Webinar:
Preventing gender-based violence in inpatient mental health units

Women are not safe in mental health inpatient units.

Research has found that women staying in mental health inpatient units experience gender-based violence in many forms perpetrated by other patients, intimate partners and ex-partners, and staff.  The physical environment and some treatment processes can also contribute to women feeling unsafe during their inpatient stays.

Drawing on findings from ANROWS research led by Dr Juliet Watson of RMIT University titled ‘Preventing gender-based violence in mental health inpatient units’, this panel of advocates, researchers and practitioners will discuss:

• women’s experiences of gender-based violence in inpatient mental health units
• how current practices are not keeping women safe
• what changes can be made to improve mental health inpatient services.

There will also be a live Q&A.

This webinar is designed for:

• policymakers and practitioners working in mental health services
• practitioners who work with women who have accessed mental health inpatient units

 Attending this webinar earns 1 continuing professional education (CPE) point from the following organisations:
·            Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN)
·            Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)

Enquiries: rachel.pow@anrows.org.au

Presenters

Dr Juliet Watson
RMIT University

Dr Juliet Watson is a senior lecturer and researcher in the Social and Global Studies Centre at RMIT University.  She is also President of the Australian Women’s and Gender Studies Association. A sociologist and social worker, Juliet has extensive research, teaching and practice experience in gender-based violence. She was the chief investigator on the ‘Preventing gender-based violence in mental health inpatient units’, funded by ANROWS. Her book, ‘Youth Homelessness and Survival Sex: Intimate Relationships and Gendered Subjectivities’ was published in 2018.

Professor Jayashri Kulkarni

Jayashri Kulkarni is a Professor of Psychiatry, and directs the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc), a large multisite clinical psychiatric research centre.

Professor Kulkarni has pioneered the novel use of estrogen as a treatment for schizophrenia and is internationally acknowledged as a leader in the field of reproductive hormones and their impact on mental health. An expert in Women’s Mental Health, Jayashri was elected the President of the International Association of Women’s Mental Health, a role she held from 2017 -2019. She sits on many advisory boards for Government, the NHMRC, Industry and Universities.

Professor Kulkarni was recognised for her contribution to Medicine, particularly Psychiatry, by being made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in June 2019.

Vrinda Edan

Vrinda has worked in consumer advocacy for over 20 years.  Vrinda is currently undertaking a PhD exploring consumer experiences of Advance statements and is a consumer academic at the Centre for Psychiatric Nursing, University of Melbourne.  For 5 years, She was the Chair of the Board of the Victoria Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC) a peak body organisation for people with a lived experience of mental health or emotional challenges. Vrinda has provided her expertise to Health Services, Community organisations, national and state governments and research and education.

Vrinda brings a human rights framework to her work and aims to improve the outcomes for consumers, their families and carers as well as practitioners.

Charlotte Jones

Charlotte is a highly experienced solicitor bringing international and national expertise in judicial review and the community legal sector. After a successful career in London, as a Director during the establishment of what became the UK’s largest civil legal aid practice, she has since cross qualified in Australia. Since 2013, Charlotte has led the Mental Health Legal Centre in Victoria, becoming a leading expert voice and advocate and has developed a successful philanthropic, commercial and Government funding base. Charlotte is able to practice in both the UK and Australia.

Facilitator

Professor Penelope June Weller
RMIT University

Penelope Weller is a Professor of Law at the Graduate School of Business and Law, RMIT University.  Penelope is an internationally recognized expert in mental health law, advance directives and the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  From 2015 -2019, Penelope was the Director of the Juris Doctor Program at RMIT University.

Penelope has co-edited an upcoming booking titled ‘The Legacies of Institutionalisation: Disability, Law and Policy in the ‘Deinstitutionalised’ Community” which is due for release in July 2020.