Essence Peer Mentoring

15/10/2026

Today I had the opportunity to attend the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance launch of the Mental health consumer movement history timeline and online resource library.

The timeline is the first of its kind, documenting the history of the Australian mental health consumer movement. Spanning over nearly two centuries, it captures the organisations, legislation, inquiries, publications, and pivotal moments that shaped the rights-based, consumer-led mental health sector we have today.

Whilst the history of the consumer movement was part of my education it is still utterly mind blowing today. It's a deeply emotional experience to hear what being a person experiencing mental and emotional distress was like over the years. And you would think it was only the stories of a 100+ years ago but sadly it is much more recent than that.

This resource is amazing! I am looking forward to delving deeper over the coming months.

I am incredibly grateful for all who came before me. The people who worked so hard to improve systems and outcomes for us all. The courage, vulnerability and sheer strength to show up and challenge the status quo and to improve mental health services for all Australians is an incredible legacy.

Standing on the shoulders of all who came before me is such a privilege and an honour. I will be eternally grateful. Thank you!

15/10/2026

What does growing in the garden mean?

This week we headed to our favourite community garden at Marino. Ready to harvest the remaining snow peas, do some weeding and monitor the progress of our companion planting. It was a perfect morning.

I asked my participant to consider how she was feeling before we entered the garden. Given all of life's stresses and events, how was she actually feeling in this moment on a scale of 1 to 10. It was a solid 5/10. We agreed that we would go do our thing in the garden and then rate how we were feeling again.

It will be no surprise to those of you who are familiar with the benefits of therapeutic horticulture or nature based therapy on the end result. But to my participant it was a way to measure the benefits she was seeing in her own wellbeing. The post garden assessment of how she felt was an 8/10! In the space of maybe 30 to 40 minutes of being in the garden, in the fresh air and sunshine, her own mental and emotional wellbeing score rose 3 points. That is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!

No need for paper based surveys or online links to ask several questions all designed to get the same outcome. Just one simple question. How do you feel on a scale of 1 to 10. Simple yet very effective.

As a society we have moved so far beyond our natural environments that we have lost some of the most simplest of life's pleasures like eating a snow pea straight from the plant.

It is now our time to reconnect with nature and all it offers. This 5/10 to 8/10 self rating strategy is simple but so effective in showing ourselves that when we take a moment to be in nature and our gardens that it is in fact giving back to us in ways we may not be able to see. That is what growing in the garden means. One person and one nature moment at a time.

08/10/2026

What inspirational peer work looks like 😍

Last night I attended an amazing event showcasing the pioneers of peer work in Australia. The history, the absolutely incredible work, dedication and commitment to lived experience in mental health was incredibly inspirational. Fay shared her decades long experience in bringing about how peer work is seen today within clinical settings and the difference it makes to people from a human rights perspective. It was amazing! I am so grateful for the peers who came before me that have faced the hardest of challenges to enable us to be able to practice safely today. Thank you for everything you have done and are still doing today.


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Meet a Pioneer of Peer Work: Fay Jackson.

Fay Jackson is the Founder of Vision In Mind. She has been a trailblazer of Lived Experience positions in the Australian public sector. Fay was one of the original eight Peer Workers/Consumer Consultants in Australia, and the first Peer Work Manager and Director of Consumer, Carer and Community Affairs. She was the inaugural Lived Experience Deputy Commissioner of the NSW Mental Health Commission, and General Manager, Inclusion for Flourish Australia.

Fay was one of the writers and editors of the Peer Work in Australia book and has had several papers published. She wrote the "Why Not A Peer Worker?" strategy which led led to Peer Workers becoming the fastest growing workforce in Australia. She was lead writer of the Peer Work chapter in the Handbook of Rural, Remote and Very Remote Mental Health in Australia. Her work has been recognised with multiple awards, including the Meritorious Service to Community Medal and the Paul Harris Fellow.

In 2012, she was appointed by the Federal Minister for Health to help guide the formation of the National Lived Experience Peak Body. She returned to this work ahead of the peak's launch in 2024. That same year, she started the Peers Supporting Peers free online group to support Peer Workers during the psychiatrists' strike. In 2026, she was appointed one of five elders writing the first Older Person Mental Health Framework. Fay has appeared as a guest on ABC's One Plus One, as a panellist on Q&A, and in the Job Access Employability program. She is a published writer and visual artist.

Hear from Fay and four other pioneers at our member-only webinar, Wednesday 7 October. They'll talk about their work in pioneering the evolution of peer work in Australia, share what brings them joy in peer work, and offer their insights and advice for the future direction of our discipline.

Log in to the member portal to learn about all our panellists, and register here: https://buff.ly/1CN71BB

This event is for 'full' and 'student' members only. If you haven't already, become a member here: https://buff.ly/sI5QalX

06/10/2026

Who loves daylight savings? Or not?

There is a lot going on right now both professionally and personally so I have been so grateful to lose myself in the garden weeding for the last 2 afternoon/evenings. Its been just what I needed. And after spending a couple of months on the grief train it is clear my garden has missed me lol. Its also just so beautiful to work until you look up and the sunset makes you smile from the inside out.

Today I attended an NDIS provider event that the agency are doing online for providers across the country to update us on changes to the scheme. There is so much happening in this space. I know a lot of participants and providers are feeling all kinds of emotions. I will do all I can to learn as much as possible about upcoming changes so we can walk this journey together.

I would like to say there is nothing I heard today that I had not already heard or read about since the new bill was passed. Consultation and feedback to the government is extremely important right now to ensure all participants from all walks of life and disability are heard and their needs taken into consideration.

So with another NDIS session next week I will probably be found in my garden pulling weeds and mindfully processing change.....

Here's to a new NDIS adventure.....

01/10/2026

October is mental health month in Australia. One foot forward by the Black Dog Institute is designed to create awareness, reduce stigma and to raise money to provide support to all who experience mental and emotional distress. This is very close to my heart as mental health and emotional distress is something we can all experience throughout life's journey and doing that in isolation with the stigma attached is excruciatingly difficult. We are all one foot/step away from a very different life so let's get behind it and raise awareness together. 💙🧡🖤🤍💙

Side note I don't normally do things that are to raise money for an organisation but this at this time is really important to me. So if you can and would like to please feel free to donate a couple of dollars.

Here's to a world that recognises mental and emotional wellbeing and/or distress and in turn diagnosis is everyone's business and just as important as any other health related issue. Brain health is as important as physical health!

If you would like to join me on clocking up my 40kms please let me know.

See you on my walking journey throughout October 💙

Together, we can help create better mental health for all.

29/09/2026

Harvest Day Success 😍 Growing skills, confidence, and community! 🌿

Growing in and with our garden brings so much purpose to our lives. It offers a mindful connection to nature, opportunities to learn vital life skills, and the simple joy of eating fresh, organic produce straight from the plant.

This season, we planted snow peas, and today we celebrated our first major harvest! We gathered roughly half a kilo of beautiful snow peas, which have already gone to a wonderful new home to be enjoyed in a fresh, healthy salad.

The true magic of the day was discussing what it feels like to grow your own food. Our participant is discovering a brand new love for the outdoors soaking up the sunshine while learning about companion planting, pest management and watering techniques. With the right support system, they are building a powerful "life skills toolkit," boosting self-confidence, and achieving meaningful goals that extend far beyond the garden gate.

Garden therapy snow peas for the win of the week! 🏆🌱

28/09/2026

Monday mornings in the South Connect Health Hub office at Christies Beach are so amazing. Starting the day at the beach is not going to get old ever 💙

You can book your appointment or send your referral to [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you.

20/09/2026

Marino Community garden monthly working bee 💙

It's been a while since I have been able to be a part of this because 9 weeks ago I got on the grief train. The committee have been so amazing helping me keep on top of things over this time and I am just so grateful. This was an awesome morning of weeding like there's no tomorrow and then jumping into our EPM bed to organise a few things. A beautiful day of being just me with no expectations and no to do list. The sun was amazing and I feel like I have accomplished something being in nature for 5 hours. Now to my own garden maybe 🤔

17/09/2026

Today I spent the day at the City of Marion at Hallett Cove library or Cove Civic Centre. It was my first visit and I am so glad I signed up and booked a desk. A desk looking out to the blue sky without my grief surrounding me or my doggos or the looonnngggg to do list at home was just what i needed to start feeling like I can function in this new world. If you haven't been and work from home or on the road like I do I recommend checking it out. The staff are amazing and super helpful. I'll definitely be back 😊

08/09/2026

Todays nature connections were the vibe we needed as my community member and I navigate the parental loss and grief journey together. Lived and living experience sometimes shows up at the exact right moment to help someone else on their journey. We found ourselves at Sellicks Beach this morning and it was just beautiful. It had everything sun, flowers, waves and that sound of waves crashing that is loud yet peaceful 💙 Of course nature photography is always a great way to spend time with nature and I just can't help myself. 😍