UPDATE TO EOI - Expression of Interest

Social Prescribing Trials – Co-design Workshops – May to June 2022

 

Download the flyer with this information here: Social Prescribing Trials - Co-design Workshop.pdf

 

Overview

The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental health System sets out 65 recommendations to design a better, more inclusive mental health and wellbeing system. Recommendation 15 Of the Royal Commission calls for a trial of ‘social prescribing’ to help people living with mental health challenges to connect into community initiatives (e.g. walking groups, art groups, neighbourhood houses etc). The goal is to reduce social isolation and loneliness. These social prescribing trials will be co-designed to be accessed through the new Adult Local Services.

 

What is ‘Social Prescribing’?

Social prescribing is the practice where services, health practitioners (such as GPs) and in this case the new Adult Local Services, link people into activities/or social groups – in a bid to address the social determinants contributing to poor mental health and stave off the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation. Social Prescribing is a holistic program that looks to improve overall wellbeing in non-medical ways.

 

Co-Designing the Trials

The Victorian Department of Health are engaging a strategic design agency to run a series of workshops and small group interviews to co-design what the social prescribing trials will look like in the new Local Services.

 

The opportunity

Tandem encourages you to apply for this activity if you have all or any of the following:

  • experiences supporting a person with psychological distress, mental illness, substance use

  • experiences seeking support from a mental health and wellbeing services, or;

  • experiences with loneliness and social isolation, or;

  • experience finding and engaging in community activities.

The Department are seeking a diverse group of co-designers (both in background and experience). You are required to be from age 26 – 84.

 

People from rural regional and from CALD, LGBTQI and First Nations communities are encouraged to participate

 

 

The commitment

Workshops are planned to commence 20 May 2022 and finish by the end of June

The time commitment for each register member is for ten hours over six weeks – this includes:

  • 2 x 3-hour workshops

  • 1 x 2-hour workshop

  • 1 x 20-30-minute reflection activity

     

    Workshop dates

    In the interest of inclusivity for register members who may live regionally and/or cannot attend in-person, the workshops will be held online.

    Workshop dates (online) are scheduled for:

    • Workshop 1 – Friday 20 May 2022 – 10:00am to 12:00pm

    • Workshop 2 – Friday 3 June 2022 – 9.30am to 12.30pm

    • Workshop 3 – Wednesday 15 June 2022 – 9.30am to 12.30pm

     

     

    Next steps – How to apply

    If you are interested and may be available between May and June, can you send a short expression of interest to this email with Social Prescribing Trials – Co-design Workshops in the email subject line to: [email protected]

     

     

    Please submit your EOI by COB Wednesday 4 May 2022 (this close date has been extended from Friday 29th April)

     

    Please include:

    1. A brief explanation of your interest in participating in the online workshops

    2. You understand the Co-design Workshops will start in the week of 20 May 2022 and finish by the end of June, with a time commitment of ten hours over six weeks.

     

    Please note:

    • Please do not resubmit your EOI if you have already submitted – we will review and reply to all applicants after the EOI close date

     

    General info and contact details

    As a carer, kin, family member, or supporter the workshops will explore:

  • What social prescribing might look like in community settings such as the new Adult Local Services

  • The kinds of activities would assist in combatting isolation and loneliness

  • How people connect into their local community

  • How people might access social activities through the Local Services

     

    What else you might like to know:

  • We are hoping for wide representation from the community and a diversity of opinions and voices

  • All participants will be provided with appropriate support around the workshops as well as opportunity to provide insights anonymously after the workshop, if you do not feel comfortable sharing in the workshop setting.

  • All participants will be reimbursed for their time in line with the Pay Scale developed in agreement between the Department of Health, Tandem and VMIAC. Please contact Tandem for further details.

  • There will be another Social Prescribing Trials – Co-design engagement opportunity promoted to the register soon – we’ll update you as soon as we have more information

 

Contact

If you have any questions about the EOI process for this Register engagement opportunity, please do not hesitate to contact: