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Latrobe Regional Hospital Community Newsletter

Liz shares her lived experience in mental health

Glenn Boulton, Jessica Cherry and Dave Brennan from LRH throw their support behind the hospital’s Socks ‘n’ Jocks Drive.

Community cause fits the brief

When Liz Pendrey decided to return to the workforce, she thought her only qualifications were ‘life’ and raising three children. But she also had a unique perspective of local mental health services having tried and failed to access care for a family member diagnosed with autism, ADHD and anxiety.

Liz has had her own challenges with mental health so when a position to become a lived experience worker with Latrobe Regional Hospital’s mental health service became available, she seized the opportunity to put a spotlight on gaps in the system and bring some solutions to the table.

Liz is one of nine consumer and carer support workers based at LRH’s community mental health services in Wonthaggi, Sale, Bairnsdale, Warragul and Traralgon.

“I guess it’s being able to provide that mutuality to someone else going through similar things. Going through depression and after having my youngest and the birth trauma I experienced with her, I really felt like no one understood. I got those typical sayings of, ‘oh, you are really lucky to have healthy children’, or ‘it could have been a lot worse’, or ‘life really isn’t that bad’.

“At the time I just needed someone to go ‘yeah, it’s hard sometimes’. I needed someone to understand what it was like. Being able to provide that to someone else really gives me a sense of purpose,” Liz said.

Liz divides her time between LRH’s mental health inpatient unit and supporting people requiring ongoing community care. She is focused on improving communication and

Liz Pendrey has found a role in supporting people with mental illness to navigate hospital and community care.

awareness of available services to people struggling to navigate the system.

Accessing services was a challenge highlighted by dozens of people who provided evidence to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. Liz is able to share her insight with LRH which is in the process of redeveloping and improving its mental health services across Gippsland in line with the Royal Commission’s recommendations.

“When it came to our recent co-design workshop as part of the new mental health recommendation, I said there needs to be a referral process for someone who isn’t suitable for the service. What other services can they access? Where is the after-care support? Even if it is just an email with a list of links to other services in the area, that would be way more helpful than no response at all,” Liz said. “People who are using the service need to have more of a say on how the service is run. It is so person-centred and individualised so the consumer really needs to have a say on how they are treated.” Liz, who describes herself as a ‘problem-solver’ is relishing her new role with the lived experience team. While LRH has been recruiting lived experience workers to the mental health service for many years, the role will be more widely accepted across Victoria following the Royal Commission findings.

Remember that five-pack of underwear at the back of your drawer you never opened? Or the new pair of jocks you bought for a special occasion but didn’t wear?

Don’t turf them! LRH is running a Socks ‘n’ Jocks Drive and interested in donations of new men’s or women’s underwear.

The clothing items are stored at the hospital’s on-site clothing facility, The Wear House. It was established with community support and has basic items for patients who have arrived at the hospital after an accident or medical episode without a change of clothes.

The Wear House only stocks new clothes such as t-shirts, track pants, windcheaters…and underwear, perhaps the most costly item of the lot. Demand for underwear is high as multiple pairs are provided to patients in need.

LRH Community Engagement Officer Lisa Twigger said it was a perfect time to run the Socks ‘n’ Jocks Drive, with Father’s Day just around the corner.

“There’d be plenty of dads in the community who are in line for another multi-pack of undies and perhaps they would consider ‘regifting’ them to The Wear House. We’re not fussy about the colour, size or style.

“Similarly, if other people in the community are giving their drawers a spring clean and discover new underwear, men’s or women’s, still in the pack or with a tag, send them our way,” Lisa said. “We’ll take socks, singlets – whatever you can afford to donate.”

Workplaces, community, social and sporting groups are being encouraged to join the Socks ‘n’ Jocks Drive.

“It’s a relatively inexpensive but practical way to help vulnerable patients in our care. If your group is able to donate a few pairs to our cause, it would make a big difference. If you see underwear on special, pop some into your shopping trolley if it’s within your budget,” Lisa said.

If you’re able to assist contact the Community Engagement team at LRH on 5173 8577 or email engagement@ lrh.com.au

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Your time is a valuable gift that y give to help others. you can

The LRH Community Champions Program provide and complementary services that supplement the treatment of patients while in hospital. Our Community Champions make a significant contribution to the hospital and to the patients, visi and staff they work with. We are currently recruiting for a number of roles an placements, depending on the skills and interests t an individual can bring to the program.

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