New Mental Health Consumer Peak Establishment Project_Communique 9

The ninth meeting of the Queensland mental health consumer representtive peak (the new MH consumer peak) had another packed agenda. As discussion of the draft Operations Pack and First Year Business Plan was held over t the last meeting, the Project Steering Committee (Committee) provided the Project Team with feedback out-of-session. Both documents were updated and the final drafts were tabled at this month's meeting for endorsement. The Committee also discussed the contents of the induction for the incoming Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Board Directors.

Acknowledgement

The Queensland Mental Health Commission (the Commission) acknowledges all people who have personal experience of mental ill-health. We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we live and work, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future. We also acknowledge the many organisations, service providers and community members who work in partnership with us and who generously share their views, knowledge, and expertise. Your voices are all essential to our work.

Kicking goals

The advertisements to fill the Board Directors and Interim CEO positions generated an overwhelming interest from talented and passionate applicants across the State. Interviews have now taken place for the Board Director roles, and CEO interviews will occur in early April. Having a large pool of highly qualified applicants is great news for the new MH consumer peak!

The selection panel, included a Commission representative, two lived experience Committee members with CEO and recruitment experience, and the Board Chair of a leading peak organisation representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Good luck to the candidates and thank you to each person who took the time to apply. The interest these roles speaks to the value of this work and the passion which exists for mental health reform and consumer rights.

The establishment phase is drawing to a close

Undertaking the groundwork to set up the new MH consumer peak has been exciting and challenging. Over the last nine months, the Committee has found themselves immersed in a world of corporate law, regulations, and governance as they consider how the new MH consumer peak will be set up and balance consumer, organisation and society needs and interests.   

The Committee has overseen the development of a suite of key documents which will give the new MH consumer peak the best possible start. A great deal of care and attention has gone into humanising the organisation’s governance framework to ensure it maintains, supports, and promotes the rights of people with a lived experience when accessing services in Queensland. At every stage, the Committee has sought to make decisions that align, , the interests of consumers, the organisation, and society.

This was the second last Committee meeting. At the next meeting, the Committee will hand over decision-making authority for the new MH consumer peak to the new Board Directors and Interim CEO.

Up until now, the Committee’s workload has not allowed much time for reflection. To wrap up the meeting, Committee members were invited to share a few words about their experience. The next meeting will likely be an emotional one. On the one hand, the work of the Committee is coming to an end; on the other, Queensland is on the brink of getting a new MH consumer peak - and that is cause for celebration!

The best possible start

In addition to the comprehensive suite of governance documents, the Project Team are organising a comprehensive induction for the incoming officeholders. The induction will provide a strong education in corporate governance, and a firm understanding of the new MH consumer peak’s purpose.

The induction will be an important opportunity to share the principles and values which have informed this work to date with the Board Directors and CEO, and press the importance of championing and role-modelling lived-experience engagement and leadership in every aspect of the new MH consumer peak’s work.

Next meeting

The next meeting will be the last official Project Steering Committee meeting. It will be a big meeting with the Committee being joined by the new Board Directors and the Interim CEO. After the formal meeting has closed, there will be an opportunity to network.

But it is not quite “goodbye”! A session for the Committee to come together to reflect and debrief on the whole experience is also in the pipeline, and there will also be evaluation activities which Committee members will be invited to participate in.

Please watch this space for announcements about the outcome of the Board Directors and Interim CEO recruitment process, and to keep up to date with the progress of the new MH consumer peak establishment.  

Keep up to date

Regular project updates can be found in Queensland Mental Health Commission’s consumer peak webpage or by subscribing to the eNews.

The Project Steering Committee or the project team can be contacted by email on ConsumerPeak@qmhc.qld.gov.au.

Note the email account is not monitored outside business hours.