Mind Australia will honour the late Anthony Stratford’s immense contribution to the lived experience movement by establishing an annual lecture and scholarship in his name.
Anthony, who passed away in March this year, dedicated his life to advocating for a recovery and lived experience approach to supporting people with mental health and wellbeing challenges.
Much of his journey from personal recovery to advocating for system change happened during his time working at Mind Australia. Anthony joined Mind in 2008 as a direct support worker in one of Mind’s earliest peer support programs.
Speaking at Mind’s Lived Experience Strategy webinar, Mind CEO Gill Callister announced the organisation will deliver a lecture and a scholarship in Anthony’s name.
“At Mind we want to celebrate Anthony’s legacy with the continued development of lived experience knowledge and excellence that was so core to his life and contribution,” Ms Callister said.
“The annual Anthony Stratford lecture will invite a lived experience leader to speak to a critical issue of lived experience leadership and excellence that would centre lived experience and expertise as a core component of continued mental health innovation and transformation.”
The first Anthony Stratford lecture will take place later this year.
Ms Callister said the Anthony Stratford scholarship will provide a $10,000 contribution annually to activities that support the continued development of an emerging lived experience leader.
“This scholarship will offer the opportunity to contribute to activities such as visits to lived experience programs and initiatives, coaching and mentoring or leadership development,” Ms Callister said.
“I’m pleased that we are able to create these two opportunities to continue to remember the legacy that Anthony Stratford has left us and continue to progress it.”
More information about the Anthony Stratford lecture and scholarship will be announced soon.
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