Families that are new to Orygen Specialist Program can talk with a family peer support worker — another family member who has cared for someone who has had mental ill health. It is often reassuring to talk to a family peer support worker, as you can share your experiences. Family peer support workers offer telephone and face-to-face support, based on their own experiences of having a relative with a mental illness. Family peer support workers are not mental health clinicians. They offer the opportunity for one parent to talk to another — someone who can listen and provide emotional support, as well as information and referral. Family peer support workers are available for support in the Family Resource Room at Parkville, and at Youth Access Team and the Inpatient Unit in Footscray as well as at the Visy Hub, Sunshine.
Ask a nurse or allied health staff member at the Inpatient Unit when a family peer support worker will next be available.
Contact a family peer support worker by phone on 9966 9100 (Parkville) or 9927 6200 (Sunshine). If nobody is available at the time of your call, reception will pass a message on.