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This prestigious award demonstrates the team’s commitment to embedding lived experience in every aspect of the project, from design to delivery. The Westmead Feelings Program team and CPA have partnered together with people with lived experience, on a project proudly funded by the CPA Research Foundation, to design and develop a Digital Mental Health Program for teenagers with cerebral palsy.
The Westmead Feelings Program is a suite of therapeutic tools originally designed to help health, education, and disability professionals support autistic children by equipping parents, carers, and teachers with emotion coaching skills to understand and manage emotions like anxiety and anger at home and school.
Over the past three years, people with lived experience, including many members of CPA’s CP Quest community, have contributed as co-researchers, advisors and parent partners to adapt this program for teens with CP and other neurodevelopmental conditions. Their insights have directly shaped the development of the new digital “adolescent version” of the program, designed for parents to support their teen’s emotional wellbeing.
“We’re proud that this award recognises the value of our lived experience community,” said Dr Ingrid Honan, CPA Senior Research Fellow and co-investigator on the project. “This collaboration will ultimately lead to a more inclusive and effective intervention for families.”
The adapted program is set for completion in 2025, with a research evaluation beginning in 2026.
CPA would like to extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this project possible, including project leads at the Westmead Children’s Hospital, project partners including Venessa Crane, CP Quest lead Sophie Marmont, Dr Sarah Reedman, Dr Annemarie Murphy, Dr Ingrid Honan and our kind and generous CPA Research Foundation donors. The project has also been supported by senior CPA members Jo Ford, Anders Hansson, Rob White and Professor Nadia Badawi AM.
To learn more about the award and see how people with lived experience have helped shape this project, watch the nomination video below.
