‘Great things are not done by impulse, but a series of small things bought together’.
Everyone knows I love a good quote, and this quote from Vincent Van Gogh is the perfect way to explain the work that the ATDC has been progressing over the past couple of years to increase opportunities for Tasmanians with a lived experience of alcohol and other drugs to have their say into how services are designed and delivered.
For those familiar with the work that we have been doing, they would be aware that the ‘great thing’ that we are striving towards is an independent consumer organisation that represents, supports and provides services with and for Tasmanians with a lived experience of alcohol and other drugs.
It’s the ‘holy grail’ that many people before us have worked hard to make a reality” and we recognise the contributions of Tasmanian Users Health and Support League, now Ideal Voices as well as Advocacy Tasmania and their Consumer Reference Group in this area. We wish to build on the work already done and there are a series of small things’ that are being bought together to help us get there – captured in our ATDC Consumer Strategy.
Our strategy focuses on three key areas of importance. The first is providing support to Tasmanian alcohol and other drug service providers to increase the number of opportunities for people with a lived experience to be involved in the planning and delivery of the services they receive. In this edition of eNews we introduce you to Greg Taylor who has joined the ATDC team in the role of Consumer Engagement Project Officer and over the next two years this will be his core focus (see more information on Greg below!).
The second focus is providing support to those Tasmanians with a lived experience who wish to become consumer representatives. Over the past 18 months the ATDC has been nurturing a fledging group of consumer representatives and we are currently recruiting for a Consumer Representative Coordinator to provide ongoing support this group (see below for more information).
The third focus is our ongoing advocacy and collaboration with our colleagues in the Tasmanian Government and across the community with most of these discussions have been happening in workshops, meetings and planning sessions. Although a very ‘bureaucratic’ process, the importance and impact of these discussions can never be downplayed. It has been through the collective championing of our government and community colleagues that we have been able to secure the necessary funding to recruit Greg and the Consumer Representative Coordinator.
Each of these ‘small steps’ are moving us forward towards the goal in our Consumer Strategy, which are all steps in the right direction to improving the lives of Tasmanians impacted by alcohol and other drugs.
Alison Lai
Chief Executive Officer
Greg Taylor
Director, Lived Experience
Greg is highly experienced in the visual arts and community development sectors. He helped establish the Spinifex Hill Studio in the Pilbara region of Western Australia and has worked around the country as a freelance producer.Read more✖Greg Taylor
Greg brings his artistic sensibility to his role, quietly radiating intelligence and creativity. He is witty and sharp, but has a steady and reliable nature that the team greatly appreciates. Greg’s skills and experience in working with a broad range of people means he is insightful and sensitive, and can adapt to the various daily experiences his role presents in an authentic way. Integrity is important to him, and this shows in his honesty and kind critiques of others when necessary – leading to strong and trusting relationships. Greg would love to see a legitimate platform for people who have lived experience to be heard, and for this to lead to positive change in our society. He also hopes for a future where uncertainty in our community leaders isn’t seen as a weakness, and curiosity is valued over immediate decision-making. Career highlights:
- Writing the business case for the independent lived experience organisation for the alcohol and other drug sector in Tasmania for the ATDC
- Being the founding studio manager of Spinifex Hill Studio in the Pilbara region of Western Australia
