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A Z I N E F O R M E N T A L H E A L T H R E S E A R C H T R A N S L A T I O NQ3Dec 2023Lost in TRANSLATIONThis front cover piece is an original artwork that has been drawn by the Aboriginal Co-DesignLead in The ALIVE National Centre, Muruwori Gumbaynggirr man Phillip Orcher.

Lost in Translation ZINE Q3 December 2023Cover Image by Muruwori Gumbaynggirr Co-Design Lead Phillip Orcher.EditorKate Fowler editor-alivezine@unimelb.edu.auFeature Contributors:Amy CoeKatie LambSafer Families CentreInformation Sharinginfo-alivezine@unimelb.edu.auSubmissionsContact the editor to discuss editor-alivezine@unimelb.edu.auVisual AssetsPhilip OrcherDennis GoldingCaroline TjungJosh Reid JonesPublished quarterly by The ALIVE National Centre for Mental Health Research TranslationThe University of MelbourneParkville Vic 3052Title:Community alongthe meanderingpathArtist’s description:Community isrepresented by thewhite circles outsideof the rigid organicshapes made ofsilver and gold lines.Strong accentedsilver bordersaround organicbubbles representthe localised healthstructures.Gold straight linesrepresent the linearprocesses that areused within.2

Original digital artwork by Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay artist Dennis Golding DECEMBER 2023We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Countrythroughout Australia and recognise their continuingconnection to land, waters and sky. We pay ourrespects to their Elders past and present. We are committed to working together to address thehealth inequities within Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander communities. The Uluru Statement from theHeart continues to be a fundamental driver of ourresearch, education program and commitment toequity and access.3The ALIVE National Centre for Mental Health Research Translation is funded by theNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Special Initiative in MentalHealth GNT 2002047

CONTENTS4A festive greeting andintroduction from ourCentre Co-Directors.WELCOME06Meet the people behindthis issue's featurearticles.FEATURECONTRIBUTORSA new framework toguide communicationand consultation withvictim survivor groups inAustraliaETHICAL ENGAGEMENTOF VICTIM SURVIVORSIN CO-PRODUCEDRESEARCHSee our ParticipatoryEcosystem Approach forHolistic Formations.ANNUALSYMPOSIUMRead about ourparticipatory podcastrecording launch as part ofWorld Mental Health Day2023. MENTAL HEALTHMONTH07101815A member partnerinitiative: The SaferFamilies survivor networkJOIN THE EXPERTS BYEXPERIENCE NETWORK13Guides for words to use tocreate safer spacestogether.TRAUMAINFORMEDLANGUAGE TIPS08Creating a national pictureon loneliness in youngpeople during life transitions.A-PART OF THECROWD23Information sharing throughconference participation andgovernment discussions.ENGAGEMENT28A model of promise deliveredby Carers Victoria to improveConnection and Wellbeingwith CarersCARERS’ CONNECTIONAND WELL-BEINGPROGRAM35

ALIVE National Co-DesignedRoadmap Where are we now?Writers inResidence Featured Events Ready, Set,Translate Calendar Virtual Care - TranslationConversationsCo-Design LivingLabs NetworkImplementationand TranslationNetworkIN EVERY ISSUENetwork Updates Next GenerationResearcherNetworkLived-ExperienceResearchCollective -Tailored CapacityBuilding InitiativesCONTENTS5093134442749505154Read Scott Fitzpatrick’sarticle on the relationshipbetween life, experienceand narrative.PROBLEMATISINGLIVED-EXPERIENCE:Stories, Identitiesand knowledge39

Dear Readers, As 2023 draws to a close and conversations turn toend of year functions and family gatherings, we notethat this time of year can be difficult for many people.This quarterly issue has a focus on connectednessand its central place in mental health research andtranslation. We understand not everyone experiencesa sense of family connection and there can be afeeling of disconnection from community. Hence thisissue is focused on the theme of connectedness.With this theme in mind, the ALIVE National Centrewas awarded Medibank Better Health Foundationfunding for three years to explore how young people(18-25 years) experience loneliness during lifetransitions. This forms our fourth flagship project inresearch implementation and translation and movesthe Centre into its next stage of ecosystemtransformation. In this issue we also share a model of promise fromthe Carers Victoria Online Connection and WellbeingProgram and we congratulate Dr Wendy Hermeston,who was one of three Indigenous academicsshortlisted for the prestigious Stanner Award. Anexcellent recognition of Wendy’s work.We wish you all a happy, safe and peaceful new year. 6WELCOMEMichelle Banfield, Sandra Eaves & Victoria J Palmer

AMY COEAmy is a mixed-methodsresearcher with a backgroundin psychology and depressionin primary care. Amy is thenewly appointed lead for A-Part of the Crowd project toexplore loneliness in youngerpeople. Amy is a Participatory DesignResearch Fellow in the ALIVENational Centre who worksacross a University ofQueensland MRFF study to co-design new communicationtools for aged care andresidential settings. Project Lead, “A-Part of theCrowd”. Research Fellow, TheUniversity of Melbourne & UQFEATURE CONTRIBUTORS7KATIE LAMBKatie is a qualitative researcherwho focuses on ethicalcollaboration and engagementwith marginalised Australianchildren and families using arange of methods including co-design. With a background incriminology, public policy andsocial work, Katie’s researchfocuses on issues that sit at theinterface between the child,the family welfare sector andthe criminal justice system. Research Fellow with the SaferFamilies Centre, The Universityof Melbourne

Refer to people as having lived-experience or living-experience of mental ill health.Express ‘shortfalls’ as recovery journeys or a work inprogress. Support autonomy and independence.Establish safety prompts in organisational documentsand data templates and include these in auditprocesses.Be clear why some actions are considered necessary tosupport recovery.Respect and be led by the person in recognising theirachievements.Refer to a person by their diagnosis.Dismiss a person’s viewpoint or make assumptions.Focus on a person’s perceived weaknesses.Use jargon, short-form or outdated language.TRAUMA INFORMEDLANGUAGE TIPSMENTAL HEALTH COORDINATING COUNCIL8Words matter. The right words can have a positiveimpact on a person’s wellbeing, whereas the wrongwords can leave lasting hurt. Here are some handylanguage tips from the MHCC to help support peoplewith lived-experience of mental ill-health to feel a senseof being safe enough.DODON’TFor more tips and the completeMHCC language guide click here.

NEXT GENERATION RESEARCHERNETWORKNETWORKUPDATE9UPDATED FUNDING GALAXY GUIDE The “Co-created Guide for Researchers navigatingthe Mental Health Research Funding Galaxy” willbe updated for public release in mid January 2024. Following the mental health research fundinggalaxy Q&A events, the guide is a brilliant tool thatcompiles sage advice from the panel year to year. This is a Next Generation Researcher Networkresource to help researchers gain funding for theirprojects. The funding galaxy event is available forviewing here, Available in January 2024 to the Public

10ETHICALENGAGEMENT OFVICTIM-SURVIVORSIN CO-PRODUCEDRESEARCHSAFER FAMILIES CENTREThe University of Melbourne Safer Families Centre hasreleased a new framework to guide researchers in theethical engagement of victim-survivors of domestic,family and sexual violence in co-produced research andevaluations.Co-funded by the World Health Organization (WHO) andThe University of Melbourne, the new framework willform the basis for consultation with victim-survivorgroups in Australia, and may also be used in othercountries to develop location-specific standards. The newframework was developed using co-design approachesby researchers Katie Lamb and Kelsey Hegarty inpartnership with victim-survivor co-researchers from theWEAVERs co-design team, Lula Dembele, Fiona andNina.“There is currently considerable interest in engagingpeople with lived-experience in family, domestic andsexual violence in the development of services, policiesand research. However, there are no agreed standards,definitions or conceptual understandings to support

researchers in doing this work inan ethical way,” said Katie Lamb,Research Fellow with the SaferFamilies Centre.The framework draws on theexperience of the WEAVERS, agroup of women with lived-experience established in 2016 toshow that engaging victim-survivors as co-researchers canbe empowering and promoteautonomy.Co-researcher Fiona says,“Triggering should not be usedto exclude survivors fromparticipation. Survivors arepretty good at knowing whatthey can and can’t do and wehave all sorts of strategies andtools to help us."Fellow co-author and victim-survivor advocate Lula Dembelesays, “Working ethically withvictim-survivors of domestic,family and sexual violence iscritical to making researchoutcomes applicable in the realworld."“To do the work well and ensurethat the research processempowers people with lived-experience, research institutionsand researchers need to bewilling and ready to sharepower, knowledge and the benefits of producing research.”According to Ms Dembele,research that seeks to preventand reduce domestic, family andsexual violence should uplift andbuild the confidence of victim-survivor co-researchers.“Research organisations need tobe careful that their processesdon't repeat or mirror behavioursof silencing and reducing victim-survivors' agency, as experiencedin abusive relationships.“If done ethically andsupportively, opportunities toapply lived-experience in researchparticipation can be a powerfultool of healing and rebuildinglives for victim-survivors,” MsDembele says.11

Click here to read the newAustralian Framework.KEY POINTSHigh-quality co-design research teams to consist of people with a broad range of expertise whether it isprofessional or expertise by experience, and allperspectives are valued.Researchers to be clear about where their project sitson the continuum of co-design and transparentabout the degree of influence victim-survivor co-researchers will have on the research process andoutcomes.The co-design research process should be developedwith an understanding of trauma and with a shiftedfocus on how the process can add to healing ratherthan solely focusing on the prevention of distress.Victim-survivors to be equal partners and receiveequitable benefits from co-design research andevaluations. Research teams and funders mustadequately invest in training, support and careerpathways for victim-survivor co-researchers.Research funders to ensure adequate resourcing andtimelines to support genuine co-production,including research ideation and sustainedrelationships with victim-survivors rather than short-term engagements.12First published on the University of MelbourneResearch website.

THE SAFER FAMILIES EXPERTS BYEXPERIENCE NETWORKWomen with lived experience of domestic, familyand sexual violence are invited to join the Universityof Melbourne's Safer Families Centre: Experts byExperience Network.13What is the Experts by Experience Network?Women with lived experience of family and/orsexual violence from the WEAVERS Co-Designresearch group have been working with researchersat the University of Melbourne since 2016 on a rangeof co-design projects. Due to the current high demand for people withlived-experience to participate in research and co-design, a new network is being established to allowmore victim-survivors to become involved.

14The Experts by ExperienceNetwork will provide regularopportunities for members tobecome actively involved inresearch, advocacy and policywork in a way that is flexible andcan be combined with otherwork and commitments.Will I be paid for my time?While members of theWEAVERS Co-Design group areemployed as casual employeesof the University, members ofthe Experts by ExperienceNetwork will be paid in vouchersfor the work completed. The sporadic nature of theavailable work is suitable for women who are interested inparticipating in research but donot want to commit to a rigidstructure or long periods of time. The new network has beendesigned to accommodate larger and more diverse groupsof victim-survivors allowingthem to participate as much oras little as they want.The amount of time required willvary depending on the individualresearch projects. There will bemany opportunities for membersto participate in a range of eventsand projects throughout the year. Members will be able to choosetheir desired activities based ontheir availability, level ofcommitment and interests.How much time will it take?Interested?For more information on whatis involved and how to becomea member, click here.Members of the Experts byExperience Network will be offeredopportunities to join the WEAVERSCo-Design team when positionsbecome available.

15ANNUALSYMPOSIUM 2024Our 2024 symposium moves on from ourexploration of holistic terrains in 2023 toholistic formations. We will now be divinginto the policy and practice arrangementsthat are required for shifting to holisticsystems in mental health care. The ALIVE National Centre aims to renew andregenerate the mental health careecosystem. We look forward to reviewing ourroadmap progress, and co-designing the nextsteps for our 2024 research goals andstrategies.Holistic FormationsHOSTED BY THE ALIVE NATIONALCENTRE AND THE AUSTRALIANNATIONAL UNIVERSITY14 - 15 March In-person andonline16 March In-person onlyHosted by:The AustralianNationalUniversity Location: Old ParliamentHouseCanberraAcknowledgingthe lands of theNgunnaawaland NgambriPeople.

Click here for more detailedprogramming informationOur guest presenters from New Zealand, HamishLindop and Tammy Potini will be speaking abouttwo key projects: Manawatahi - Participatory City Pilot - A oneyear pilot at Onehunga Oranga CommunityCentre to co-create eight participation projectsaround everyday activities.Kia Ora Te Whanau Hubs Initiative: A Co-Creation Project - Helping council facility hubscreate better outcomes for Maori families inTamaki Makaurau.---DAY ONE: SCALING DEEP16Old Parliament House, 18 King George Terrace, CanberraOur guest presenter from the United Kingdom,Jon Glasby, will be speaking about theinternational lessons learned for implementingevidence in adult social care through the IMPACTcentre at the University of Birmingham.DAY TWO: HOLISTIC AT-SCALE

Click here to register for thisevent.The ALIVE National Centre and UNSW’s BigAnxiety Research Centre have partnered toadvance a new creative engagement program.Uti Kulintjaku is an innovative, Aboriginal-ledmental health literacy project. It takes its namefrom a Pitjantjatjara phrase that means to listen,think and understand clearly. This project providesa new framework for conversations about theunderlying psychological forces that drive humanbehaviour. Attendees will develop innovative and creativeengagement tools, forge new ways ofunderstanding experiences and join theconversation about mental health and social andemotional wellbeing.This is an in-person event only and registration isrequired for attendance.DAY THREE: UTI KULINTJAKU - ALIVE BARCPARTNERSHIP17

18WORLD MENTALHEALTH MONTHI was very privileged to be able to travel fromBrisbane, QLD to attend the ‘Lost inTranslation’ Participatory Recording onOctober 10th for World Mental Health Day atBrunswick Townhall, in Melbourne VIC. It was a very exciting experience for me as avisitor, since this was the first time that I hadmet my fellow colleagues in person, as well asattending my first event with the University ofMelbourne. I was fortunate enough to alsoparticipate and be fully engaged in theactivities throughout the day.REFLECTION - JOSIE BRIANDEventsLost inTranslationParticipatoryRecordingSLICE/SilenceUNSWBig AnxietyOpen StudioChris DowrickAntidote toexistentialdispair LOST IN TRANSLATION PARTICIPATORY RECORDING - MELBOURNE

TextWe listened as the hosts Alan Brough and Phillip Orcherinterviewed several ALIVE Network members. I felt lucky to beable to offer emotional support, encouragement and positivefeedback for a few of the interviewees following their liverecorded interviews. I offered to make a cup of tea for onemember, which I thought was a nice way to show empathy andan understanding of their experience. The podcast andinterviews were inspirational and moving to observe. The structural layout of the hands-on activities that focused on‘holistic care’ in a relaxed environment, allowed listeners andparticipants to engage on all levels and at their own pace. Inparticular, the interviewing station was well positioned, awayfrom the audience so that interviewees felt a little morecomfortable and less ‘in the spotlight’. A suggestion for thefuture would be to have each interview question up on aprojector so the audience could follow along more easily.We thoroughly enjoyed the delicious hot and cold, home-madelunch options that we were able to have while listening to thepodcast. This helped create a warm and welcomingenvironment for all.19

On Tuesday 10th October, the ALIVE National Centre forMental Health Research Translation held a participatoryrecording at Brunswick Town Hall, on un-cededWurundjeri land. It was hosted by writer and comedian,Alan Brough, and Muruwori and Gumbaynggirrresearcher Phillip Orcher who is the ALIVE NationalAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Co-Design Lead.The ALIVE team provided a calm, safe and welcomingenvironment complete with craft-based stations thatallowed us to keep our hands busy while listening tothe diverse narratives.The audience were given postcards with thoughtful,prompting questions that asked us to consider theterminology, design and systems that surround mentalhealth challenges. The postcards encouraged blue-skythinking about how we would imagine a safer, moreinclusive and more collaborative world, complementedby the impassioned and important stories, advice andunderstandings shared by those with lived-experience. As a researcher with the ALIVE National Centre,attending this recording reminded me of the need fordiverse perspectives and experiences in mental healthresearch. Hearing firsthand from those with lived-experience not only enriched my understanding ofmental health challenges but also underscored thenecessity of meaningful co-design in developingimpactful mental health policy, services and programs.The event was a powerful reminder of the humanelement in mental health research, which often getslost in quantitative data and clinical trials. It highlightedthe value of storytelling and personal narratives inshaping our approach to mental health care, and howthese stories can drive innovation and change in thefield.20REFLECTION - LAKSHMI NEELAKANTAN

Award-winning survivor-activist, Big Anxiety ResearchCentre Researcher and ALIVE National Centre PhDcandidate Indigo Daya premiered her short film,Slice/Silence on World Mental Health Day.Following the film, Ms Daya facilitated an in-depthdiscussion of experience-led approaches to trauma,mental health and self-injury within a transformativejustice framework. A/Prof Linda Steele, Ms Emma Tserisand Ms Scarlett Franks joined Indigo for a thoughtprovoking panel discussion that explored the issuesraised in the film.The SLICE/SILENCE project was part of the Big AnxietyResearch Centre’s (BARC) Open Studio event that ranfrom 3-13 October. The open studio showcased BARC’slatest creative tools and virtual reality experiences forworking with trauma and emotional experience.Attendees were also introduced to the centre’s radicallynew lived-experience led programs for addressingmental health in communities.SLICE/SILENCE PREMIERE - SYDNEY 21

Hosted by the ALIVE National Centre atthe Melbourne Town Hall, Prof. ChrisDowrick reflected on the potential ofthe creative arts as the antidote todespair and discussed the positiveimpact the arts can have on peopleliving with mental ill-health."The creative arts, enable us to give avoice to thoughts and experiencesthat would otherwise be too difficultfor us to contemplate."They enable us to come fact to facewith the darkest elements of our lives,to pause, look them squarely in theeye, and refuse to be defeated." – Prof Chris Dowrick.Following his presentation, ProfDowrick was joined by Prof Jane GunnAO, Mr Alan Brough, Dr Donna Lyon,and A/Prof Beth Driscoll for athoughtful panel discussion.“People are drawn to literature fordifferent reasons, as social connectorsor profound interior experiences. Romance novels have happy endings,which is one kind of trust in a book,whereas some people are drawn tocathartic novels that help them cry.” – A/Prof Beth Driscoll.CHRIS DOWRICKAN ANTIDOTE TO EXISTENTIALDESPAIR - MELBOURNE“As I reflect on my childhoodexperiences, the betrayal that Isat with as a young child,meant that I almost gave up.But, I'm also really thankfulthat at the age of seven, mymother enrolled me in dramaclasses – which essentiallysaved me and kept mecurious.”– Dr Donna Lyon.“The act of making a song,involves its' own despair. Whenyou come out the other side ofit and you can listen to it andpotentially appreciate it, it'salmost like the crisis or thedespair of life compressed andreduced.” – Mr Alan Brough.22Watch the recording BRENDON MARSHALL

A-PART OF THE CROWDMany young Australians aged between 18-25years of age are lonely, with 12-14% of youngpeople reporting they feel lonely most or all ofthe time. Research indicates that loneliness iscommonly associated with mental ill-healthand is more common in younger adults,males and those who are living alone or livingalone with children. The ages of 18-25encompass many major life transitions andexperiencing loneliness during these stagescan have a significant impact on youngpeople.23VICTORIA J PALMERHOW YOUNG AUSTRALIANS EXPERIENCELONELINESS DURING LIFE TRANSITIONSA New Medibank Better Health Foundationresearch project led by the ALIVE NationalCentre for Mental Health ResearchTranslation.“There is the4pm lonely andthere is the2am lonely.They'redifferent, butthey hurt thesame.” Lilah, 16 years,The LonelinessProjectCanada, 20171

24Loneliness,is aparadox.You can bea part of thecrowd or a-part from it.Loneliness is a paradoxicalexperience. You can be in acrowded room full of people, yet still feel isolated and asthough the room is empty ofconnection.In loneliness, you can be apart of the crowd or a-partfrom it. Recent data from theAustralian Institute of Healthand Welfare for 2020 and 2021indicates that 12-14 per cent ofyoung people aged between18-25 years of age feel lonelymost, or all of the time. The period of 18-25 yearsincludes many important lifetransitions, includingattending high school,entering university, findingemployment, livingindependently after living athome, and sometimesbecoming a parent. These can be stressful periodsin young lives with a greaterchance of experiencingloneliness. Life transitions aresignificant for young peoplebut are not experienced aslinear events. They do notfollow a rigid direction or“pre-defined pathway butare socio-culturally,materially and historicallycontingent”.These contingenciescontinuously impact on whowe think we are, how othersthink of us, how we connectwith others and ultimately shape who we mightbecome. The concept of life transitionsuggests ‘an open process ofbecoming something andsomeone else’. Within these transitionperiods and across many life factors, the likelihood ofexperiencing lonlieness canincrease. This suggests thatlife transitions may be anoptimal point to reduce orprevent the potentialoutcomes associated withloneliness.221Want to connect?“We are Lonely” is a new podcast byMedibank that follows the journey of fourdiverse twenty-somethings on theirsearch for connection. The podcast seeksto demystify loneliness while presentingpractical strategies to reconnect. Theconcept oflifetransitionsuggests“an openprocess ofbecomingsomethingandsomeoneelse.”

25A-Part of the Crowd aims todevelop a national picture onhow Australian young peopleaged 18-25 experienceloneliness during highschool, university, initialemployment, independentliving and parenthood. It willco-design a relational modelof care based on what youngpeople say matters for themduring these experiences.The study will engage withexisting ALIVE NationalCentre partners and inviteyoung people to share theirexperiences of lonelinessduring life transitionsnationally.Crowd contributions will beused to create an interactiveweb space where visitors canexplore different lifetransitions and experienceother young people’s storiesabout loneliness.These stories will beconsidered together with aliterature review todetermine the keyingredients needed for a co-designed model of care tofacilitate connectedness.Project Lead: Ms Amy CoeTeam: Prof Victoria J Palmer,Dr Matthew Lewis, DrJennifer Bibb, Dr CathKaylor-Hughes, Mr PhillipOrcher, Mr Josh Moorhouse.The environments and socialcircumstances in whichpeople find themselves havebeen established as playinga substantive role in howloneliness manifests, how itis experienced and how itultimately impacts onhealth. The increased prevalence ofloneliness has led to thedevelopment of manyinterventions that aremainly focused on ‘socialskills, enhanced socialsupport and increased socialcontact’.These interventions areoften app-based, have adigital component ordelivered in group contexts.Previous systematic reviewsof loneliness interventions inyoung people have foundthat it is difficult todetermine whether theinterventions were effectivein preventing or reducingloneliness or social isolation.Social prescribing models,which overlap with groupapproaches in terms ofusing a link worker toconnect people to socialactivities and social services,have shown promise butagain with uncertainty ofoutcomes.3456How doAustralianyoungpeople,aged 18-25experiencelonelinessduring lifetransitions?

References: 1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2023 Social isolation andloneliness. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/social-isolation-and-loneliness2. Wazinski, Karla; Wanka, Anna; Kylén, Maya, Slaug, Björn & Schmidt, Steven M.(2023). Mapping transitions in the life course—An exploration of processpntological potentials and limits of situational analysis [40 paragraphs]. ForumQualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 24(2), Art. 29,https://dx.doi.org/10.17169/fqs-24.2.4088.3. Marquez J, Goodfellow C, Hardoon D, Inchley J, Leyland AH, Qualter P,Simpson SA, Long E. Loneliness in young people: a multilevel exploration ofsocial ecological influences and geographic variation. J Public Health (Oxf). 2023Mar 14;45(1):109-117. 4. Lim M, Lambert G, Thurston L, Argent T, Eres R et al. 2020. Survey of Healthand Wellbeing – Monitoring the Impact of COVID-19. Swinburne University ofTechnology: Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute.5. Osborn T, Weatherburn P, French RS. Interventions to address loneliness andsocial isolation in young people: A systematic review of the evidence onacceptability and effectiveness. J Adolesc. 2021 Dec;93:53-79. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2021.09.007. Epub 2021 Oct 15. 6. Bertotti M, Hayes D, Berry V, Jarvis-Beesley P, Husk K. Social prescribing forchildren and young people. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health 2022 Vol. 6Issue 12 Pages 835-837.1426TIMELINE

WRITERS IN RESIDENCEMeet our newest writer to be invited for the Writers in Residenceprogram - a capacity building and career development initiativesupporting the next generation of mental health research leaders.KERRY HAWKINS27Independent AdvisoryBoard Carer, Family andKinship Group Co ChairKerry works from a lived-experience family memberperspective in advocatingacross state and federalgovernment for mentalhealth systemtransformation. A graduate of BostonUniversity's GlobalLeadership Institute, Kerry isa recent recipient of aChurchill Scholarship, anAustralian Faculty memberof Yale University's Lived-ExperienceTransformationalLeadership Academy and an alumni of HarvardKennedy School'sImplementing Public Policyprogram.Kerry specialises in systemlevel policy and governance.She is a National MentalHealth Commissioner. Welook forward to reading hercontributions.

WA RURAL & REMOTE MENTALHEALTH CONFERENCE 2023LOOKING BEYOND - People, Resilience andInnovationThis year’s event marked 30 years since the firstmental health conference that focussedspecifically on mental health, drugs andalcohol in regional Western Australia. Thetheme, Looking Beyond - People, Resilienceand Innovation, was designed to sparkconversations between consumers and themental health workforce.ALIVE National’s Victoria Palmer and PhilipOrcher, were invited by Bob Goodie from theWACH Mental Health Central Office to speakENGAGEMENT28

For moredetailsabout theconferenceand to readsome oftheabstracts click hereTo find outmoreabout thePEACEproject andthe BigaagARriplatformclick hereabout the ALIVE National Roadmap. Bob is aboard representative for ALIVE National'sIndependent Advisory Board and project managerfor mental health service improvement.Vicki and Phillip also introduced BigaarARi, one ofthe Centre’s flagship projects in the prioritypopulations program that will co-create aPreventive Experiential, Arts, Cultural Evidence(PEACE) model for implementing at-scale inprimary care and community. In Gumbaynggirr language, ‘bigaagarri’ meansdanger/threat to wellbeing. It signals to ‘stay backand keep safe from this’. This is a gifted word fromCo-Investigator Mr Phillip Orcher who is the co-lead of the platform development for the project. The PEACE model will utilise recent innovations incitizen science to co-create the new healthknowledge essential for turning the tide ininequities of disease burden in Australia. 29

The NSW Mental Health Commission is a valuedpartner of the ALIVE National Centre and we weredelighted to receive a visit from CommissionerCatherine Lourey at the ALIVE Nationalheadquarters on 18 October. 2023Melbourne put on a beautiful sunny day for theCommissioner’s visit while we discussed theroadmap and shared some of our key priorities forthe next 12 months. These included: creatingplaces to belong; rural, regional and remote equity;and cultural and community responsiveness.Making and sustaining connections withgovernment agencies across Australia is animportant part of progressing mental healthtransformation. There is a saying, “First you havethe vision, then you find your voice but if nobody islistening, you will never be heard.” We are thankfulthat the NSW Mental Health Commission is agreat listener.Did you know that nearly half the people inNSW report experiencing feelings associatedwith loneliness either some of the time oroften? This is higher than the national averageof one in three. Read the latest NSW Mental Health Commissionreport on the need for social connection in NSWhere.VISIT FROM NSW MENTAL HEALTHCOMMISSIONER, CATHERINE LOUREY30

Watch thevirtual café sessionhereLIVED-EXPERIENCE RESEARCHCOLLECTIVEA CONVERSATION WITH DR MAIA CARYN OLSENIn September, the lived-experience researchcollective hosted a conversation with Dr Maia CarynOlsen as part of the ALIVE Ready Set TranslateVirtual Café Series. Maia currently holds a positionwith the World Health Organization (WHO) as atechnical and implementation consultant,supporting the lived-experience work stream of theWHO Global Coordination Mechanism on theprevention and control of non-communicablediseases (NCDs). This session’s topic was: What makes meaningfulengagement with people with lived-experience,meaningful? COLLECTIVE UPDATE31

BIMONTHLY GATHERINGS - ONLINEFour key content areas were discussed by thecollective. What is holistic? What does it mean and what isneeded in translation work? Where to next for The Long Conversationproject? What does effective look like for lived-experience involvement? What does the Collective need for lived-experience specific capacity building? These conversations help us shape many aspects ofour work at ALIVE National and are very valuable.Key topics included:Advocating for a strong, inclusive and effectiveresponse to NCDs and mental health Lived-experience advocates and work as aprofessional in the civil society spaceDisparities within chronic illness and their care, and the way that global structures are set upOutcomes and access to healthcare and toadvocacyAddressing power asymmetriesBarriers to lived-experience engagement Recognition of lived-experience as expertiseThe importance of providing platforms forpeople to tell their stories. Maia also spoke to the development of therecently released WHO Framework for MeaningfulEngagement and WHO Publications as part of theIntention To Action Series. 32

The Long Conversation (TLC) is a nation-wideproject of the ALIVE Lived-Experience ResearchCollective. We are searching for Australian mentalhealth or suicide prevention researchers, who usetheir lived-experience to inform their work and/orare in identified lived-experience research roles totake part in this project. The TLC survey opened in July this year and willremain open until the end of 2023. In November,we also commenced interviews with participantsof the Project about their experiences as aresearcher using their lived-experience of mentalhealth problems in their work. We continue to learn a lot about the ‘who’, ‘what’and ‘where’ of lived-experience mental healthresearch in Australia and are excited to continuethis work. THE LONG CONVERSATION33For moreinformationon TLC or toparticipatein the surveyclick here

NETWORKUPDATE34Readthesecondstigmabrief infullhereIMPLEMENTATION ANDTRANSLATION NETWORKSTIGMA SERIES - BRIEFS #1 #2...The implementation briefs aim to bring togetherpathways, strategies and theories for at-scale deliveryof mental health care. The second brief in the currentfive-part series on stigma has now been released:“Using storytelling approaches to reduce stigma”.Storytelling has been found to reduce mental health-related stigma, especially when told in-person andfrom a first-person point of view. Writing creativelycan also enhance a reader’s understanding of stigmaand the feelings of loneliness and disconnection thatoften accompany it. Read the brief to discover lived-experienceperspectives on storytelling, scalability targets andpathways to support implementation.

ONLINE CARERWELLBEING &CONNECTIONPROGRAM35AMY COEOver 2.65 million Australians areconsidered “informal carers” with billionsof hours of informal caring beingdelivered in home environments all overthe globe. Caring for a loved one can berewarding but it may also lead to stress,poorer wellbeing and social isolation. In the 2022 Carers Australia Carer WellbeingSurvey, carers were found to be four timesmore likely to feel lonely compared with thegeneral population. 64 % of carers alsoreported being socially isolated, which is a keyfactor associated with high levels ofpsychological distress. Despite the knownimpacts of caring, there are surprisingly fewevidence-based supports available to carers toreduce loneliness and improve socialconnection. Online technologies may provide anopportunity for carers to access socialopportunities with carers previously reportingthat the use of technology and the internet 1,23343

for fostering social connections areacceptable modalities. Someonline carer support programs forcarers of people with dementia docurrently exist but few areavailable for carers more broadly orhave been co-designed with carers. Carers Victoria was supported bythe North Western MelbournePrimary Health Network(NWMPHN) to develop the InTouchInitiative to focus on carer wellbeingand loneliness. The Online CarerWellbeing and Connection programwas part of this initiative and co-designed iteratively since 2019 withcarers in an ongoing way. This program aims to supportemotional wellbeing and improvecarer connection. It spans fourweeks, during which carers gatherin small groups of up to six peoplefor 90-minute sessions and exploretopics related to the impacts ofisolation, self-care, finding meaningin connection, connection to selfand action planning and goalsetting for the future. The Primary Mental Health Team, inThe University of Melbourne’sDepartment of General Practice andPrimary Care was commissioned to36evaluate the program. They foundthat it significantly improved carers’psychological distress, decreasedfeelings of loneliness and increasedfeelings of social support. 5,78,9View the model

1. Delivery by a trainedfacilitator 2. Provision of respite forperson being cared for during meetings 3. Technical assistance 4. Online modality 5. Inclusivity 6. Diversity of experience 7. Shared understanding 8. Safety 9. Emotional release 10. Reflection, and 11. Self-care practices.The team interviewed 76 carers whotook part in the program. Here issample of what they had to say:“There is a bond there, we sharedquite personal stuff that I don'tshare with even with my siblingsand even Zoom provided thatmeaningful way for me to connectwith other people.”“The group helps relieve you. Itdoesn’t relieve the caring, it doesn’trelieve the pressure, but it relievesthat isolation and feelings ofloneliness and that is a massivecontributor to mental healthdeterioration.”“This group has given me, I suppose,the perspectives that it’s OK to putmy needs first sometimes.”37The top 11 ingredients thatmake the program a successare:Read the fullpaper

REFERENCESWimo A, Gauthier S, Prince M. On behalf of ADI’s MedicalScientific Advisory, Panel, and the Alzheimer’s DiseaseInternational Publications Team. Global Estimates of InformalCare. London: Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI); 2018.1.Denham AMJ, Wynne O, Baker AL, Spratt NJ, Turner A, Magin P,et al. An online survey of informal caregivers’ unmet needs andassociated factors. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0243502.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243502.2.Migliorini C, Lam DS-M, Harvey C. Supporting family and friendsof Young people with mental health issues using onlinetechnology: a rapid scoping literature review. Early IntervPsychiatry 2022;16:935–57. https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.13230.3.Poon AWC, Hofstaetter L, Judd-Lam S. Social connectedness ofCarers: an Australian National Survey of Carers. Health Soc CareCommun 2022. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.139874.Muldrew DHL, Fee A, Coates V. Impact of the COVID-19pandemic on family Carers in the community: a scoping review.Health Soc Care Commun 2022;30:1275–85.https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.136775.Abbasi-Shavazi A, Biddle N, Edwards B, Jahromi M. Observedeffects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the life satisfaction,psychological distress and loneliness of Australian Carers andnon-Carers. Int J Care Caring 2022;6:179–209.https://doi.org/10.1332/239788221X16323394592678.6.Dow B, Moore K, Scott P, Ratnayeke A, Wise K, Sims J, et al.Rural Carers online: a feasibility study. Aust J Rural Health2008;16:221–5. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1584.2008.00982.x7.Bossen A, Kim H, Steinhoff A, Strieker M, Williams K. Emergingroles for telemedicine and smart technologies in dementiacare. Smart Homecare Technol TeleHealth 2015;49.https://doi.org/10.2147/SHTT.S59500.8.Weems JA, Rhodes S, Powers JS. Dementia caregiver virtualsupport—an implementation evaluation of two pragmaticmodels during COVID-19. Geriatrics 2021;6:80.https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics6030080.9.38

39I have often struggled with the concept oflived-experience. Even before taking up adesignated lived-experience role at TheAustralian National University, I had activelydis-identified as someone with a lived-experience, despite sharing several interestsand commitments with the user/survivormovement.My first point of contact with the notion oflived-experience was through my interest inliterature and ethics; in particular, the ‘illnessnarrative’ – a relatively modern genre ofautobiographical and biographical writing.Janet Frame’s, An Angel at my Table (1984),William Styron’s Darkness Visible (1989) andJean-Dominique Bauby’s (1997) The Diving Belland the Butterfly were just some of the works Iread that had a profound impact on me.PROBLEMATISING LIVED-EXPERIENCEStories, Identities and KnowledgeSCOTT FITZPATRICKWRITERS INRESIDENCE“The relationshipbetween life,experience andnarrative iscomplicated.”Scott Fitzpatrick

These and other powerful, evocativepersonal stories brought me intothe emotional lives of peopleembroiled in complex and difficultsituations, deepening myunderstanding of illness, madness,addiction, disability and dying.The relationship between life,experience and narrative iscomplicated. Experience is a lived,messy and ongoing process, so justhow do we separate it from the flowof human life and give it shape andmeaning? (Fox 2008; Lu & Horner1998) Stories are seen as one of theprimary ways of imposing order andmeaning upon the raw flow ofhuman experience (Abbott 2009).Fashioned through processes ofmemory, reflection, interpretationand telling, the storying and re-storying of experience emerges notonly because of our need to giveshape and meaning to our lives, butbecause of our need tocommunicate our experiences toothers.Viewing experience as independentfrom the ways it is represented,however, leaves aside questions ofhow stories are influenced byhistory, language and culture.Despite a measure of narrativefreedom, the expression of personalor private experiences is always 40through the prevailing culturalconventions of storytelling suchas genre, plot, character andtheme (Atkinson 2009). Indeed,the struggle by those with lived-experience to wrest control oftheir stories from theobjectifying, pathologising anddehumanising language ofmedicine signalled a hard-fought shift towardtransforming social and politicalwriting about mental illness,madness, disability, suicide andaddiction.

Given that personal stories areshaped by culture and language,they have the capacity to reproduceprevailing cultural norms and beliefs,as well as to transgress or subvertthem. My previous work examinedthe conditions in which stories oflived-experience were produced insuicide prevention and theprevalence of certain story types,most notably those of recovery andresilience (Fitzpatrick 2016; 2020). Similarly, for those conductingqualitative research into people’sexperience of health and illness, theethics and politics of representationare nested within importantquestions of truth, power, socialreality and voice. Like quantitativeresearch, qualitative researchprovides ‘ways of seeing’ thatprivilege and value certain kinds ofevidence, reasoning and knowledgeover others.41Stories also play an importantrole in identity formation –both the stories we tellourselves and those that aretold about us. Perhaps my biggest concernin taking up a designatedlived-experience role was thesense of discomfort I felt inhaving to potentially disclosemy personal experiences toothers. This was less to do withany concerns over authenticityor legitimacy as described byVeronica Heney, but rather outof the fear that some singularidentity category was about tobe thrust upon me and theimplications of this bothpersonally and professionally(Heney & Polykett 2022). Fortunately, as my positionallows, it is enough for me toidentify as someone with alived-experience withouthaving to disclose my story orfit within some prescribeddefinition of what lived-experience entails.Writing from the first-person,Heney notes that this claim toprivacy is not equally sharedby all (Heney & Polykett 2022).

Like Heney, my position withinthe academic space affords mecertain privileges, allowing meto position myself as a scholarrather than as a service user orsurvivor. However, as Heneyacknowledges, there are thosewhose race, class, disability, orparticular experience of illnessand/or distress restricts theiraccess to these spaces and theprotections they provide.Jijian Voronka (2016) raises a setof related questions aboutidentity, difference, socialposition and organisationalculture that further unsettleestablished uses of the term‘lived-experience’ and thepractices of knowledgeproduction authorised under itsname. First, how does positioningourselves under the collectivebanner of ‘people with lived-experience’ work to eraseimportant differences (forinstance, those betweenindividuals who identify aspeers, service-users, carers,psychiatric survivors, or mad)? Second, how do individualscome to be recognised asqualified lived-experienceexperts able to gain access toand work within mental healthor other professional spaces?42Individuals invariably use theirlived-experience in different wayswithin different contexts. Theconditions in which lived-experience knowledge isproduced, therefore, areimportant for understanding thepossibilities and limits ofknowledge production (Voronka2016). For Voronka, this is especiallyimportant where individuals withlived-experience are asked torepresent others, or where thosewith lived-experience workcollectively to produce knowledgeoutcomes.Negotiating critical differencesand the authority of lived-experience in these situations canbe difficult. There are times wherethis can be creative andproductive, but equally, it can alsolead to conflict and complicitywith existing systems of power.research and service systems.

43In drawing attention to the ways thatknowledge is produced under the “rubric of‘lived-experience”. Voronka (2016) invites us toconsider the risks of conflating importantconceptual and ideological differences, andthe boundaries of occupying such an identitywithin mental health research and servicesystems.Reflecting upon the concept of lived-experience calls for careful analysis of itsunderlying norms and values, the knowledgegenerated from it, and the subsequent socialand material outcomes. Such reflection, Ibelieve, is necessary to tackle importantethical and political challenges within lived-experience practice while advancing the field.REFERENCESAbbott, H.P. (2009). The Cambridge introduction to narrative. Cambridge: Cambridge UniversityPress.Atkinson, P. (2009). Illness narratives revisited: The failure of narrative reductionism. SociologicalResearch Online 14(5).Fitzpatrick, S.J. (2016). Ethical and political implications of the turn to stories in suicideprevention. Philosophy, Psychiatry, & Psychology 23(3-4): 265-276.Fitzpatrick, S.J. (2020). Epistemic justice and the struggle for critical suicide literacy. SocialEpistemology 34(6): 555-565.Fox, K. (2008). Rethinking experience: What do we mean by this word ‘experience’? Journal ofExperiential Education 31(1): 36-54.Heney, V., & Poleykett, B. (2022) The impossibility of engaged research: Complicity andaccountability between researchers, ‘publics’ and institutions. Sociology of Health & Illness44(S1): 179-194Lu, M-Z., & Horner, B. (1998). The problematic ofexperience: Redefining critical work in ethnographyand pedagogy. College English 60(3):257-277.Voronka, J. (2016). The politics of ‘people with lived-experience’: Experiential authority and the risks ofstrategic essentialism. Philosophy, Psychiatry, &Psychology 23(3-4): 189-201.

NETWORKUPDATE44CO-DESIGN LIVING LABS NETWORKWe are excited to announce that the model of ournetwork and a background on its developmenthas been recently published in the academicjournal Frontiers in Public Health. The articletitled: ‘Togetherness by Design – A five-yearretrospective on the evolution of a Co-DesignLiving Labs program and a philosophy ofpractice for co-creation with people with lived-experience of mental ill-health and carer/familyand kinship groups for end-to-end mental healthresearch design to translation’, is co-authored byour research team and co-leads of the network.Publishing our model is an important step inexpanding and nationalising the network acrossthe next three years. CO-DESIGN LIVING LABS NETWORKMODEL PUBLICATION

The Co-Design Living Labs program was originallyestablished by Victoria J Palmer in 2017 within thePrimary Care Mental Health Research Program atthe University of Melbourne. It was developed as anexample of a community-based embeddedapproach to bring people living with trauma andmental ill-health and carers/family and kinshipgroup members together with university-basedresearchers to drive end-to-end research design totranslation in mental health care and researchsectors. The program now sits within The ALIVE NationalCentre as a key network in the Centre's mission totransform mental health and wellbeing throughprimary care and community action. The published article traces the evolution of theprogram and overviews the architecture for workingwith people with lived-experience andcarer/family/kinship group members using anestablished philosophy of practice called‘Togetherness-by-Design’. In the article, eightmechanisms are presented in the context of anexplanatory theoretical model of change for co-design and co-production, which are used to frameresearch co-design activities and provide space forcontinuous learning and evolution of the Co-DesignLiving Labs Network. The Co-Design Living Labs membership base wasinitially grown by inviting former study participants(people with lived-experience) from completedmental health research studies to join the program. Completion of two longitudinal flagship studies bythe research program at The University ofMelbourne in 2016-2017 provided a turning point 45

and an opportunity to shift away fromwhat may be characterised astransactional research processes andagendas, to relationally orientedpractices. Our team had the view thatthere was a need to improvecommunity-led mental healthresearch and for better engagementprocesses in university-basedresearch.The Co-Design Living Lab model re-frames co-creation in mental healthresearch, shifting it from an approachbased on one-off, transactional, ornon-genuine engagement to onebased on repeated, co-creative, andauthentic engagement. In the Co-Design Living Labs Network, lived-experience is described and applied as“community-led lived-experience”. This means that people engage asmembers of the program (referred toin our current day to day activities andengagements as 'co-designers') withtheir direct, personal experiences ofmental ill-health and service systemsor support expertise ascarer/family/kinship groups.Importantly, there may also benuances and significant elements oflived-experience located in identities,community stories, events andhappenings that are critical to theframing and shaping of experience.46This article is an important outputof the program, as for the firsttime, it outlines how an initiallyresearcher-driven model, canevolve and transform to becomeone where people with lived-experience of mental ill-healthand carer/family/kinship groupmembers hold clear decision-making roles, share power toenact change and move into co-researcher roles within researchteams. THE 2023 ALEX MCLEOD CO-DESIGNER TRAINING AWARDPROGRAM Announcing our two new co-designer trainees for 2024 – JuliaPalfreyman and SamanthaWilliamson. Both Julia andSamantha have been workingwith the team in 2023 as a casuallived experience researcher (Julia)and co-lead of the network(Samantha). We look forward tosharing more about Julia andSamantha when they start theirroles in February 2024. Read the article here

Josie“I was very privileged to receive one of the Alex McLeod Co-Designer Trainee Awards for 2023. My journey has beenincredibly rewarding. Not only have I been able to participatein mental health research as someone who can make avaluable contribution by having previous lived-experience, butI have also learnt a tremendous amount about co-designmethods, models and processes along the way. Although myrole is based online, I have especially enjoyed being able toattend the participatory podcast event for World Mental HealthMonth in person on October 10th. Overall, my role as a co-designer trainee has been challenging and intriguing. It hasgiven me hope that together as a team, we can make positivechanges towards the future of mental health in terms ofmanagement, treatment options and ideas that are ‘outsidethe box’ as well as recovery.” 2023 CO-DESIGNER TRAINEE REFLECTIONS“The traineeship has been a thoroughly enjoyable andenlightening experience. Together with my fellow trainees, wehave delved into the intricacies of research techniques withinthe Co-Design Living Labs Network, gaining profound insightsinto the meticulous preparation, execution, and post-codesignprocesses. This journey has fostered a deep appreciation forthe dedication, hard work, and specialised training that ourresearch team invests in their work. Our exploration of co-design research principles, guided by the resource “BeyondSticky Notes” by K.A McKercher has honed our ability toprepare for co-design research effectively, considering factorslike power dynamics and group facilitation. Additionally, wehave acquired practical skills, including the use of tools such asMural for online sessions. Looking ahead, our final task involvesa reflective summative piece that will encapsulate our traineejourney, enabling us to consolidate our learnings and plan forthe future with enthusiasm and confidence.” 47Gregor

Rose“The Alex McLeod Co-Designer Training Award has been awonderful opportunity for me to explore the foundations ofco-design as a person of lived-experience. I have learnt that toco-design is to deeply listen, learn and connect with thosearound me as well as acknowledge the thoughts and feelingsthat arise within me. It has taught me that we all seek trust tofeel safe enough to express our thoughts and this is a keyprinciple for co-design to flourish. This insight has extendeditself in all aspects of my life; I am reminded to slow down,soften and be present with those I am with. I am remindedthat we all have experiences of value and creativity, and I amreminded that when we allow space, we allow participationand growth. Over the course of the year, I have been gentlychallenged alongside my co-designer trainees to share andsupport our learning opportunities and sometimes thatinvolved acknowledging uncomfortable feelings. We haveimmersed ourselves in text and research articles, participatedin tutorials and training and observed co-design in its live anddynamic form with community and network members. Wehave contributed to building relationships with membersboth face to face and online with open house afternoons andcheck-ins. I am grateful to have learnt and achieved with suchcaring and supportive people that make the Co-Design LivingLabs Network what it is.” 48

ALIVE NATIONAL CENTRE ROADMAPPATHWAYS FOR FAMILIES LAUNCHING JAN 2024View our journey along the roadmap cycles with theseasons. Click image for larger detail. We will conduct ourannual survey and release the spring version of the Phase2 Consensus Statement for Families.ROADMAP PROGRESS49

FEATURED EVENTS50Join Peter Beresford for aninsightful look at how we canlearn from ourselves to makepositive change.More informationRegisterVIRTUAL CAFÉ SERIESLEARNING FROM OURSELVES FORCHANGEOnline22 February, 2024Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pmWhat are the policy, practice andecosystems arrangementsneeded in primary care and thecommunity settings to embedand deliver holistic care? Register onlineRegister in-personANNUAL SYMPOSIUMHOLISTIC FORMATIONSOld Parliament House CanberraIn-person & online14-15 March, 2024Time: Starts 10am (AEST)

PUTTING ON A SHOW - MANHOOD, MATES ANDMENTAL HEALTHREADY, SETTRANSLATEA special conversation with Rob Mills about hisnew book and how he grappled with his identityand the concept of the “Aussie bloke“ after thedeath of two friends.51On November 29th, Rob Mills joined the ALIVENational Centre and The University of Melbourne atthe Melbourne Connect Science Gallery, for aconversation about his book "Putting On A Show –Manhood, Mates, and Mental Health." Joining Rob to discuss the themes in the book werepanellists: Prof Jane Pirkis from The University ofMelbourne, Prof James Smith from FlindersUniversity Rural and Remote Health NT, and MartinFisk, former CEO of Menslink. Dr. Dana Jazayerihosted the conversation.

52Panel participants: Mr Robb Mills, Prof Jane Pirkis, Prof JamesSmith, Mr Martin Fisk. Mediator: Dr Dana JazzayeriIn his book, Rob goes on an engaging journey of self-exploration, sharing his own life experiences whileshedding light on important topics with advice fromexperts in the field. The conversation covered a range ofthemes in his book, beginning with changingperceptions of masculinity and the evolving definitionof 'being a man' in modern Australia. Rob and the panel highlighted the diverse spectrum ofmasculine identities that exist and how these areshifting away from the constraints of the traditionalAussie bloke stereotype. They shed light on theprevalence of stoicism among men, which is a trait thatstill exists prominently, the dangers of self-reliance,suppressing emotions, and not seeking help. Robhighlighted that although men may think that allowingthemselves to be vulnerable might seem like aweakness, in reality, it is quite the opposite. It is an act ofstrength.The importance of creating safe spaces, andtrustworthy relationships with family, friends, and/ormentors was explored. The speakers emphasised the

51pivotal role of mentors in facilitating better decisionmaking and guiding boys and men through difficulttimes. In essence, the dialogue illuminated the evolvingnarrative surrounding masculinity, advocating forhealthier expressions of manhood, seeking support, andbuilding trust. The conversation concluded on a note ofhope with Rob and the panelists providing tangible tipsto help support oneself and each other. Rob skillfullyshared his experiences and findings in an honest,relatable, and humorous way while illuminatingimportant topics both in the book and at this event. Heended by encouraging others to start having thesecritical conversations with each other too.Watch the conversationBuy the book53Photos taken by Josh Reid Jones

CALENDARALIVE NATIONAL & BIGANXIETY RESEARCHCENTRE PARTNERSHIPEVENTMAR 16Title: Uti KulintjakuLocation: Botanical Gardens,Canberrain-person onlyTime: 1:30pm - 3:30pm(AEDT)Register in-person542024 QUARTERLY FORUM #4FEB 7Research UpdatesLocation: OnlineTime: 12:00pm - 2:00pm (AEDT)Open to ALIVE National membersANNUAL E-NETWORKINGMAR 13Hosted by: Lived-ExperienceResearch Collective and NextGeneration ResearcherNetworkLocation: OnlineTime: 1:00pm - 3:00pm AEDTMore informationRegisterANNUAL SYMPOSIUMTheme: Holistic Formation -The policy, practice andecosystems of primary careand the community settingsto embed and deliver holisticcare.Location: Old ParliamentHouse Canberra and OnlineTime: 10:00am(AEDT)Register onlineRegister in-personMAR 14-15VIRTUAL CAFE SERIESFEB 22Learning from ourselves for changewith Peter BeresfordLocation: OnlineTime: 6:00pm - 8:00pm (AEDT)More informationRegister

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