OYH - Key Persons
Families that are new to Orygen Specialist Program can talk with a family peer support worker - another family member who has cared for someone who has used Orygen services. It is often reassuring to talk to a family peer support worker, as you can share your experiences. Family peer support workers offer telephone and face-to-face support, based on their own experiences of having a relative with a mental illness. Family peer support workers are not mental health clinicians. They offer the opportunity for one parent to talk to another - someone who can listen and provide emotional support, as well as information and referral. Family peer support workers are available for support in the Family Resource Room at Parkville, at the Youth Access Team and the Inpatient Unit in Footscray, and at Sunshine.
Jane is an Associate Professor and the Deputy Clinical Director of Orygen Specialist Program and a Fellow of the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne. She has worked as a clinical psychologist in public mental health services for 25 years.
Jane has played a central role evolving the EPPIC clinical program since 1993, which has made a major impact both nationally and internationally in terms of service delivery in early psychosis. She has been the key investigator for two early psychosis studies, 'Recovery Plus' and the 'Cannabis and Psychosis (CAP)' Project, both randomised controlled trials of cognitive-behavioral interventions. Jane's PhD on emotion recognition in first-episode schizophrenia was conferred in 1998. She was awarded a Lise Meitner Postdoctoral Scholarship and based at the Vienna General Hospital 2002-2004.
Jane has co-authored two books, and over 40 journal papers, 15 book chapters and ten treatment manuals. Her current role at Orygen includes management/service development, clinical and research activities.