A Dedicated Volunteer
Ian Morison - the new ambassador for volunteering in the ACT
Nominated in the Health category by the Mental Illness Fellowship of ACT
For over 25 years, Ian Morison has been a highly dedicated volunteer when it comes to improving the conditions of people affected by mental illness and their supporters.
Ian became involved in the Canberra Schizophrenia Fellowship (CSF), now the Mental Illness Fellowship of the ACT, after recognising how important the role of the organisation was in the community.
Ian has been an integral member of the CSF. He has continued to find different ways to support people with a mental disability while attempting to change the attitudes towards mental illness in the community.
Ian has taken on many roles and has taken part in many successful programs and organisation. Just to name a few, Ian was the convener of the committee organising the 1984 launch of the ACT Mental Health Association. He also prepared a CSF Constitution that was approved at the AGM in 1985. Two years later he became the CSF president until 1989 and again from 1994 to 1995.
Also in 1994, he worked alongside CSF to establish the Commonwealth Government initiative, non-profit employment agency 'WorkWays'.
In the early 2000s Ian assisted in preparing proposals to transfer the Vocational Rehabilitation Program to CSF. He was then directly involved in ensuring the Program accomplished all it set out to do. Ian arranged funding for an overview study at University of Canberra. He also wrote a Manual of Procedures for the program, in compliance with the National Health Standards, that was approved in January 2003.
Throughout the years, Ian has been part of Mental Health peak bodies both locally and at a national level. In 1996, Ian was involved in the community-based endeavor to create a national mental health peak body. Commonwealth Health minister, Wooldridge, proposed a Mental Health Council of Australia. Ian attended a SFCA meeting in Melbourne to support the mission and membership structure at the time of the proposal.
Similarly, in Canberra, Ian worked alongside Charlie Pahlman and many other members equally concerned and took part in discussions regarding the formation of a committee and negotiating funds for a local Mental Health peak body. His efforts paid off, as he and his colleagues became members of the first Board of the Mental Health Community Coalition.
Over the years, Ian has shared his skills, professional experience and passion in assisting those affected with mental illness. With his involvement and dedication, Mental Illness Fellowship has been able to produce and maintain many successful programs to support people with mental illness and their families.
The NRMA Insurance Volunteer of the Year for 2006 and ambassador for volunteering in the ACT is Mr Ian Morison.
The Mental Illness Fellowship of the ACT
The Mental Illness Fellowship, originally called the Canberra Schizophrenia Fellowship, has assisted families affected by psychiatric illness since its formation in March 1980. Various levels of support are provided for relatives and patients, such as medical, employment and financial aid.