Resources and Publications
CoMHWA Advocacy Resources
I’m Thinking of Accessing the NDIS…
A co-designed document by people accessing the NDIS, for people at the start of their NDIS journey.
Finding Your Pathway to Wellbeing
A workbook to help you navigate services and build your support team.
A handy 2-page document on self-advocacy.
Findings from a CoMHWA workshop exploring ideas to reflect and support recovery and wellbeing.
M3Q: My Medicines and Me questionnaire
A side-effect questionnaire for mental health medications.
CoMHWA's guide to making an informed choice.
CoMHWA Publications
Consumer Representative Policy
Aims for consumer representatives, providing clear role, responsibility and procedure information.
The inclusion of consumers' views, needs and interests in mental health understanding and decision-making.
CoMHWA Guide to Online Peer Research
Central online libraries for people interested in learning more about consumer perspectives, peer approaches and personal recovery.
What are your personal rights on your recovery journey?
CoMHWA's Role in Promoting Peer Support and Services
As a peer-led organisation, and as part of our systemic advocacy work, we promote and support peer support and services.
CoMHWA's Collaboration 2 Recovery (C2R) Project Report
The C2R project utilised an action research methodology to build capabilities for regional, multi-stakeholder collaboration, focused on whole-of-life, person-centred wellbeing outcomes.
CoMHWA's 2017 State Election Asks
Our Election Asks are mutually supportive and interdependent and we seek commitments from parties across all 7 election priority areas in order to make inroads to a system where all Western Australians have the opportunity to experience good mental health and wellbeing.
CoMHWA was a member of the Project Advisory Group established to develop this resource on consumer involvement within the AOD sector in WA.
Bring Your Voice: Lived Experience Perspectives for Better Mental Health and Wellbeing
This forum brought people together to share ideas for improving mental health and wellbeing, drawing on the wisdom of their lived experience of mental health distress and recovery, and contributing to a welcoming peer-led community event.
Consumer Advisory Groups: WA Consumer Engagement Report
This project and subsequent report, explores the diversity of the roles of CAG's, identifies enablers and barriers to CAG's achieving their aims, and provides recommendations for maximising the efficiency and effectiveness of WA CAG's.
Lived Experience Workshop Report: Discharge from services after a suicide attempts
A joint workshop and evaluation, designed and/or funded by Lifeline WA, HelpingMinds, Transfolk WA, CoMHWA, Neami and North Metro Youth Mental Health Service. This report's intention is to use the lived experiences shared to inform practice and future service development.
Addressing the Rights, Issues and Personal Risks Associated with My Health Record: Policy Brief
This policy brief outlines an investigation into the privacy, confidentiality, informed consent arrangements and equity of access for individuals in relation My Health Record.
Alternatives to Emergency Departments: Project Report September 2019
CoMHWA's focus group and interview findings around what individuals want from a 'Safe Haven Cafe' set to open in Perth.
Consumer Representative FAQs
FAQs for Services and Service Funders: Consumer Representatives
Who is a Consumer Representative? What is their role? Who do they represent?
FAQs: Consumer Representative Payments
What are the differences with payments? How much should I be getting paid as a Consumer Representative?
Consumer FAQs: Consumer Representatives
How do I become a Consumer Representative?
CoMHWA Draft Statements
(feedback welcome)
Draft Co-Production Advocacy Brief & Position Statement
Understanding co-production with consumers.
CoMHWA Draft Response to Draft Mental Health Partnership Agreement
Consultative feedback to HaDSCO on their Mental Health Partnership Agreement.
CoMHWA Submissions
February 2021:
CoMHWA Feedback to the Productivity Commission into Mental Health
CoMHWA’s standing on the prioritisation of recommendations published in the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health.
September 2020:
CoMHWA Submission to the NDIS: Support Coordination Discussion Paper
CoMHWA’s recommendations to the NDIS for people with psychosocial disability and in regards to the new role of Support Coordinator.
October 2019: Feedback to the Mental Health Commission of Western Australia’s Western Australian Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2021-2025
It is essential that the expertise and contribution of people with lived experience of mental health issues who are affected by or at risk of suicide is recognised, promoted and supported in suicide prevention efforts in Western Australia and that, going forwards, they are enabled to shape, influence and co-lead implementation of the Action Plan.
In our recent joint submission to the Review, CoMHWA and WAAMH identify cultural change as the most important reform priority to making inroads into better mental health services.
This year’s State Budget and federal election commitments must make funding West Australia’s gap in prevention, community supports and specialist state-wide services a major priority in order to get the Ten Year Plan back on target. Our submission highlights the most critical, overdue gaps requiring urgent investments.
November 2018: CoMHWA Feedback to the Western Australian Department of Communities Homelessness Strategy Consultation
CoMHWA's recommendations to the Department of Communities regarding mental health and homelessness.
Priorities in mental health and housing and our recommendations to the Commission for co-production and consumer directed approaches.
September 2018: CoMHWA Submission to the My Health Record inquiry
On the basis of key, critical and unresolved risks to community members associated with a My Health Record (including privacy, youth, health inequality and personal risks to individuals in instances such as domestic violence), CoMHWA opposes an opt out approach.
July 2018: Mental health lived experience submission on the Sustainable Health Review Interim Report
This submission stemmed from the "Many Voices, Big Impact" forums, a joint initiative of CoMHWA, WAAMH, Carers WA, Mental Health Matters 2, Helping Minds and Health Consumer Council. The forums gave people the opportunity to understand and raise their views about the Sustainable Health Review and its' interim findings.
Lack of available services, lack of out of hours services, confidentiality challenges, lack of choice in services and inability to transport to services are common barriers to accessing mental health services.
CoMHWA's suggested amendments including priority reform areas and priority groups for consideration.
November 2017: CoMHWA Submission to Department of Health (WA) Sustainable Health Review
CoMHWA presented key facts and issues affecting both the sustainability and suitability of current mental health services and recommendations for improving outcomes and cost effective care.
December 2016: CoMHWA Submission to Department of Health (Commonwealth) Fifth National Mental Health Plan Consultation
CoMHWA supported action to address key themes for change raised by stakeholders at a lived experience workshop, which are summarised in the full report.
December 2016: CoMHWA Submission to the Mental Health Commission of Western Australia: Compulsory Alcohol and other Drug Treatment Public Consultation
Submission based on feedback from consumers on the impacts of the Mental Health Act 2014 and the preceding Act in 1996, plus consultations with numerous advocacy groups and individuals.
September 2016: CoMHWA Submission to the Budget Savings Omnibus BillCoMHWA's agreement and support for Carers Australia's submission, plus our view on discriminating persons with mental illness in hospital care.
June 2016: CoMHWA Submission to the Review of National Disability Advocacy ProgramCoMHWA's call for NDAP to better address population needs for individuals not eligible for NDIS, plus for the provision of mental health advocacy within NDAP.
November 2015: Submission to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) Commissioning Framework
Mental health advocacy issues raised around the framework and the adequacy of funding areas within the program.
This public submission describes the largely grassroots but concerning reports of violence, abuse and neglect which were received by CoMHWA.
CoMHWA's opposing statement to the Social Services Legislative Amendment Bill due to vulnerability to human rights shortfalls and the voicelessness of mental health consumers and people with disability.
March 2015: CoMHWA 10 Year Plan submission on behalf of consumers of mental health in WA
CoMHWA's focus is on how to ensure our mental health system translates into a more safe, equitable, accessible, beneficial and empowering experience of mental health care.
March 2015: CoMHWA Excerpt of Peer Support and the Peer Workforce (10 Year Plan Submission)
This document is an excerpt of CoMHWA's full submission to the Plan on the importance of peer support and the peer workforce, developed through consultation with peer supporters, peer workers and consumers.
The Plan needs to reflect the critical importance of independent individual and systemic advocacy to people's outcomes particularly in relation to improved access to timely and effective supports, reduced hospital admissions and the reform of recovery oriented systems.
March 2015: Information, Linkages, and Capacity Building Policy Framework Submission
CoMHWA's submission outlining how mental health should be more considered within the framework.
December 2014: Joint Submission to Review of the Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Accused) Act 1996
Joint recommendations intended to give the Act a much clearer intent and focus. These are aligned to the principles of procedural fairness on which our justice system is based and consistent with State legislation relating to people who experience psychosocial disability.
December 2014: Letter to the Attorney General: Call for Human Rights to Be Met through Review of CLMIA 1996
CoMHWA's call for legislation consistent with Australia's obligations under international human rights law.
August 2014: Mental Health Bill 2013 - Joint NGO submission to Members of the Legislative Council
Suggested amendments to the passed Mental Health Bill 2013 from CoMHWA, Health Consumers Council, Mental Health Law Centre and Mental Health Matters 2.
August 2014: CoMHWA Response to McClure Review
Submission to the Department of Social Services consultation on the Interim Report: a new system for better employment and social outcomes.
July 2014: Disability Insurance Initiatives Consumer Participation Advocacy Brief
Key issues with the incoming NDIS in regards to consultation and engagement for individuals with psychosocial disability.
The Making Inroads report draws on consumer perspectives to identify advocacy issues of concern related to NDIS in the broader context of self-directing funding and summarises proposals and strategies that have been identifed by consumers to ensure consumers are incorporated in the design, delivery and evaluation of NDIS / My Way.
May 2014: CoMHWA Response to Federal Budget
Key messages for the stakeholders interested in supporting the needs of people with mental health issues to recovery their lives, and who have an interest in how the Federal Budget is likely to affect people in their recovery.
May 2014: CoMHWA Response to State Budet
CoMHWA has concerns about the 'double impact' that rises in WA costs of living and federal cuts to social benefits, grants and subsidies will have on the most vulnerable members of our community including people with mental health issues.
April 2014: CoMHWA submission to the National Review of Mental Health ServicesCoMHWA's submission seeks to draw attention to and call for strategic review of co-production at a national systemic level as a key component of the national review.
August 2013: CoMHWA Peer Work Project (Cert IV in Mental Health Peer Work) Survey Response
Survey results on Peer Work.
May 2013: CoMHWA National Contributing Life Project Response to the May 2013 Consultation
Suggestions and recommendations for a more holistic approach to the National Contributing Life project.
May 2013: CoMHWA Submission National Summit on Physical and Mental Health
Recommended changes on equal patient care and rights, addressing underlying determinants of poor physical health outcomes and incorporating health equity considerations for disadvantaged mental health consumers.