top of page
portrait copy.jpg

Advocacy of Dr Rich McLean

Dr Mclean advocated against shame stigma and prejudice for most of his life. He has spoken from Parliament House in Canberra to The school of religious and philosophical studies in Montreal Canada. He has travelled the Australian continent speaking at local state and federal levels including Dubbo to Warnambool to Canberra Sydney and Melbourne. Here is a list of places he has spoken:

Advocacy Interviews Print Media

INTERVIEWS and PRESENTATIONS:

Radio National 'Life Matters' program. Julie McCrossin-ABC, Triple J-Youth Network, Rachel Kerr (National), Tricia Duffield on Radio 2SM, Sydney, Martin Powley for ABC Gold & Sunshine Coasts, QLD, Fiona Sewell for ABC Radio Adelaide, Statewide afternoons, James Valentine for ABC Radio 702, Phillip Brady & Bruce Mansfield on Radio 3AW ‘Nightline’, John Weeks from Spectrum FM Radio, Stateline on ABC TV, Good Morning Australia with Steve Leidman, for 'Compulsive Executions' exhibition and book launch. Pieta O'Shaughnessy on Curtin Radio (Perth), Tony Wilson for Triple R (Melb), Felicity Biggins on Radio 2NUR in Newcastle, Video interview with Frankie Fathers, Reuters TV (International), ABC National, AM Program, Channel 31 News. JOY FM, The Today show with Steve Liedman, Mar 05, Radio National-Life Matters-Art and Psychosis, RRR-Schizophrenia, Local Radio, and ABC Regional, Dubbo, Two Panel interviews with students, McGill University, Montreal.

 

PRINT MEDIA REVIEWS/ARTICLES INCLUDE:

'Rider of the storm', The Age, Michael Winkler, 'My Descent Into Madness'-Herald Sun, MCV-Reviewer, The Sydney Morning Herald - Reviewer Anne Deveson, www.eclinicalpsychiatrynews.com about psychosis and art, Possible presentation on SBS's 'Masterpiece' program about art and mental illness, Sydney Morning Herald, Mental Health hits the Political Frontline.'

PRESENTATIONS INCLUDE:

Recovered, Not Cured Book Launch-Artholes Gallery, Fitzroy, art exhibition, Mental Health Reseach Institute-To researchers and biochemists, Forensicare, Fairfield-To inpatients and social workers/psychologists, Early Prevention Psychosis (EPPIC)-To consumer groups, Presentation for Australian Centre for Youth Literature (ACYL) -To librarians and school teachers, Presentation for Australian Centre for Youth Literature (ACYL)-To 500 high school students, Baw Baw youth Network-To social workers and youth planners, Richmond Fellowship-Warnambool.-To consumers and their families, More talks to consumers at EPPIC, Royal Melbourne Hospital-with MHRI-'Psychosis and Cannabis' forum, St Andrew's Market-Mental Health Week, Forensicare, Thomas Embling Hospital, Mental Health Week, Presentation on autobiographical writing for high scvhool students at The State Library, Australian Centre for Youth Literature (AYCL) (All in 2003,04), Carer Consultant Group, North West Mental Health, Parliament House, Canberra, for 'SANE's Guide To Electoral Offices’, Personal clients, McGill University-Montreal, Paragraphe Bookstore-Montreal, Douglas Hospital-Montreal,  Article for www.eclinicalpsychiatrynews.com about psychosis and art,  Review in www.world-schizophrenia.org hard copy Mail-out, USA and Canada, Guest speaker for the exhibition: www.artagainststigma.org (Sydney, May 05)

Rich Still Speaks

I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.

+61 0451804410

PUBLICATIONS

 

 

PUBLIC APPEARANCES

 

  • Radio National 'Life Matters' program. Julie McCrossin-ABC,

  • 'Good Morning Australia' with Steve Leidman for 'Compulsive Executions' exhibition and book launch,

  • The Today show, (Again),

  • Video interview with Frankie Fathers, Reuters TV (International),

  • McGill University, (Multiple Presentations), Montreal, Canada.

  • Triple J-Youth Network, Rachel Kerr,

  • Stateline program on ABC TV,

  • ‘The Drug Debate’, Jenny Brocky, ABC TV on ‘Insight’.

  • Tricia Duffield on Radio 2SM, Sydney,

  • Martin Powley for ABC Gold & Sunshine Coasts, QLD,

  • Fiona Sewell for ABC Radio Adelaide, Statewide afternoons,

  • James Valentine for ABC Radio 702,

  • Phillip Brady & Bruce Mansfield on Radio 3AW 'Nightline',

  • John Weeks from Spectrum FM Radio,

  • Pieta O'Shaughnessy on Curtin Radio (Perth),

  • Tony Wilson for Triple R (Melb),

  • Felicity Biggins on Radio 2NUR in Newcastle,

  • ABC National, AM Program,

  • Channel 31 News,

  • JOY FM, National Gay and Lesbian Broadcaster,

  • Radio National-Life Matters-Art and Psychosis,

  • RRR-Schizophrenia and Art with Richard Watts,

  • Local Radio, and ABC Regional, Dubbo,

SPEECHES / PUBLIC TALKS & PRESENTATIONS
 

  • Keynote speaker for 34th Annual Mental health Nurses Conference,

  • Parliament House, Canberra, for 'SANE's Guide to Electoral Offices',

  • Keynote speaker for the ‘Art Against Stigma’ exhibition: (Sydney).

  • Recovered, Not Cured Book and self-narrated audiobook for ABC National

  • Presentation for Australian Centre for Youth Literature, (ACYL)-To librarians and school teachers about deciding high school curriculum,

  • Royal Melbourne Hospital-with MHRI-'Psychosis and Cannabis' forum, (With television interviews),

  • School of Religious and Philosophical Studies, McGill University-Montreal,  

  • Paragraphe Bookstore book-signing -Montreal,

  • Douglas Hospital-(Speech and advocacy with clients of the service), Montreal,

  • Launch-Artholes Gallery, Fitzroy, art exhibition,

  • Mental Health Research Institute- (MHRI), To researchers and biochemists, and social workers/psychologists inpatients,

  • Forensicare Psychiatric Hospital, Fairfield-To consumer groups,

  • EPPIC* Early Prevention Psychosis, for young people, (Multiple times),

  • Working with 'People Like You', (Many presentations in Schools, and Community Groups),

  • Author presentation for Australian Centre for Youth Literature (ACYL)-To 500 high school students, (At State Library),

  • Baw Baw youth Network-To social workers and youth planners,

  • Richmond Fellowship-Warnambool.-To consumers and their families,

  • EPPIC* More talks to consumers,

  • St Andrew's Market-Mental Health Week,

  • Forensicare, Thomas Embling Hospital, Mental Health Week, 

  • North West Mental Health, Consumer presentations and clients, Coburg,

  • Personal clients,

  • Article for about psychosis and visionary art, in Clinical Psychiatry

  • Presentation at The State Library of Victoria for ‘Critical Autoethnography’ international conference, on growing up sexually abused and the shame of being gay.

 

EXHIBITIONS
 

2018:

2017:

2015:

  • Midsumma exhibition, (Group show), Gasworks Arts Park.   

  • www.theuniversalembrace.com (Masters of Education Arts-Based Research)
     

2014:

  • Solo exhibition - Sourdough Bakery, Seddon

  • Midsumma exhibition, (Group show), Gasworks Arts Park.

  • Inclusion in COSM Community Global Journal. www.cosm.org

  • Grogan the Monster Launch during mental health week raising funds for The Royal Children's Hospital
     

2013:

  • Sunshine Gallery, Sunshine Community Arts Centre, Solo retrospective, 'Drawing from Past Days'.

  • The Many Faces of Depression, Shibuya Hikari-e Building, 2-21-1 Shibuya, >    Shibuya ku, Tokyo, 4 - 12 July 2013
     

2013 

  • Themes Conference, Melbourne.
     

2012:

  • Open Day, Maribyrnong Council, 'Open Studios in the West'

  • ‘Return from Pessimism’, Gasworks Arts Park. (Solo show).

  • ‘Hide and Seek’, Portraits from the Dax Centre.

  • Semi-Permanent exhibited work at the new Dax Centre, Melbourne. 

  • ‘Tangled up in Blue Gallery’, Work exhibited.
     

2011:

  • ‘Back to Basics’, Kingston Arts Centre. (Solo Show).

  • Launch of ‘The Dax Pack’, educational resource of a film about my life, by The Dax Collection.

  • ‘Solo Show’, Dancing Dog Café, Footscray.

  • Artwork exhibited at: ’ The Pantechnicon Gallery’, Daylesford.

  • 2010:

  • ‘Nine Lives on Subject and Subjectivity’, Cunningham Dax Collection, Parkville

    • Artwork exhibited at:’ The Pantechnicon Gallery’, Daylesford.
       

2009:

2008:

  • 'The Australian Response to Ufo's and Aliens', Campbell town Arts Centre, Sydney

  • Exhibition and book launch of ‘Ego and Soul, the visual Language of Richard McLean’, Hares and Hyenas Bookstore, Melbourne.
     

2007:

2006:

  • www.tastemysubversion.com.au; Experimental digital work. (now defunct).

  • ‘Ireland & Morocco’ Travel sketches exhibition, Artholes Gallery

  • Publication of travel sketches, ‘Ireland & Morocco-Drawings’ (booklet sold out)
     

2005:

  • 'Retrospective’, Artholes Gallery, Gertrude St, Fitzroy, (Solo Show)

  • NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme), business EXPO, Kensington.

  • 'Recovered Not Cured’, - North American Book Launch, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

  • Solo Show, Gallery Gora, Montreal, Canada. Speaking at The School of Religious and Philosophical Study, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
     

2004:

  • 'Travel Sketches, Ireland and Morocco- 30 drawings in 30 days', Artholes Gallery, Gertrude St, Fitzroy. Solo Show

  • 'Self-Portrait show', Artholes Gallery, Fitzroy. (Group Show)

  • 'Organic Landscapes', Artholes Gallery. (Group Show)

  • 'Work of the Independents', Group Show, Fitzroy Gallery, Fitzroy.
     

2003:

  • 'Compulsive Executions', Kingston Art Gallery, Moorabbin Town Hall.

  • 'Recovered, Not Cured', book launch, and solo art show, Artholes Gallery, Gertrude St Fitzroy.

  • Group Show, Artholes Gallery, Fitzroy
     

1997:

  • 'QWERTY', an exhibition of digital art, (Interactive Piece Exhibited), Linden Galleries, St Kilda, Melbourne (Group Show)
     

1996:

  • 'Transform the Primitive', Kingston Art Centre, (Solo Show), Moorabbin, Melbourne
     

EMPLOYMENT
 

  • NDIS Provider - Art-Life-Coach and Therapeutic Support,

  • Academic Support Worker,

  • News Graphics Artist & Illustrator (The Age),

  • News Graphics Artist & Illustrator (The Herald Sun),

  • Consumer Consultant (DHS),

  • Art Teacher, Facilitator (My own business),

  • Public advocate for those with mental health issues or different abilities,

  • Digital Artist,

  • Web Designer,

  • Freelance Illustrator,

  • Public Speaker,

  • Animal husbandry (Melbourne Zoo),

  • Storeman / Office person (Kmart, RACV),

  • Quality Control (John West),

  • Kmart all-rounder (Kmart),

  • Newspaper boy (When I was about 7!),

  • I was a 'ghost' in the Ghost Train ride at the Dandenong Show when I was about 13!

  • Artist / Artist-musician.

AWARDS / SCHOLARSHIPS

 

  • ‘Diversity Scholarship’ awarded after my Masters of Education for my PhD

  • RTS Placement for my PhD

  • Highly Commended, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Awards in the 'Non-Fiction' category,

  • SANE Australia’s ‘Book of the Year’

 

PAPERS

Ross Johnstone-Development Manager
Mental Health Research Institute (MHRI):

Richard McLean first became known to the Mental Health Research Institute following the publication of his book "Recovered not Cured".



We contacted him and asked if he would give a talk to our research staff as part of our regular lunch time seminar series. He readily agreed and spoke about his experiences as a person with mental illness and who had used cannabis. His talk, presented in a natural style and demonstrating a high level of insight into his illness was very well received.


We received very positive feed back from both laboratory and clinical researchers. The Manager of our Collaborative Therapy Unit, which has a research project focussed on mental illness and substance use, described Richards' presentation as the best personal account she had ever heard.


Richard also spoke at our request to the National Cannabis & Mental Illness Conference held in Melbourne in August 2004 and attended by researchers and clinicians from around Australia. Again, his presentation was interesting, informative and entertaining. Richard has a lot to offer people who have an interest in the field of mental illness and substance use, his practical, down to earth style and personal experiences provides a unique perspective to this challenging topic.

Agnes NieuwenhuizenManager, Australian Centre for Youth Literature-State Library of Victoria

The Australian Centre for Youth Literature presents a large annual calendar of events to promote authors, books and a love of reading. The sessions are mostly thematic and in 2003 we presented a series titled: THE WHOLE STORY. We invited four authors each of whom wrote non-fiction of various types.



Over two days the authors spoke to about 500 hundred teenagers in three sessions and then to about 100 professionals in a regular evening event.

Cindy Neilsen Carer Advocate - Dubbo, NSW

On behalf of Carer Assist Dubbo, the carers, families and friends of people living with mental illness in Dubbo and the Macquarie region of New South Wales, I wish to express our sincere thanks to Richard McLean of Melbourne, Victoria, for accepting an invitation to be guest speaker at our Mental Health Awareness Evening held in Dubbo during National Mental Health Week in October 2005.

Christine Edilson:  EPPIC

Richard Mc Lean’s presentation was inspiring and provided us with insight into how he managed and still manages his symptoms of Schizophrenia.

 

We were taken on a journey through Richard’s perception of his thoughts, feelings and behaviours that were so real to him while unknowingly battling Schizophrenia.

 

Richard shared his art works with us and provided us with a detailed description of the representation of each picture and how they reflected his experiences of psychosis.The illustrations alone gave us a glimpse of how confused and chaotic Richard’s thoughts may have been. Richard’s art works are brilliant and inspired group members to use art as a way of expressing themselves.

 

Richard facilitated a discussion with the group to explore their available resources to assist them in maintaining good mental health, suggestions included: good support networks (family, friends, GP, case manager, psychiatrist and key worker), stress management, relaxation techniques, art, coping skills, medication, music and walking.

 

Richard has provided the group with a light at the end of the tunnel so to speak, in that the presentation was ‘Recovery focused’ and motivational and highlighted the importance that goals can be achieved.

 

We thank Richard for sharing his story with us and wish him luck in his future endeavours.

Brad Green, Baw Baw youth Network. Baw Baw youth Network.

Richard McLean was a guest speaker at the Baw Baw Youth Network this year. He gave a fascinating and informative presentation to over 40 local agencies and education representatives.


The response was amazing with all workers remarking that the insight and personal account made them rethink their work and approach with young people.


I recommend Richard to any organisation.

 

He was able to link personal experience, art and music in an entertaining but insightful presentation.

 

Many members of the network have asked Richard to speak at other networks and individual organisations.

Rebecca Daly, Thomas Embling Hospital, (Forensicare), Fairfield, Melbourne.

 

Richard McLean was a breath of fresh air and inspiration to the patients at Thomas Embling, connecting with his audience in a way that very few others are able.



Richard's innate creativity combined with first-hand experience of the nightmare of mental illness, grant him the capacity to speak with an inspired but personable voice that is expert but human, sharing his experiences and insights in an honest, sometimes raw, sometimes comical and always engaging fashion.

His story inspires consumers and carers alike to reinvest in a hope for recovery, challenging the uninformed, the intolerant and the prevalent stigmas to take a fresh look at the modern day epidemic of mental illness

own text and edit me. It's easy.

Michelle Davies, 

Victoria Curriculum Authority

Richard McLean gave a powerful and moving presentation to Curriculum Managers and educational writers of The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority at the Cunningham Dax Collection in Parkville.


Richard generously offered his personal anecdotes and good humor to support the sharing of his experiences; in education, as a contemporary artist and writer and with regards to the personal impact of mental health issues and marginalized stereotyping.


Richard's presentation was both engaging and highly informative, offering a deep and personal insight into the possible difficulties that may confront young people with mental health issues in educational environments.


Richard thoroughly impressed his audience with a slide show of his intriguing artworks and art based projects which formed the basis of an open question and answer session. The knowledge Richard imparted was illuminating and offered a greater awareness for the VCAA.


Richard's authenticity and openness contributed considerably towards creating a comfortable environment that supported valuable dialogue for all that were present.


On behalf of the VCAA, I would like to thank and acknowledge Richard for the courage and commitment he demonstrated in presenting such highly personal content in support and advocacy for those suffering with mental health issues.

Marni Luxmoore Tracey Turner Occupational Therapist Clinical Psychologist EPPIC

Richard McLean kindly volunteered to do two presentations for the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC).



These presentations involved Richard speaking for an hour to a group of young people who were in the recovery phase of psychosis.

 

Richard was an incredibly engaging speaker who openly and appropriately shared his experience and knowledge of mental illness.

 

Feedback from the young people was overwhelmingly positive. It was clear that they could connect with his experience and valued his insights into the issues surrounding drugs and alcohol, stigma and relapse.

 

Clients valued his words because they stemmed from lived experience and participants described feeling a strong sense of hope after listening to Richard's journey through mental illness.

 

From our contact with Richard, it is clear he has the personality and skill that would be required to work in the area of consumer consultancy/advocacy and we would have no hesitation in recommending Richard for such a position.

Kaylee MacKenzie (Bright Secondary College).

 

The kids haven't stopped nagging me about buying his two books! (unheard of in all my years of teaching) One student even traipsed around every bookshop in Albury looking for one. In a low key way (without the standard spiel they often hear from so called motivational speakers) he was inspiring and did more to crash down many of their beliefs about people with a mental illness in 30 minutes, than I could have in weeks of 'teaching'.

bottom of page