NEWS DESK Councillor fights defamation
PENINSULA Health carer peer worker Carolyn McConnell. Picture: Supplied
Peer worker helps families of care unit residents A CARER peer worker has begun working at Peninsula Health to help the families and carers of people living at Frankston Hospital’s community care unit. Peninsula Health says it is one of the first health services in the state to offer peer worker support to families of carers. Carolyn McConnell is the first person to be appointed to the role. McConelll says that her new role has a “direct impact on the lives of carers”. “[The role] also supports the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health system that recognises carers as partners in recovery and deserving of respect,”
she said. “My experience as a carer peer worker and a carer enables me to work with families to support them from a lived experience perspective. By sharing my lived experience, I aim to improve service outcomes for carers and advocate for them in a meaningful way.” Frankston Hospital’s community care unit is for patients affected by serious mental illnesses. Peninsula Health nurse unit manager Peter Walsh says that the new peer worker represents a change in approach to caring. “Many families and carers have had to manage a fairly significant burden because of their loved
one’s mental health condition,” he said. “Having a family/carer peer worker is a really great new initiative to see how we can enhance our capacity to support carers. “Things are changing in the mental health space and I think Carolyn represents that change. I can only anticipate we will see all kinds of possibilities come out of this new role.” Frankston Hospital’s community care unit has the capacity for up to 20 patients at a time, with lengths of stay ranging from months to years. To contact the mental health services at Peninsula Health phone 1300 792 977. In an emergency dial 000 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
A KINGSTON councillor is appealing a defamation ruling made against him last year. In September 2022, Howe was ordered to pay property developer Sam Zuchowski $205,000. The ruling was made over comments made by third parties on Howe’s Carrum and Patterson Lakes Forum Facebook page. Howe is applying to the Supreme Court of Victoria for leave to appeal the defamation ruling. Sam Zuchowski is the managing director of Cavendish, which oversees development of the Patterson Lakes marina precinct. The Victorian County Court assessed ten publications during the defamation hearing last year - some of the comments questioned Zuchowski’s character and the integrity of decisions made within the Endeavour Cove precinct (“Councillor ordered to pay over Facebook comments” The Times 12/10/22). The comments were not made by Howe himself, but were made on the Facebook page that he administered. In addition to appealing the defamation ruling, Howe is calling for social media defamation laws in Australia to be reformed. “Social media defamation reform is overdue, particularly on the question of liability for third party comments on Facebook, and our appeal impacting everyday Australians is of national interest,” he said. “Our appeal also allows media companies involved in the original High Court verdict to reload again, should they wish to participate in a potential historical turning point.” Last year Howe also sued Amber Zuchowski over comments made as
the development manager of Cavendish at a Kingston Council meeting. He was awarded damages of $15,000 against Cavendish, with Amber Zuchowski jointly liable for $10,000. Brodie Cowburn
Crossing supervisors targeted by abuse CROSSING supervisors have been subject to verbal abuse while working on Kingston roads. Kingston Council has launched a new road safety campaign. The “Save Lives, Not Time” campaign is encouraging drivers to slow down and show more respect on the roads. Kingston mayor Hadi Saab said that the campaign is targeted at people who drive near schools. “We manage 83 school crossings, and our amazing crossing supervisors have reported many frightening traffic incidents. Sadly, a few have reported they’ve been subjected to verbal abuse from irate drivers. This type of behaviour on our roads and particularly around our schools is disgusting, downright dangerous, and simply won’t be tolerated,” he said. “As we enter the new school year, we want to foster a new level of respect – respect between pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, respect for our supervisors and respect for the road rules. The Save Lives, Not Time campaign messaging is being promoted via all our council channels, targeted outreach to the schools, a roving messaging board, and installed on banners outside every school across Kingston during term one.” Students at local schools have worked on slogans for the campaign.
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7 February 2023
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