Finding your way to Self Advocacy

On Friday 15 December 2017 Western Sydney Recovery College held an end of semester event at Blacktown to thank all those who had taken part during the several months that the new team have been running the Recovery College.

Guest speaker, Sandy Watson from inside out & associates, told stories from her lived experience where she found a way to use her voice. The stories prompted attendees to consider creative solutions to overcome barriers to self advocacy, whether these are obstacles relating to mental health concerns or the mental health system. A key take-away was the idea that, “Advocacy is not just about speaking and writing, but about action.”

Sandy’s workshop was engaging and interactive. Contributions from participants reinforced some ideas about self advocacy such as taking risks, being motivated by hope but also by big picture outcomes, to take heart from the journey, taking a stand for certain values, and finding a voice not just for individuals but for groups.

These same ideas of hope, recognising the value of the journey, and finding a voice tie advocacy to the Recovery College model.

After Sandy’s workshop, attendees had an opportunity to meet other students, educators and advisory group members, and enjoyed a celebratory lunch.

Sandy Watson and inside out & associates will be running workshops for WSRC in April: Introduction to Self Advocacy and Self Advocacy Skills.

Semester 2 2017 has been both a challenging and rewarding time for the Western Sydney Recovery College team and we would like to thank our students, educators and stakeholders for their contributions and support. We look forward to seeing you during Term 1 2018!