EP 1 - CONNECTING THE DOTS WITH FI PEEL
Join guest-host Corin Boughton as she turns the interview tables on podcast host Fi Peel. Learn why Fi is passionate about mental health reform, exploring the importance of language, person-centred care and the challenges of embedding peer work within clinical settings. Fi chats candidly with Corin about the impact of systemic stigma upon individual mental health recovery journeys and the power of narrative re-framing.
Fi Peel (they/them) is a lived experience recovery collaborator working independently under a sometimes model. They are a sometimes peer worker; sometimes peer workforce supervisor; sometimes co-designer; sometimes consultant; sometimes policy advisor; sometimes consumer academic; sometimes human rights, LGBTQIA+, mental health and disability reform advocate; sometimes speaker; sometimes educator and sometimes mentor.
They are also a “re-emerging” artist, fusing cross-disciplinary explorations of the arts, health and behavioural sciences, to explore madness, voice, and authentic hope. Since 2020 they have sought to break their institutional shackles in production support of live performance with This Is My Brave Australia, Keystone 1889's Christmas Spectacular, The Cooperative and Rebus Theatre; in the writing of non-fiction narratives with A zine by US, The Activist Practitioner and Mad In America, op-ed pieces with Western Advocate, Independent Australia and RiotAct, scripts with Keystone 1889's Christmas Spectacular and Rebus Theatre and poems with Red Room Poetry; in the playing of Shakespearean roles with Bathurst Shakespeare Players, operatic roles with The Cooperative and devised characters with Rebus Theatre; in the the executive production and hosting of the Communities of Collaboration Podcast in collaboration with lived experience mental health reform humans and supported by Good Shout; in the blending of paints, the pursuit of play and the relentless challenging of their own fears of mis-gendering as operatic dramatic soprano with The Song Company Chorale. They are also the ACT Lived Experience Australia Advisory Forum Coordinator, a member of the National Mental Health Consumer Carer Forum and work as a lived experience advisor with Women With Disability Australia, Sydney World Pride 2023 Disability Action Group and Accessible Arts
They are also always restless to explore new horizons; are an often yoga-stretcher and hydro-therapy floater; always curious; always musical theatre geek; always proud parent of passionate young adults; always long walks lover; always mystic muser; always contemplative silence seeker; always in search of good food, decent wine and sparkling conversation; always surprising; rarely sedentary; never bored and completely unable to switch gears midsentence!
You can learn more about Fi and their mental health reform passions at www.thelivedperspective.com