What is a Recovery College?
Recovery describes a personal journey that people with mental health challenges undertake to rebuild and live a purposeful and meaningful life. A recovery college is a place for people with mental health lived experience, carers and service providers to come together to learn from each other, share experiences, increase their understanding of mental health recovery and achieve individual aspirations and dreams. The college is open to anyone over the age of 12 years that would like to attend workshops.
How are the Courses Developed/Produced?
The South Western Sydney (SWS) Recovery College uses a collaborative approach to provide education programs that promote healing, wellbeing and self-directed recovery. Initial development was led by a Steering Committee comprising mental health professionals, carers and people with lived experience. This model promotes shared understanding, breaks down barriers, reduces stigma, increases understanding and support and reflects our diverse South Western Sydney community.
Who Delivers the Courses?
The courses are co-facilitated by two Peer Trainer/Tutors with a mental health lived experience or a Peer Trainer/Tutor and a mental health specialist.
OUR AIM
Our aim is to support and encourage recovery, build confidence, independence and personal and professional capacity to those who engage with the college.
OUR MISSION
Learn, Recover, Grow is our mission to enable people to reach mental health recovery goals and personal growth.
LEARN
Learning is lifelong and is key to our overall development. Learning promotes self-discovery and self-growth that can enhance our recovery.
RECOVER
Recovery from mental health distress is possible but the first step starts with us.
A step toward recovery encourages and motivates us to continue our journey towards wellness.
GROW
Self growth is about recognising our true potential so that we are able to live a meaningful life and participate in our communities.
OUR LOGO
BIRD
Signifying hope and freedom, this structured and rigid bird not only embodies our greatest aspects but is also created by us.
CRESCENT
The crescent represents our planet, Earth.
Full of life, growth and stability in
countless locations.
COLOUR
Within blue we find a sense of trust, dependability and freedom. Coupled with green we find stability and most importantly, prosperity.
OUR TEAM
Julie Deane
General Manager Community, Mental Health
& Training
Debbie Graham
Manager, SWS Recovery College
Janeen Harris
Administration and Training Support Officer
Anna Buckingham
Peer Trainer/Tutor
Julie Icardi
Peer Trainer/Tutor
Michael Wheeler
Peer Trainer/Tutor (Buried in Treasure)
Sharon Shapter
Peer Trainer/Tutor (Buried in Treasure)
FUNDING
South Western Sydney (SWS) Recovery College is a service of Macarthur Disability Services Ltd (MDS) and is supported by funding from South Western Sydney PHN through the Australian Government’s PHN program, in partnership with One Door Mental Health.
