April 14, 2026Late last year, senior nursing and lived experience team members came together in collaboration with ward consumers at the time to co-design a renewed version of the traditional discharge tree at the Broadmeadows Adult Psychiatric Inpatient Unit.
Grounded firmly in the Safewards model, this initiative aims to create a sense of community and foster hope within the ward environment for both consumers and staff. The intervention provides a creative space to mark progress and celebrate meaningful steps in each consumer’s recovery journey.
Consumers are invited to leave a message at discharge – words of encouragement, reflection, or lived insight – which remain on the ward to support others still receiving care. This also benefits the consumers that contributes a personal message to this space as it supports reflection, identity, and self-esteem – reinforcing that their experiences hold meaning and value.
The co-designed process was central to the success of this initiative. Consumers worked alongside staff to shape the new name, concept, artwork, and resources, ensuring the space reflected recovery-oriented values such as choice, collaboration, and empowerment. This partnership approach has helped embed consumer voice and ownership into the ward culture. The consumers wanted to create something unique to make the space more inviting.
Staff have noted the positive conversations, smiles, and the contribution this space has made to strengthening recovery-focused practice and reinforcing Safewards’ emphasis on connection, mutual respect, and shared humanity within the Broadmeadows Adult Psychiatric Inpatient Unit.
Feedback has been well received from a consumer group:
“I think it’s cool to be able to give hope to someone,” – BIPU consumer
“Leaving a positive mark instead of a bad one is nice,” – BIPU consumer
“It’s great to see how proud consumers are of their messages and the positive conversations this creates between consumers and staff,” – Rianna Cordina, CNC
“I believe these small drops of hope can impact our consumers lives positively,” Ally W, Team Leader
