Forensicare’s senior consumer consultant recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours List

Julie Dempsey, Senior Consumer Consultant at the Forensicare has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours List. She was awarded this prestigious honour for her outstanding services to community mental health.

Through sustained commitment and advocacy, Julie’s work promoting consumer perspectives and concerns has made significant and lasting improvements to forensic mental health service delivery to ensure client-centred and recovery-focused care. Her work has highlighted to many the difference it can make in consumers lives when they are empowered and have a voice in their treatment and recovery.

Julie has been a consumer consultant at Forensicare since 2009 and was promoted to senior consumer consultant in 2015. During this time, she has also been a member of the Mental Health Complaints Commissioner’s Advisory Council, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Sexual Safety Committee, the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s Diverse Communities and Intersectionality Working Group, Women’s Mental Health Network Victoria and the North West Mental Health Consumer Advisory Group. She has also been an expert advisor on the Minister for Mental Health’s 10 Year Mental Health Plan Committee and the Ravenhall Program Development. 

In 2019 she was recognised with the Meritorious Service Award by the Victorian Branch of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and in 2018 was part of the team that won the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council Best in State Award for the work achieved by the Forensicare Consumer Advisory Group.

Dr Margaret Grigg, CEO said:

“Julie is an incredibly deserving winner not just for her work as a consumer consultant at Forensicare, but for her broader advocacy and education efforts. Julie gives so much of herself each day as she tirelessly promotes consumer views to help improve their care. Forensicare would not be the organisation it is without her continued commitment, support and advocacy.” 

Julie Dempsey said:

“I have been truly overwhelmed with well wishes from friends and colleagues. I hope this award is something we can all share in promoting Mental Health and reducing stigma through national recognition. I did not get here alone. Thank you to all my friends, family, colleagues, and psychiatric workers over the years who have enabled me to grow and flourish beyond the at times cruelty of my mental illness.”

Forensicare extends a warm thank you to Julie for her work, and a hearty congratulations.