Key learnings for service providers about peer groups

25 Jul 2016

In May 2015, Carers WA, Consumers of Mental Health WA (CoMHWA) and Helping Minds were funded by the Disability Services Commission (DSC) to partner and develop Consumer and Carer Peer Groups. The peer groups were intended for people accessing National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Plans with a primary diagnosis of Psychosocial Disability in the NDIS My Way trial areas. Their aim was to provide support, customised community engagement and capacity building strategies. 

Participants of the Lower South West My Way NDIS trial site group said they appreciated the opportunity to socialise with others, share experiences, hear about other plans and speak openly about issues and questions. One group member stated that the group was helpful for enabling her to have a voice and for providing someone to listen to her concerns. “I didn’t feel judged or dismissed for having a mental illness, which has happened in other places," the participant said. 

Rhianwen Beresford, of CoMHWA, explained that consumers and carers may have fears about the consequences of speaking up for fear of stigma, withdrawal of service and negative experiences of past services. "Peer groups provide an independent space for people to voice their concerns and share ideas with others in similar situations, which can support safety and confidence in speaking up,” Ms Beresford said. 

At the last Community of Practice meeting, Carers WA and CoMHWA discussed with providers the valuable role that services working with consumers and carers can play in supporting people to understand and access independent advocacy. This support can include informing consumers and carers about local peer support and advocacy options, and explaining why people might choose to access these.

For example, services can explain that people have a right to advocacy in the NDIS which includes support to answer questions they may have about NDIS, to understand their rights and options, and to have a support person at NDIS meetings, such as a friend, family member or advocate. Services can also help with practical and emotional support for connecting people to social and peer groups and advocacy services, such as with transport or attending with the person as their chosen support.

Unfortunately, there was limited uptake of the peer group option in the Cockburn Kwinana trial site region. As well as gathering feedback from peers on the challenges of peer group access in the South-West region, CoMHWA and Carers WA met with the Community of Practice to explore these issues and to inform the partnership’s final report on the project for DSC. This feedback is important to ensuring consumers and carers can access and benefit from peer groups in the future.

The project team are currently seeking feedback and would love to hear from anyone about any issues relating to peer groups and self-advocacy in the NDIS trial sites, and what consumers and carers might find helpful to accessing peer group options in Western Australia. There is no close date for this feedback. Please click the link in the sidebar to provide feedback. 

Click here to access the full paper presented by the peer group’s project at the final Community of Practice meeting.

Feedback Contact details or Further Enquiries:

Rhianwen Beresford, CoMHWA rberesford@comhwa.org.au or (08) 9258 8911.

Thank you to Stephanie Fewster from Carers WA and Rhianwen Beresford from CoMHWA for their assistance in authoring this blog.