A merry Christmas and happy new year from the North Side branch to all fellowship members. It will soon be two years since the rebirth of the North Side branch and during this time we have made some significant achievements.

I am particularly pleased to announce the success of our deputation to the State Government’s Community Cabinet Meeting held at Craigslea High School on the 31 October 2005. Representatives of North Side branch met with the Minister for Health, the Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister for Communities and the Director General of Housing. The deputation put forward a model for people to be transitioned from hospital to the community with clinical and nonclinical support workers able to provide the necessary support in the initial stages and then provide ongoing support. The funding advocated for nonclinical support is a group-funding model, which is suited to the cyclic nature of this disability, enabling the support to adjust with people’s current needs.

The initial project was funded as part of the government’s homeless provisions and we proposed an extension of the scheme to include continuity for nonclinical support to aid the transition of people back into the community. We also requested and obtained a good hearing for funding for an additional program for the Prince Charles Hospital.

A second deputation was put to the Minister for Health. The deputation asked that the government’s 10-year Mental Health Strategy 1996 – 2006 be reviewed and the outcomes assessed by independent clinicians, carers and people that have a mental illness; then a new 10-year plan needs to be developed using the outcomes of this review.

At our November branch meeting our guest speaker Dr Geoffrey Waghorn from the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research presented the results of his research into supported employment programs that provide on-going support and have had significant success in maintaining people in employment.

The North Side branch aims to provide fellowship, information through guest speakers and regular social events. New members are welcome.

Michale Artlett

President

North Side Branch