Leading mental health campaigner to visit UQ
Writer, broadcaster, film-maker and mental health campaigner Anne Deveson AO will visit the University of Queensland's Occupational Therapy Department between April 12 and 16.
Ms Deveson was appointed an adjunct professor with the Department early last year after an approach from Department head Professor Jenny Strong.
"Anne is a champion of people with mental illness and their families and has made an enormous contribution in the area of mental health care. Her best-selling book Tell Me I'm Here provided a family's perspective of living with schizophrenia - her son Jonathan developed schizophrenia and later ended his life as a consequence of the illness," Professor Strong said.
"She has been an articulate consumer of mental health services due to this experience and has an excellent background in teaching management of the disease and the life skills needed for families to cope with its effects."
The 1991 book won the Human Rights Award for Non-Fiction in 1992 and in 1996, was named by the American Journal of Psychiatry as one of the 12 best books on mental illness. A new edition of the book was launched at the end of March 1998 by Penguin.
"She co-founded Australia's first national organisation for people with severe mental illness - Schizophrenia Australia (now SANE Australia). She has expertise in social justice and homelessness issues. She is a great communicator who has made a valuable contribution to the Department both in the teaching area as well as in research with a consumer focus," Professor Strong said.
While at the University, Ms Deveson will host a workshop on using the media to lobby for change. The workshop will be held in the Department from 8.30am until 12.30pm on Friday, April 16.
Currently living in Sydney, Ms Deveson chairs the Australian Society of Authors, deputy chairs SANE Australia and is completing a novel about the ambiguities of international aid.
She has previously chaired the Commonwealth Government's Advisory Committee on Homelessness (1995-1996), two Ministerial Committees on New South Wales Mental Health legislation (1989-1992), and the Centre for Independent Journalism at the University of New South Wales (1991-1994).
She was a founding member of the New South Wales Anti-Discrimination Board (1977-1980) responsible for raising employer and community awareness and acceptance of Equal Employment Opportunity legislation.
Between 1981 and 1985, she was chair and member of the South Australian Film Corporation, responsible for landmark Australian films including Gallipoli and Picnic at Hanging Rock. Following this, she was director of the Australian Film Television and Radio School (1985-1988).
Prior to 1974, she produced, directed, wrote and presented film, television and radio programs including around 30 television documentaries for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and major commercial networks.
For more information, contact Pam Meredith (telephone 07 3365 4518 or mobile 041 4407 619).
