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

This online workshop will be presented over three half-day morning sessions on August 24th, 31st and September 7th.

Registration is open to representatives of Mindgardens Neuroscience Network Member organisations (NeuRA, Black Dog Institute, SESLHD, UNSW Sydney). Participants need to register for all three sessions.

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.

Day 3:

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