Rural Mental Health Conference

Thanks to everyone for making such an enjoyable and informative time! see news

I would like to introduce you to a conference to be held in Warrnambool, on July 17 and 18, 2003.

The ‘Mental Wellbeing and Recovery in Rural Communities’ conference is a partnership between Aspire, a Pathway to Mental Health, and the Deakin University Department of Rural Health, based in Warrnambool. We anticipate up to 220 participants.

It was initiated by Aspire with the intention of providing a focus for the Psychiatric Disability and Rehabilitation (PDRS) sector in the ‘off year’ from the VICSERV conference, coupled with an emphasis on rural issues. In considering the content and focus of the conference, Aspire and the University team have structured the conference to achieve a number of goals:

To provide an opportunity to view and discuss the Boston Model of rehabilitation. The intention is to allow more than a cursory introduction, and for discussion about how the model fits in the Australian, and/or rural environments.

To provide an opportunity to consider the theme of Health Promotion and how it sits with the goals of support and rehabilitation. To explore the role of individual organisations within the sector and the sector itself in health promotion.

	To provide a focus on the tools of organisational change, given the challenges presented by the current environment and the above themes.
	To provide opportunities to showcase significant innovations in the provision of rehabilitation and support services. These opportunities will be provided in workshops entitled ‘1,000 Flowers Blooming.’

The conference is receiving support from the Department of Human Services, Auseinet, VicHealth, local industry, and has been supported in planning by VICSERV.

A significant outcome of the conference, is that it will bring people from Bosto to Australia. Originally, this was to be Cheryl Gagne, however she recently contacted us to say she was sick. We now have secured input from Marianne Farkas, and from Lara Williams.

The pre conference workshop will be presented by Lara Williams, and the post conference workshop by Dr Matthew Yau.

I also have it on complete authority that the whales will be also be in attendance. Off shore, of course.

John Dutton, Director, Aspire