Welcome to the CoMHWA team, Phill!
Phill Moncrieff has come on board at CoMHWA to undertake the role of Policy and Research Officer in the Aboriginal services area.
Phill has an extensive history in working in Aboriginal affairs and has a degree in community management and development. He has worked in the fields of policy research, community consultation and media and is a trained health worker.
Phill established the Pulanji Mia Aboriginal MedicalService in Carnarvon at the age of 23 and in the same year, was elected to the WA Aboriginal Advisory Council.
Phill has an extensive network of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people throughout the state, and he will be utilising this to help bring about the advent of CoMHWA’s future work in advocacy with Aboriginal consumers.
“There isn’t a lot of presence of Aboriginal resources and input in the field of mental health generally for Aboriginal people, and CoMHWA’s initiative in establishing the Aboriginal policy and research role will go along way to addressing that. CoMHWA will be a leader in this type of work.”
For the last 7 years, Phill has committed himself to working in the field of Aboriginal mental health. The impetus and inspiration for this came from his close work with long term Aboriginal inpatients at Graylands Hospital whilst working as a mental health advocate. He came across a group of people who had been locked up in Graylands for 17 years, 14 years, 11 years, 7 years etc, respectively.
He worked with these people and their service providers and after a year and a half, had every one of them discharged or placed on the discharge list. “The signs of hope returned to their faces,” said Phill.
“I didn’t realise the prevalence of mental health issues amongst Aboriginal people,” he said. “There must be more systemic and clinical advocacy done for them generally, and clinically they ought to be provided with alternative treatments rather than just medications. They need recovery measures that are in line with the socio-cultural aspects of their existence, as one of the world’s still surviving ancient civilisations. Artistic and spiritual therapies in line with their culture should be trialled amongst Aboriginal consumers”
Phill’s work will entail extensive research and communication amongst existing Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal mental health service providers, with the intent of setting up CoMHWA’s first Aboriginal consumers and lived experience advisory group.
“CoMHWA should be commended for this initiative. There are few similar groups in the area of mental health throughout WA and its value will be immense in terms of support and advocacy for Indigenous consumers and their at times, mentally fatigued carers. I am intending to help CoMHWA set up an Aboriginal advisory group that will be seen by other service providers as a shining light, a clear example and model that will fill the void in Aboriginal mental health advocacy and provide hope for Aboriginal consumers that their voices will be heard.”
