Today on Brainwaves, we chat live in the studio to Janel and Frankie, Peer Workers at the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC). They run the ‘Check In’ program, a peer-based connection and support program for people with lived experience who are finding their current situation difficult.

Janel (she/her) has always been passionate in creating safe spaces for people to learn more about themselves and the world they live in. As a registered Expressive Arts Therapist, Janel continues to bring her love of creativity to conversations with others. 

Frankie (they/them) grew up by the Birrarung on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country in Warburton, as part of the Kulin nations. They are passionate about finding connections across the consumer/ex-survivor patient movement and other movements that seek to create worlds with less harm, coercion, and punishment.  

For more info about ‘Check In’ call 1800 845 009 from Monday to Thursday between 9am and 5pm.  

Artwork by Bernadette. The image is of leaves against a solid-colour background.  

"By creating this artwork, I made a strong, grounded connection to life's different seasons and reasons. If we experience ourselves as part of nature, we can realise our core and innate capacities." — Bernadette, artist.