Anna Sowden Email & Phone Number

I am a Lived/ Living Experience worker with a passion for working with mental ill-health in all its forms. I am insightful, grounded and empathetic and love to support others in discovering fulfilling and meaningful lives. I am a mental health consumer and have been so for the last 40 years. My experience of the mental health system is extensive including both the public and private systems, voluntary and compulsory admissions, various treatment modalities and various mental health practitioners. I have a sound understanding of my own personal recovery journey which is ongoing and something I will always be working on.I started my working life as a practicing solicitor with a passion for social justice and mental health. In 2014 I left legal practice and returned to study in mental health and started peer work in the community sector (Mind Works in Geelong). After a number of years of extensive study and practice in mental health and peer work, I took my current role at Barwon Health MHDAS in October 2022 as the Lived Experience Discipline Lead. This role involves leading the Lived Experience Team (around 20 people), continuing the development of the Team holistically and the individuals with lived experience expertise within the Team. The role also encompasses the ongoing contribution to the enhancement of the clinical service via the embedding of lived experience and lived experience voices from executive level and throughout the service.Since May 2023 I have sat on the Committee of Management for the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC) and currently hold the position of Deputy Chair. VMIAC is the peak consumer body in Victoria.I practice meditation and yoga and spend time with my cavoodle as part of my ongoing wellness.

Listed skills include Peer Support, Peer Mentoring, Strategic Communications, Communication, and 6 others.