Richmond Wellbeing’s (RW) Consumer and Family Reference Group (CAFRG) are a group of current and previous clients, their family supports and staff, who meet monthly to discuss and provide input into all aspects of the service. Membership comprises of a diverse range of people from different backgrounds, with varying experiences of mental health services. It is the groups aim to help the organisation become better equipped to help our consumers.
CAFRG are a valuable resource to our core business, supporting individuals whose lives are impacted by mental health issues. This means providing a personalised service that is tailored to assist each individual on their recovery path. No one else is better qualified to assist the organisation achieve this outcome than people with lived experience.
RW believes in sharing the journey and for lived experience to be valued, and their voice given a strong platform”. The National Standards for Mental Health Services, Standard 3 Consumer and Carer Participation, aims to create mental health services in which there are mutually beneficial outcomes by having consumers and carers (and family members) as partners in development, planning, delivery, and evaluation of services. This will be the focus of the CAFRG Terms of Reference (rather than consumers as partners in their own care).
The group assists with co-design and expertise on aspects of our business that impacts consumers, their family members and/or close supports such as (but not limited to):
· Policy and Procedure Development.
· New Service Proposals and Tenders.
· Consumer Surveys and Site Visits.
· Strategic Planning.
· Site Assessment Panels.
· General Lived Experience Expertise of Mental Health Services.
Meetings
The regular meetings are on the first Wednesday of every month.
Expression of interest (EOI)
We welcome expressions of interest from current and previous RW clients and their family supports. All current CAFRG Members will retain their positions and are asked to participate in this process to determine interest in capacity building opportunities.
Please complete the CAFRG EOI Survey and/or submit a CAFRG EOI Form via email CAFRGadmin@rw.org.au by close of business on Tuesday 31 January 2023.
Contact
CAFRG Co-Chairs
Carli Sheers, RW Lived Experience Engagement Lead
Part time: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays
T: 9350 8800; M: 0466 726 591
E: CAFRGadmin@rw.org.au
Gemma Graham, RW Acting Service Manager Momentum QP
T: 9390 9160; M: 0436 800 404
E: CAFRGadmin@rw.org.au
