Testimonials

Corporate Communique has used Fay Jackson as a Keynote Speaker at a number of our conferences and we can't recommend her highly enough. She continues to receive standing ovations for her unique angle on mental health, presented with both captivating stories and serious strategies for working with people affected by mental health. A key strength is her ability to relate the subject matter to any number of different audiences making it both interesting and importantly, relevant.

Feedback from our delegates always has Fay at the top of the list of preferred speakers and we will continue to both use and recommend Fay on a regular basis.

Hansen Yuncken was pleased to be able to put in place the 2 day Mental Health First Aid Training Course presented by Vision in Mind CEO Fay Jackson.

The course was attended by 22 of our employees. Attendees included senior management representatives from Hansen Yuncken NSW including the State Manager, Construction Manager and Operations Manager. In addition representatives attended from Hansen Yuncken Newcastle, and interstate participants including Construction Manager Tasmania.

The course, and in particular the way in which Fay Jackson presented and personalized the subject of Mental Health received overwhelming support from all who attended.

With Fay's attention to detail the mystery surrounding Mental Health and many of its elements were explained, "destigmatised", and put in terms no different to any other medical condition.

Misunderstandings became understandings, and many people were left somewhat enlightened by the experience. In addition to being equipped to address many aspects of Mental Health from the perspective of First Aid.

We would strongly recommend the course, and look forward to expanding it through our organisation.

I had the good fortune of attending the (4 hour) Mental Health and Stress Management training in Newcastle last week and would like to convey to you how impressed I was with the course.

Fay Jackson the course facilitator was exceptional and I believe the content was particularly pertinent to what we all do in the industry. If the two day version of the course becomes available I would jump at the opportunity in attending. I will also be recommending to all staff who work with me that they attend the 4hr course.

I have already had to use some of the techniques the course imparted in identifying and supporting a colleague who is suffering from stress and anxiety. (not me) Without the training I would have approached the situation in an entirely different and incorrect manner.

"The way Fay presents the Mental Health Awareness training material is so unique. I have never experienced such an inspiring, down to earth and memorable educational programme before."

David Ailwood, Employee Relations Coordinator. Department of Education and Training, Illawarra & South Coast.

“I had lost all hope of recovering from my illness, had been unemployed for years, felt like a failure in all aspects of my life and was suicidal and then I met Fay. I couldn't believe what she had done with her life and how generous she was with me. She motivated me, taught me and guided me out of the victimhood I was drowning in. I hadn't been out of my longeroom for 10 years accept when I was in hospital. Within 3 months she had helped me change my attitudes and actions and I got a job. My life changed completely” Mandy (last name witheld)

"The feedback from our staff following the mental health training delivered by Fay has been extremely positive. Overall, staff have an increased awareness of mental health issues. They feel more confident in asking clients questions relating to mental health and emotional well being and they can appropriately assist clients access services in the community that provide support in preventative, responsive and emergency situations."

Bob Gregory, Manager National Projects, Family Court of Australia

" The Mental Health First Aid training was well received in our workplace, providing skills in a difficult area for people to use at home and at work - we've got enough people interested to run a second course!"

Rebecca Cusack, Deputy Director Business Management, Hydrographic Office, Australian Defence Department

"Our workplace has recognised the need for change in how we address the mental health and emotional well being of our staff. Introducing Vision In Mind Stay Well Action Plans has given managers in our organisation a really useful tool that allows us to take both a coordinated and collaborative approach in responding to mental health issues.

I have been able to tailor the Stay Well Action Plan to fit individual needs and circumstances and at the same time allow the responsibility for a staff members mental health needs to be in their control with an agreement on how I can best support my staff member clearly in place.

Thanks Fay for providing us with a tool that assists managers identify best how we can support our staff and work towards positive mental health outcomes together".

”It was a real honour to have you as our guest speaker at our recent staff forum Refresh, Renew, Reframe. Your performance was nothing short of brilliant and all present found you to be extraordinarily funny and entertaining. You showed an outstanding ability to humanise your experiences as a consumer in such a delightful, entertaining yet still sensitive manner. You certainly helped to de-stigmatise and raise the profile of Mental Health consumers. You are quite an inspiration and I will have no hesitation in recommending you to to others.”

Fred Kong, Chief Executive Officer, The Richmond Fellowship of NSW

Rev. Brian Kirk, Executive Director, Greater Armidale Anglican Counselling Service, Tamworth.

" Fay visited Alice Springs in mid-June 2008 as Guest Speaker for a public forum to help raise community awareness around mental illness. With a wide array of personal (and often colourful!) stories, Fay's passion and dedication to helping destigmatise mental illness shone through. Her presentation was rich with information, warm, humourous and highly engaging, and all who attended greatly appreciated the insights and wisdom she shared. Thanks Fay. It was wonderful to meet you. Fay also delivered 2 workshops -‘Supporting Health Workers' and ‘Young People and Mental Illness.' Both workshops were well attended and left people wanting to more."

Rita Riedel, Training & Promotions Officer, Mental Health Association of Central Australia

"Fay your work with us at the Downer Engineering conference added value to our organisation through a greater awareness of the effects of mental illness in the workplace and gave a lot for our senior management team to consider. Your ability to articulate and deliver the message is second to none."

Regards, Greg Skyring, Operations Manager Queensland, Downer Electrical Pty Ltd

"Your service is extremely valuable. The majority of HR issues we have experienced and many of our OH&S issues have had a root cause in stress and mental health issues. After your training and facilitation of changes we have seen a marked improvement in productivity, moral, profits and employee relations. We are not only solving issues but are preventing problems from occurring."

"I learnt more practical and sustainable solutions from your delivery of the Mental health First Aid Course than I did during my entire degree in psychology at university."

"Until I heard your (Fay Jackson) educational and inspiring speech I had no idea that the way I was dealing with people I was called to pick up was affecting their immediate health and the outcomes of the future of both the individual and their family. We must change the way we are dealing with people with mental health problems."

"We just thought that (names withheld) were problem kids and to tell you the truth we just wanted rid of them, now we have ways to support not only (names withheld) but other students and our staff who have mental health issues. Since undertaking your course several of our staff realized that they too needed support and solutions to difficulties they had been dealing with for some time. I did not expect such far reaching or positive outcomes."