Andrew Bretherton: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Insight Panel.png|thumb|right|
[[File:Insight Panel.png|thumb|right|
Andrew (second from left) on ''SBS Insight'', 2018]]
Andrew (second from left) on ''SBS Insight'', 2018]]
Andrew has publicly called for more biomedical funding and said that having ME was like "A Slow Death”, he said that that [[graded exercise therapy]] and [[cognitive behavior therapy]] for the condition is “just garbage” - Insight - 2018 on his experience with the insight program he said “It’s not often you get a chance to confront your abuser, so it was therapeutic for me in that sense. I only regret that they focused more on outdated modes of practice, but we do need people to stand up and put forward the message of real science and show that these dinosaur practices of treatment (graded exercise therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy) are harmful to patients.”  ME Australia - 2018 
Andrew has publicly called for more biomedical funding and said that having ME was like "A Slow Death”, he said that that [[graded exercise therapy]] and [[cognitive behavioral therapy]] for the condition is "just garbage"<ref name="Insight2018">https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/watch/1334946883764</ref> on his experience with the insight program he said "It's not often you get a chance to confront your abuser, so it was therapeutic for me in that sense. I only regret that they focused more on outdated modes of practice, but we do need people to stand up and put forward the message of real science and show that these dinosaur practices of treatment [graded exercise therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy] are harmful to patients."<ref name="MEAustralia2018>https://meaustralia.net/2018/10/15/insight-on-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-andrews-experience/</ref>


In 2017, Andrew gave evidence to the Inquiry into establishing a Modern Slavery Act in Australia in a private capacity.<ref name=":0" /> In 2021, Andrew was acknowledged for his work on migrant worker rights in the book ''Far From Home'' by Rosie Ayliffe.{{Citation needed|date=2021|reason=Exact quote and page(s) needed; remove refs if only a passing mentions}}
In 2017, Andrew gave evidence to the Inquiry into establishing a Modern Slavery Act in Australia in a private capacity.<ref name=":0" /> In 2021, Andrew was acknowledged for his work on migrant worker rights in the book ''Far From Home'' by Rosie Ayliffe.{{Citation needed|date=2021|reason=Exact quote and page(s) needed; remove refs if only a passing mentions}} Andrew also actively participated on behalf of 88 Days and Counting into the ''variation of the Horticultural Award'' 2020.<ref name="hort">https://www.fwc.gov.au/awards-and-agreements/awards/award-modernisation/variation-applications/AM2020/104</ref>
 
Andrew also actively participated on behalf of 88 Days and Counting into the ''variation of the Horticultural Award'' 2020<ref name="hort">https://www.fwc.gov.au/awards-and-agreements/awards/award-modernisation/variation-applications/AM2020/104</ref> cross-examining witnesses and providing statements for temporary migrant workers in Australia. 


== Positions Held ==
== Positions Held ==
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*[[MEAction]] network promo - 2018
*[[MEAction]] network promo - 2018
*Call for Change UK - Voice Over/ Narrator 
*Call for Change UK - Voice Over/ Narrator 
*[[Call for Change for ME patients]] Australia - Organiser - 2021
*[[Call for Change for ME patients]] Australia - Organizer - 2021
*Victorian Greens - people with disabilities working group Co- Convenor 2018 - Current 
*Victorian Greens - people with disabilities working group Co- Convenor 2018 to present 
*88 days and counting - Organiser 2016 - present 
*88 days and counting - Organiser 2016 to present 
*Tom and Mia's Legacy - Organiser and Spokesperson 2016 - present   
*Tom and Mia's Legacy - Organiser and Spokesperson, 2016 to present   
*Migrant workers centre - Volunteer
*Migrant workers centre - Volunteer


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*[https://meaustralia.net/millions-missing-melbourne/ 2019 ME Australia - Millions Missing]  
*[https://meaustralia.net/millions-missing-melbourne/ 2019 ME Australia - Millions Missing]  
*2019, [https://abcmedia.akamaized.net/radio/local_sydney/audio/201909/nlf-2019-09-02-living-with-chronic-fatigue-syndrome.mp3 Nightlife - ABC Radio] (at 37:20)
*2019, [https://abcmedia.akamaized.net/radio/local_sydney/audio/201909/nlf-2019-09-02-living-with-chronic-fatigue-syndrome.mp3 Nightlife - ABC Radio] (at 37:20)
*[[MEAction]] promo 


===Other Advocacy work===
===Other Advocacy work===
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[[Category:Advocates or allies]]  
[[Category:Advocates or allies]]  
[[Category:Australian advocates or allies]]
[[Category:Australian advocates or allies]]
[[Category:Psychological paradigm critics]]

Revision as of 03:57, October 25, 2021

ME Action promotion

Andrew Bretherton is a passionate human rights advocate and unionist. Andrew became an advocate for people with ME when he himself was diagnosed in 2015. Andrew campaigns for better conditions and to stop the abuse of people living with ME. He has spoken for various ME organisations in Australia and in the UK including Millions Missing, Emerge Australia, and ME Australia.[1]

Andrew is currently leading the Call for Change for ME patients Australia petition[2] to submit to the Australian Disability Royal Commission and Australian Parliament to investigate the violence, neglect, abuse and exploitation currently occurring in the ME and CFS community due to outdated guidelines, policies and research.

Illness[edit | edit source]

Andrew was studying a B.A. of Psychology and Sport Science, working professionally and heavily involved in his local community when he caught Epstein-Barr virus (glandular fever) and shingles, and was struck down with M.E. He attended a well known hospital fatigue clinic and an exercise health clinic in Melbourne where he was recommended the therapies GET/CBT and high doses of dexamphetamines. Andrew found this treatment exploitative, abusive and said it reduced his functionality to the point where he was housebound and could no longer work or study. He later attended Dr Donald Lewis clinic CFS discovery where he received proper medical care before it closed in 2019. 

Andrew experienced many cases of diagnosis discrimination and found the process of applying for social supports (housing, national disability insurance scheme, disability support pension) in Australia discriminatory simply because services excluded him from support because he had the “ME or CFS”  label. 

In 2019 his apartment complex flooded and through no fault of his own Andrew found himself homeless and was admitted to hospital where he experienced further medical abuse where the hospital tried to “cure” his M.E. with psychiatric treatments (e.g. more GET/CBT and antidepressants

It took Andrew 3 years to access the Disability Support Pension (DSP) and National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Andrew believes had he had early access to appropriate services then he would be much less impaired then he is now and could have possibly avoided what happened to him.

Advocacy[edit | edit source]

Andrew (second from left) on SBS Insight, 2018

Andrew has publicly called for more biomedical funding and said that having ME was like "A Slow Death”, he said that that graded exercise therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy for the condition is "just garbage"[3] on his experience with the insight program he said "It's not often you get a chance to confront your abuser, so it was therapeutic for me in that sense. I only regret that they focused more on outdated modes of practice, but we do need people to stand up and put forward the message of real science and show that these dinosaur practices of treatment [graded exercise therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy] are harmful to patients."[4]

In 2017, Andrew gave evidence to the Inquiry into establishing a Modern Slavery Act in Australia in a private capacity.[1] In 2021, Andrew was acknowledged for his work on migrant worker rights in the book Far From Home by Rosie Ayliffe.[citation needed] Andrew also actively participated on behalf of 88 Days and Counting into the variation of the Horticultural Award 2020.[5]

Positions Held[edit | edit source]

Andrew at a Millions Missing rally outside Melbourne state library, 2019
  • Emerge Australia - Community Engagement Officer - 2017, Video media and live streaming - 2018
  • ME Australia - Social Media Engagement officer - 2018 - onwards
  • Millions Missing - Guest speaker in Melbourne, 2019[6]
  • MEAction network promo - 2018
  • Call for Change UK - Voice Over/ Narrator 
  • Call for Change for ME patients Australia - Organizer - 2021
  • Victorian Greens - people with disabilities working group Co- Convenor 2018 to present 
  • 88 days and counting - Organiser 2016 to present 
  • Tom and Mia's Legacy - Organiser and Spokesperson, 2016 to present   
  • Migrant workers centre - Volunteer

Talks and interviews[edit | edit source]

Other Advocacy work[edit | edit source]

Online presence[edit | edit source]

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Website/Blog
  • YouTube

See also[edit | edit source]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]