Lived Experience Forum

[RoseGeranium]

@Anne2021 Thank you! 

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you.

My bucket list is limited because I am on the dole now and go on Austudy soon, which is even less money.  I'd love to travel, but limited funds during a financial crisis means that I don't have the luxury of travelling right now.  Anything on my bucket list does involve having any cash!

It's only a few more weeks until I start to study.  Though my experiences have been tough, including psychosis, I feel that I can contribute as a peer worker.  Some peer workers are only in their job because they have cared for someone with a mental illness, rather than experiencing it directly themselves.  Then others have direct experience of what you're suffering from, so they may be qualified via having been a carer, who knows.  Then you get ones who specialise in drug & alcohol, disabilities, neurodivergence, gambling, etc who can help steer with very specific experience up their sleeve.

It's interesting that peer workers have been calling you after discharge, I know they attend in person for people who have been in the public system for longer than you.  There must be a cut-off for calls vs having a peer worker physically show up and take you to doctor's appointments etc.

Rose.