BackgroundMental health service providers across Australia, including Western Australia (WA), have begun to offer individualised funds, shared management, person-centred and self-directed (SPS) services. No research exists on the impact of SPS services on the lived experiences of these particular consumers. This study explored the impact of a SPS service offered for the first time in WA to consumers with mental illness.MethodsData on sixteen consumers’ lived experiences were analysed using an abbreviated grounded theory approach. These data had been developed by the consumers, Guides (staff) and an independent evaluator, and most of it had been collected in the past prior to the commencement of the study.ResultsThree over-arching categories, and related subcategories, emerged indicating that 1) access to individualised funds enabled practical and psychological benefits to consumers; 2) consistent contact in shared management and person-centred relationships enhanced the provision of timely and meaningful staff support to consumers; and 3) high quality shared management and person-centred relationships with staff and the opportunity to self-direct enabled consumers’ change and growth.ConclusionsSPS services enhanced consumers’ lived experiences and enabled staff to provide and consumers to experience timely access to recovery resources, consistent contact, responsive and high quality support, and self-direction of services. In this, consumers changed, grew and achieved desired recovery experiences. The overall impact of the SPS service seemed to be founded on the goodness of fit between person characteristics of staff and consumers, which enabled rich support that provided for corrective emotional experiences. This enabled consumers to build meaningful and hopeful lives where they started to live with, and beyond, their mental illness.

This paper describes an exploratory case study investigating the capacity of a multidisciplinary approach to academic development, to empower adaptive responses to ongoing technological change impacting on teaching practice. A quasi-experimental design with an intervention group (n = 22) and a comparative control group (n = 7) was adopted. Pre and post online questionnaires were administered to participants in both groups to evaluate attitudes and experiences relating to technology use in teaching and learning. The questionnaires were adapted from the Technology Acceptance Model. Qualitative measurement of the intervention group’s experiences following the professional development was captured using semi-structured interviews, followed by two focus groups to confirm the interview findings. Results indicate that the professional development impacted positively on participants through significantly increased levels of confidence and perceived ease of use. Qualitative data indicated participants experienced cognitive, emotional, and/or practical changes during and/or following the professional development.

The results provided an initial understanding of the impact of caring on the primary carers' occupational adaptation and engagement, and a suggestion that clinicians consider using a family-centred approach as an effective and meaningful intervention.

Background: The mental health sector across states in Australia is moving to offering individualised funds and shared management, person-centred and self-directed (SPS) services. However, little is known about the recovery experiences of consumers with mental illness who had used a SPS service that was recently introduced in Western Australia. This study explored the recovery experiences of these consumers. Methods: Data relating to sixteen consumers' lived experiences were analysed using an abbreviated grounded theory approach. These data had been developed in the past by consumers, the Guides (staff) and an independent evaluator. Results: Four over-arching categories, and related sub-categories, emerged. These suggested that consumers' recovery experiences included them gaining: 1) a greater sense of empowerment; 2) expanded connections with the community, others and 'the self'; 3) an enriched sense of 'the self'; and 4) an enhanced quality of life. Conclusions: Access to SPS services, including having access to individualised funds, high quality shared management and person-centred relationships with the Guides, and a chance to self-direct services enabled consumers to have control over all aspects of their recovery journey, facilitated change and growth, and improved their capacity to self-direct services. Most consumers encountered a number of positive recovery experiences at varied levels that enhanced their lived experiences.

Background Factors that enhance the social exclusion and limit the social inclusion of adults with intellectual disability undermine their health and wellbeing. Thus it is important to reduce the impact of such factors. This may be achieved by deepening the understanding of the enablers and barriers to social inclusion, which were explored in this study using a multidimensional framework (O'Brien, J. (1989). What's worth working for? Leadership for better quality human services. Lithonia, GA: Responsive Systems Associates. Retrieved from http://thechp.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/whatsw. pdf) and the reports of young adults with intellectual disability, and family members, who were involved in an inclusive community leisure program. Method Interview data from 4 young adults and a parent and a sister were (1) thematically analysed, and (2) the resulting thematic structure was further analysed for enablers and barriers to social inclusion using the multidimensional framework. General observations conducted by the researcher on most participants, which were member checked, were used to validate the information gathered in the interviews. Results Seven primary themes emerged from the initial thematic analysis. Further analyses of the initial thematic structure using the multidimensional framework revealed 24 enablers and 10 barriers to the social inclusion of young adults. Conclusion Social inclusion of the young adults was influenced by enablers and barriers appearing across multiple dimensions. Implications for best service practice with young adults and their families to enable movement toward social inclusion are discussed.