Rick Thomson Email & Phone Number

I have well over a decade and a halfs experience in the Community Services sector during which I have obtained a Diploma of Mental Health and a Certificate Four in mental health and a Certificate Three Community Services. I have co-authored Spectrum Training’s Certificate Four in Mental Health Peer Support work. Am also currently the Lived Experience Mentor for Spectrum training. I am co-facilitator for the Certificate Four Mental Health and Certificate Four Mental Health Peer Support and am the Student and Peer Support Worker on site at Spectrum.I consider myself a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual who is incredibly passionate about the Mental Health sector and I get a great deal of job satisfaction in providing an excellent client focused service. I see the issues of engagement with services by people with a mental illness as being of primary importance. Currently, according to the Report Card on Mental Health in Australia (2013) only 14 % of consumers actually engage with services both clinical and supportive. This is a challenge that needs to be understood and overcome. As things stand currently recovery based support is a short term option, often lasting little more than a year or perhaps two, due to funding and accessibility. What is needed is a side by side approach to support and pathways need to be conceived and practiced. I have several ideas along these lines so that people with a mental illness may acquire the life-long support so many actually need. I would be very happy to outline some of these thoughts for discussion.My lived experience of life with a complex mental illness has been long, wide, varied and in the end empowering. I hope to be provided with the opportunity to grow my career through the years, and I’m confident that I can be a positive asset to the sector.

Listed skills include Mental Health, Case Management, Nonprofits, Public Speaking, and 44 others.