MindLabs workshop: Keeping the Co in Co-design – an introduction to theory, practice, and methods

This online workshop will be presented over two half-day morning sessions on Tuesday the 26th & Wednesday the 27th of November 2024.

Employees or staff of Mindgardens member organisations (UNSW, NeuRA, BDI, SESLHD) are able to purchase tickets at a discounted price using your work email and a discount code: CODESIGNVIP)

By purchasing tickets for this workshop, you will be registering for both days.

The workshop is for people who are interested in developing individual and/or organisational capability to engage in co-design projects relating to mental health, drug & alcohol and neurological disorders, and is open to people in a lived experience, clinical and/or research role.

Please note: MindLabs workshops are most successful when they include people from diverse roles, organisations and professional backgrounds. Occasionally we may need to defer individual applications to a later event in order to achieve this balance.

Workshop content

Days 1 and 2:

co-design origins and approaches

co-design values and principles

understanding and addressing power

fostering generative co-design spaces

planning co-design workshops

co-design methods

evaluating co-design processes.

a practical session using an example co-design project.

Workshop outcomes

As a result of completing the workshop, participants will be better able to:

1. Explain the origins and benefits of co-design in health services.

2. Apply co-design values and principles to planning and facilitating co-design activities.

3. Foster relational practices and work effectively with power.

4. Plan co-design activities using appropriate methods and processes.

5. identify key considerations in evaluating co-design processes and events.

Workshop facilitators

Brett Bellingham is a lived experience educator, researcher, and a peer support worker. Brett has interest and experience in Co-design and Co-produced approaches to education, service provision, and research. Brett draws on experience, knowledge, and connection with the consumer / survivor / ex-patient movement, community development practices, and mad studies. 

Kath Thorburn has 30 years’ experience as a mental health worker, educator, facilitator, and consultant, as well as personal experience supporting close family members. Kath has been involved in co-designing and co-producing a range of education, service provision and social action events and resources. Kath has formal qualifications in education and occupational therapy and is currently a PhD candidate at UNSW researching a co-designed approach to improving mental health consumers’ physical health in primary care settings.

For information contact the MindLabs Team at mindlabs@mindgardens.org.au