Making Rights Real is a co-design project that recognises lived experience as the foundation for meaningful change. We’re guided by the UN CRPD (United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities), working to ensure human rights are truly respected and reflected – in policies, in services and in community life.
At the heart of this co-design project is a human-rights based understanding of disability. The term psychosocial disability refers to challenges a person faces when their mental health challenges interacts with an unsupportive environment. It’s not about the person, but about the barriers they face – such as discrimination, a lack of accommodations, or unfair treatment. This framework shifts the focus from “fixing” the person to removing the societal barriers that prevent them from truly realising a good life.
Even with mental laws in place, people with living experience of psychosocial disability often experience their human rights being overlooked or violated. This creates unfair situations and experiences that prevent people from living full and meaningful lives. Ultimately, this project recognises that human rights are not given, they are realised when barriers are removed.
Our project brings together people with their own experience of mental health challenges. Together, we’re collaborating to identify solutions and develop practices that ensure human rights are upheld, valued and respected in everyday life.
Strengthen consumers understanding of the UN CRPD for advocacy.
Equiping families, carers, service providers and community with an understanding of their roles in upholding these rights.
Share stories, highlight systemic barriers and opportunities.
Promote a good life vision grounded in autonomy, inclusion, participation, and dignity.
Inform future policy and systemic reform.
Develop reccomendations for new initiatives that keep thse important conversations going.
This project is a collaborative effort supported by the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance (the Alliance). The Alliance is an organisation led by people with lived/living experience of mental health challenges, working for and with mental health consumers (people who are utilising mental health support). We work closely with Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA) to deliver this project and share our findings widely, ensuring voices reach the places where changes happens.
