Centre for Regional Engagement
25 March 2009
On Tuesday 24 March 2009, the Centre for Rural Health and Community
Development, a joint initiative of the University of South Australia and
Spencer Gulf Rural Health School in conjunction with The Station
Community Mental Health Centre, presented findings of its recent
evaluation conducted on the services that The Station provides to
members within the Wallaroo area.
A team of six key enthusiasts from The Station took a bus trip,
departing Wallaroo at 8.00 am travelling via the ferry on a very scenic
route for their trip to Whyalla, experiencing nature at its best. Apart
from the odd comment “are we there yet?” all arrived in time to present
the joint findings from the evaluation.
The idea to evaluate its services came about after celebrating The
Station’s 10th birthday.
Senior Research Fellow of the University Dr Judy Taylor said that “this
evaluation was conducted as a participatory action research process with
The Station and has revealed that there were key aspects of The Stations
functioning that resulted in good outcomes”.
The Station is a mental health activity centre based in Wallaroo. It
provides people recovering from a mental illness and their carers a
place to meet and support each other and to undertake activities. The
Station is based on a non-medical, recovery orientated, and primary
healthcare approach to achieving health and wellbeing.
Dr Taylor indicated that “The Stations participation in this evaluation
far exceeded her expectations. This group is a very passionate group who
are keen to deliver moral support to community members seeking
assistance from this organization.”
The results from the evaluation indicate that The Station is very
successful in “delivering the feeling of being accepted as “I am”
without the stigma of having suffered from a mental illness, allowing
and assisting people to recover within their own community” said Dr
Taylor.
Participatory action research involves a collaborative approach to
undertaking the research process and disseminating findings. This
approach allows the university researchers, organizations, and community
members to bring together complementary knowledge that assists the
research and builds organizational ownership of the results.
Contacts for Interview
Dr Judy Taylor, Senior Research Fellow Mobile: 0427 610 169 Email:
judy.taylor@unisa.edu.au
