6
summer 2009
mivoice
40,000
open to idea of social inclusion An estimated 40,000 people flocked to Fairfield on October 11 for MI Fellowship’s seventh annual Open Mind Fiesta. It has become a highlight of the Mental Health Week
“We might be able to assist in many ways – by interacting
calendar, proof of just how important social inclusion is to so
with those with a mental illness, by providing them with the
many people. And this year some 40,000 people voted with
opportunity to have a chat, help them locate employment
their feet to demonstrate just how
and, more importantly, making them
strongly they believe in our Open
feel part of our Darebin community.
Mind Fiesta and what it represents.
A highlight of this year’s Fiesta was the
As Fairfield traders took their wares
launching of MI Fellowship’s new online
out onto Station Street, festival-goers
learning tool by Northcote MP Fiona
took the chance to try everything from
Richardson.
belly dancing to circus arts. It was all
The tool is designed to be used in the
designed to help reinforce the theme
workplace to increase knowledge about
of this year’s fiesta – “People with
mental illness and mental health, and to
mental illness want to participate ...
promote good employment practice.
make it happen!” “The story of people with a mental illness is often a story of social exclusion. Our community of Darebin, however, strives to be an inclusive community,” Cr Vince Fontana from Darebin City Council told the crowd at the official launch of the Fiesta. “The Open Mind Fiesta is one way of supporting those members and
Some highlights of the festival
welcoming those who have been
“People with a mental illness want to participate...make it happen.”
affected by a mental illness.
promising landscape in ACT MI Fellowship recently helped spread the message of social inclusion in Canberra through the 2009 Mindscapes Music and Arts Festival. The Mindscapes Festival was developed to promote the idea of mental illness being associated with community, joy and acceptance. A whole-of-community event, it centred on conveying serious messages about mental health in a fun and entertaining environment. The festival aimed to bring people with a mental illness into the heart of a community event, improving the general wellbeing of people living with a mental illness, increasing public understanding of issues and reducing the stigma surrounding what is a relatively common issue.
An initiative of Mental Health Recovery ACT, it was supported by a number of services, consumers and carers including MI Fellowship Victoria, Mental Health Foundation, Richmond Fellowship ACT, Mental Health ACT, ACT Consumer Network, Belconnen Community Services, Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW and Volunteers ACT-Connections. This year’s festival included a poetry competition, a short film competition and film festival screened at the Dendy Cinema and a music festival held at Garema Place in Civic.