Being part of the World is extra challenging at present. The news cycle is full of destruction and distressing reports. It is tempting to withdraw from the World and sources of news which offer little relief.
That’s why I find it helpful to come back to the work we do every day, and the many achievements of people with lived experience who seek support. We often use recovery stories to outline those achievements and highlight the courage and determination they require. We often include a couple of stories in each newsletter to make our work personal and celebrate those achievements. We are always honoured when people allow us to share their story.
Recently, we published the 100th edition of Panorama Magazine (Autumn 2026). Started in the 1990s, Panorama is a magazine written by people with lived experience for people with lived experience. It includes always includes helpful personal recovery stories and resources to support mental health recovery. The magazine won the Mental Health Matters Media and Arts Award last year in Mental Health Month.
Panorama is published in hard copy, with a digital version on our website, and select stories are published online. You can click on the link at the bottom of this newsletter to see the latest edition.
The 100th edition features a story and lovely photos of the visit of our Patron, NSW Governor, Her Excellency The Honourable Margaret Bealey AC KC to our Women and Children’s Program.
Reading Panorama offers a nice salve to the current challenges of the World. Celebrating people’s lives; focussing on hope; and looking forward to the possibility of better tomorrow are even more important focuses than they have ever been.
A great example of that is our co-designed Community in Motion program which is getting people moving and addressing physical health. Another example is the new Inclusive Employment Australia program that is supporting people to get jobs. I hope you are inspired by the stories about those new approaches to supporting people’s mental health recovery in this month’s newsletter.
Thank you for the hope you bring and demonstrate by being part of the Flourish Australia community. It is greatly appreciated.
Mark Orr AM
Chief Executive Officer
