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Community Engagement

Building connection and supporting each other in the community.

In-Reach Program

Since early 2023, CoMHWA has been providing monthly in-reach services to multiple wards at Fremantle Hospital. After a successful pilot year, the WA Mental Health Commission have generously funded the program to expand across the metro area, providing grassroots support to consumers on the options available for them after they are discharged from hospital.

CoMHWA aims to visit hospitals, hostels, residential services and other services supporting consumers at a grassroots level, to:

  • Connect consumers to Peers with living experience of mental health challenges to provide hope;
  • Introduce CoMHWA and the services we can provide;
  • Introduce Peer Pathways, a mental health service navigation helpline for all West Australians; and
  • Connect consumer with community groups run by the engagement team.

Community Group Program

As part of our engagement work, we are attempting to reach as many local communities as possible. Here, we will run monthly Peer groups to develop participants’ knowledge and skills to live a happier and healthier life.

Topics for the community groups include:

  • Who am I – discover your values, strengths and what matters to you.
  • What’s my pathway? – What do you want to achieve? What are your aims? How can you realistically plan for the future?
  • Finding my voice – Learning how to assertively communicate your needs and becoming aware of your rights.
  • Setting clear boundaries – How can you set and maintain clear boundaries within your life?
  • Barrier busting – Identifying your needs and the barriers that prevent you from meeting them.
  • Learning to love yourself – Discovering what self-esteem looks like to you.
  • Staying on track – how to build a maintenance plan and focus on maintaining your wellbeing.

Download our engagement brochure here

Want to find out more? Visit the Events page of our website to see where our regular groups are, or contact Elaine via email for more information: eashurst@comhwa.org.au

CoMHWA have been providing information sessions to our inpatient mental health consumers on a monthly basis for over a year. Elaine and her team have shared stories of lived experience navigating the mental health system. In-reach into the wards has helped consumers identify what supports they might need to link into to support them after discharge from hospital. Many consumers have signed up for CoMHWA membership and have accessed the Peer Pathways and Life Launchpad programs.

CoMHWA’s peer support has inspired hope and agency in hundreds of consumers’ recovery journey. CoMHWA’s in reach at Fremantle Mental Health Service has been an invaluable peer support resource and we continue to foster an ongoing partnership.

Ellen Pauley – Senior Occupational Therapist, Fremantle Mental Health Service