Understand Trauma; Understand Mental Health
Understand Trauma; Understand Mental Health
For many years, the Woodcock Public Lecture has been a much-anticipated date on the Victorian mental health calendar. With hundreds in attendance both in-person and via live stream, the lecture attracts sector leaders, mental health workers, service users, and the wider community; and 2024 is set to tackle one of the most relevant topics in mental health reform right now.
This year's theme ‘Understand trauma; understand mental health’ intends to explore the complexities of human trauma through a consumer, carer and family lens to identify better approaches to trauma informed care and what this can look like for consumers, carers and the mental health workforce alike.
Despite what we’ve learnt about trauma, we still have a long way to go in building awareness and acting on it. The process of becoming `trauma-informed’ will help us turn our growing awareness into action.
Joining us as special guests, Maggie Toko, Commissioner at the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, and Kerry Hawkins, Vice Chair of Mental Health Carers Australia, share their lived experiences from a consumer and family/carer lens. From a clinical neuropsychologist lens, Jane Nursey, Head of Clinical Services at Phoenix Australia, will provide insights into the work that must be done to bridge the gap between theory and practice, empathy and advocacy, to ensure trauma-informed practice is at the front of mental health system reform.
When: Wednesday 22nd May, 2024
Location: The Conversation Quarter, State Library of Victoria, Entrance 3, La Trobe Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Time: 6:30pm - 9:00pm (Tea & coffee and grazing platters on arrival. Opening remarks commence from 7:00pm)
In-person are now sold out! Livestream online tickets are still available.
Livestream registrations will receive a streaming link closer to the event day. Also, due to popular demand, livestream chat will again be active during the event so feel free to share your comments and questions throughout the night.
Tea & coffee and grazing platters on arrival.
Welcome to Country from Wurundjeri Elder, Stacie Piper, and opening remarks.
From Wellways Board Chair, Michael Gorton
Maggie Toko, Kerry Hawkins and Jane Nursey. See bios below.
Panel and Q&A facilitated by Wellways' Gerard Reed, Company Secretary and Director of Business Development, with Maggie, Kerry and Jane. Have a question for our discussion panel? Go to menti.com and enter 5262 4352 to post an anonymous question.
Reflections and closing remarks from Wellways' Nikki Wynne, Director of Service Delivery.
Maggie is a Commissioner at the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, where she brings her lived experience of mental health to her role, and advocates for mental health consumers and carers. Maggie identifies as having lived experience of schizophrenia and is a descendant of the Ngati Whatua and Ngapuhi tribes, who are Indigenous to Aotearoa (New Zealand)...
Kerry holds several key roles within mental health advocacy and support organisations. She serves as the Vice Chair of Mental Health Carers Australia, a Board member of Psychosis Australia Trust, and a Board member of Helping Minds...
Jane is Head of Clinical Services at Phoenix Australia and a clinical neuropsychologist. She has worked in public acute and mental health services across Melbourne for more than 20 years, including with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Adult and Aged Care Services...
Gerard is the Company Secretary and Director of Business Development at Wellways. Gerard has worked in human services for more than 30 years, including in juvenile justice, homelessness and, for the past 20 years, mental health.
Transport and parking
The Conversation Quarter is located inside the State Library of Victoria. It can be accessed via Entrance 3 located on La Trobe Street next to Mr Tulk Cafe. There is limited on-street metered parking on La Trobe Street, with 3 disability care parking spaces directly outside Entrance 3.
Commercial car parking
Wilson Parking, 62 La Trobe Street
QV Parking, which has an entrance on Little Lonsdale Street.
Train and tram stops
The nearest train station is Melbourne Central (130 metres from the Conversation Quater’s Entrance 3). Access out of the train station is via a lift.
The nearest tram stops are Swanston Street, Stop 8 outside Melbourne Central/State Library Victoria (routes 1-6, 16, 64, 67, 72) (180 metres from the Conversation Quarter’s Entrance 3); and La Trobe Street, Stop 7, (routes 30, 35) (92 metres from the Conversation Quarter’s Entrance 3).
The Wellways Woodcock Public Lecture is an Auslan Interpreted event. If you have any specific, or additional, accessibility requirements please email advocacy@wellways.org.
We are here if you need support
With the event covering the complex topic of trauma and mental health, if needed at any stage, please do not hesitate to contact our Wellways Helpline on 1800 111 500, available Mon-Fri, 9am-9pm. Hours have also been extended for the event night until 11pm.
For in-person attendees, there is also an onsite quiet room at the event. Simply make yourself known to the Wellways team wearing lanyards and they will be able to assist.
Other support contacts:
Lifeline 13 11 44
Rainbow Door 1800 729 367
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Helpline 1300 651 251
The Woodcock Lecture would not be possible without the generosity of the late Frank Woodcock and his family. Learn more about Frank's story.
Wellways acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People as the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we live, work and play and pays respect to their Elders past and present.
We are committed to inclusive communities, workplaces, policies and services for people of all backgrounds, genders, sexualities, cultures, bodies and abilities.
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