Team

Andrew Turtle is a mental health consumer, thought leader and advocate who lives in Western Sydney, Australia. Like many people who suffer from schizophrenia, Andrew became unwell in his teens, which ensured that he was hospitalised 3 times before his 20th birthday.

Andrew’s Story

After completing studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine and International Public Health, Andrew was introduced to the consumer movement in 2015 and has since become involved in multiple consumer representative roles on local, state-wide and global committees. In 2017, Andrew helped created the Mental Health Navigation Tool (NavTool), a website that mapped the mental health and related services in his region.

Andrew has since worked in the Partners in Recovery (PIR) program, as a local area coordinator (LAC) in partnership with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), as an Intensive NDIS support worker at a psychosocial centre known as Frangipani House and community-based mental health program called the Connector Program. Andrew is currently the chairperson of a regional consumer and carer committee as well as an honoury member of the Global Mental Health Peer Network (GMHPN). As chairperson of the Consumer and Carers Committee, Andrew facilitates meetings and works with an amazing group of mental health consumers in the Nepean Blue Mountains. As part of the Global Mental Health Peer Network, Andrew has published articles, mentors young peer leaders from around the world and conducts webinars. Andrew is also a published author of the Consumer Journey.