Changemakers - Judy Nicol
13 February 2012 at 12:05 pm
Judy Nicol from Housing4 Life is profiled in Changemakers – a regular column which examines inspiring people and their careers in the Not for Profit sector.
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Housing4 Life is an innovative housing model providing a safe, secure and permanent accommodation for adults suffering a mental health condition. It will include 24/7 management support, evening meals together to encourage a family atmosphere and social inclusion through community activities.
What drew you to the Not for Profit sector?
When my son was diagnosed with Schizophrenia and a nurse told me that people with mental health problems can function sufficiently while the parents are there to care and support them but when parents can no longer do this, they deteriorate badly. We decided to try to avoid that fate for our children.
What is the best thing about working in the Not for Profit sector?
The very genuine and caring people that you meet and work with. It is inspiring to meet so many people who are so generous with their time and money.
I consider my greatest achievement to be…
Facilitating the training of 80 doctors in Advanced Nutrient Therapies for mental health through the BioBalance Health Association.
What are you reading/watching/listening to at the moment?
I am reading and enjoying Michael Crawford’s autobiography. I am watching the tennis at the Australian Open and thrilled that Australia’s Bernard Tomic has got through the first round and I am listening to a Beth Neilson-Chapman’ CD and her song “Sand and Water” touches me every time I listen to it.
This all too brief summary of the marvellous work that Judy Nicol has been doing
voluntarily for the best part of twenty years, does show what can be done by someone who is dedicated and able to work very effectively with a wide range of people. Judy is also a very popular person socially, and engages in a wide range of interests and activities. But her over riding commitment has, for a long time, been in working for the mentally ill, not only for the betterment of her own son, but for all others as well.
This commitment also lead her to enlist the expertise of mental health experts from Australia and overseas, to provide a platform for the exchange of ideas on methods for treating these very debilitating deseases of the brain. As indicated in the interview above, she has single handedly organised for the provision of training for Australian psychiatrists and other medical doctors whose main interst lies in the treatment of mental health. All of this work has been self funded and continues to improve the lot of many sufferers of a variety of mental conditions.
Well done Judy.