addictions challenges (tāngata whaiora) and people in mental health and addictions lived experience roles (voluntary and paid) across Te Waipounamu.
Our mailing list is how you can get involved - sign up here.
Tēnā koutou, I am Sal Faid, and it is my pleasure to lead this project with MHERC and the Te Waipounamu Planning, Funding and Outcomes team at Health NZ. I am a person with lived experience and have been working in the mental health sector for many years as an advisor, auditor and project manager.
Simply put, we want to find out what’s working now, build on it, and grow opportunities to influence change. We want to deepen partnerships, networks and the workforce so that the people of Te Waipounamu are better served when they need mental health and addiction support.
Collective Voices is about valuing people and their wisdom. We want to look at the mechanisms for voices to be heard and find ways they can influence decision-making. We are connecting with people and services across the region so that our consultation, co-design and communication is authentic and two-way. This project at this phase is about gathering information, working out what’s working, where are the gaps and coming up with some ideas about possibilities.
Collective Voices is also about creating a sustainable mātau ā-wheako – Consumer, Peer Support, and Lived Experience (CPSLE) workforce. This is more than workforce development, but workforce sustainability. How can we grow, develop and support our own and other’s mahi, careers and services.
We welcome anyone and everyone to join our mailing list - we welcome tāngata whaiora, whānau, anyone in lived experience or peer support roles, and allies to the lived experience sector (support workers, clinicians, managers or leaders).
By joining the mailing list, you will hear about the project, receive updates about connection days, consultation and training opportunities, and gain resources that might help with your mahi.
We want to be part of the move toward a future where tāngata whaiora and people with lived experience lead the paradigm shifts required of the mental health and addiction sector so that it is responsive to the needs of all.
Collective Voices is about connection, collaboration, and co-design.
Welcome!
Ngā mihi nui,
Sal Faid
Project Lead | Collective Voices – Te Waipounamu
Mental Health Education & Resource Centre
Join the Collective Voices mailing list here