Presented by Tom Brideson and Christine Flynn

NSW Aboriginal Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Forum, 2014

NSW Aboriginal Mental Health Worker Training Program:

Evaluation Findings and Future Directions

Overview of the Presentation

NSW Aboriginal Mental Health Worker Training Program

External Evaluation, ARTD Consultants 2013

Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations

Future Directions

Questions

NSW Aboriginal Mental Health NSW Aboriginal Mental Health Workforce ProgramWorkforce Program

Background: Funded under the NSW Aboriginal Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy 2006 - 2010

:

Involved all AHS’s (at the time) now most LHD’s

19 Trainee positions (funded as enhancements)

Many services converted existing vacancies to Trainees

Ref Group oversees the Program and clear lines of governance

Model developed to train A supported and skilled workforce

The Learning Model

Program DescriptionProgram Description‘At a Glance’‘At a Glance’

Identified positions

Mental Health Teams Recruit and Develop their own Trainees

“Growing Our Own Locally”

Trainees are employees, permanent full time staff in NSW LHD’s

The Learning Model:

– Over 3 years all Trainees undergo On The Job Training (under supervision)

– Undertake a University Degree – RG agreed course at CSU, Wagga Wagga

– Mandatory Clinical Placements as part of the Degree

– Course underpinned by National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce, 2002

Trainees employed under AHEO Award – non Graduate (during Training)

When completed Trainees transfer to Graduate AHEO or HP Award

Ongoing Employment as per Allocation Summary’s

2010 Implementation Resource: Practical Guide agreed across the MH system including MH Directors - outlines Program governance/roles/responsibilities

2012 Qualification recognition (as members) by Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA)

Potential cost neutral model (once established)

Critical success factors Critical success factors

High level of management/service support

Team capacity/leadership to develop a Trainee is critical

Coordination and support in workplace

– Managers, Team Leaders and senior clinicians are key to success

– Senior Aboriginal Mental Health Professional is vital

Whole teams understanding and valuing of the Program is essential

Sound working partnership/relationship with the education provider

Spread of Trainee Positions in NSW Bega Valley

Goulburn

Moruya

Queanbeyan

Deniliquin

Griffith

Albury

Wagga

Young

Tumut

Pambula

Broken Hill

Dareton

Tamworth

Taree

Armidale

Narrabri

Blacktown

Penrith

Mt Druitt

– Orange

– Cowra

– Bathurst

– Parkes

– Dubbo

– Bourke

– Lightning Ridge

– Ryde

– Wyong

– Justice Health

– Kempsey

– Coffs Harbour

– Lismore

– Camperdown

– Liverpool

– Sutherland

– Wollongong

– Batemans Bay

– Temora

– St George

Our Program, Our Workforce (assumptions)

Builds local community capacity (Aboriginal and MH Service)

Increases a trained skilled MH workforce (all discussions, advocates)

A supported empowered workforce will make a valuable contribution

Aboriginal Mental Health as a valued Professional group

Broaden the base for potential employment and career options

Potential for Extending Mental Health Professional careers

Professional contribution to Safe Education Programs and Aboriginal Associations

No MH Profession has built an effective and/or safe strategy to increase numbers

Benefits will be to Aboriginal individuals, families and communities

Practice based evidence informed decisions, Evaluation NSW AMH Workforce Program (and other publications)

Program Publications(Google: NSW Aboriginal Mental Health Workforce Program)

Watson, Carol and Harrison, Nea (2009) Watson, Carol and Harrison, Nea (2009) New South Wales Aboriginal Mental Health Worker Training Program:New South Wales Aboriginal Mental Health Worker Training Program: Implementation Review. Implementation Review. Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health and NSW Health Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health and NSW Health

http://www.lowitja.org.au/files/crcah_docs/NSW%20Training%20Manual%20interactive.pdf http://www.lowitja.org.au/files/crcah_docs/NSW%20Training%20Manual%20interactive.pdf

Watson, Carol and Harrison, Nea with Brideson, Thomas and Greenwood, Catherine (2010) Watson, Carol and Harrison, Nea with Brideson, Thomas and Greenwood, Catherine (2010) Walk Together, Learn Together, Work Walk Together, Learn Together, Work Together: A Practical Guide for the Training of Aboriginal Mental Health Professionals in New South Wales. Together: A Practical Guide for the Training of Aboriginal Mental Health Professionals in New South Wales. Cooperative Research Centre Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healthfor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

http://crrmh.com.au/Aboriginal-Mental-Health-Workers-Training-Program/ http://crrmh.com.au/Aboriginal-Mental-Health-Workers-Training-Program/

Jones, Carmel and Brideson, Tom (2009) Jones, Carmel and Brideson, Tom (2009) 'Using policy and workforce development to address Aboriginal mental health and wellbeing''Using policy and workforce development to address Aboriginal mental health and wellbeing' , , Australasian Psychiatry, 17:1, S72 — S74Australasian Psychiatry, 17:1, S72 — S74

Brideson, Tom and Jones, Carmel (2007) ‘NSW Aboriginal Mental Health Workforce Program’, Auseinetter, Issue 29, No 2 pp 20 – 22

NSW Aboriginal Mental Health Training Program Evaluation 2013 NSW Aboriginal Mental Health Training Program Evaluation 2013

External Program Evaluation Report 2013

Commissioned by MHDAO

ARTD Consultants – the successful Tender Applicant

Commenced 2011 - Completed August 2013

Ethics approval by AH&MRC

Methods

Participants from all layers

Report Findings and overall Conclusions

– Overall the Program is highly valued by LHD mental health services across NSW, and is increasing staff knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal mental health and cultural issues.

– It is also improving the capacity of LHDs to provide accessible and relevant services to local Aboriginal people.

– The Program is providing a unique opportunity for Aboriginal people to gain valuable skills and a tertiary qualification to work as mental health professionals, support their communities, and be role models for others.

– But the Program has faced many challenges over the last six years in achieving its planned outcomes, with mixed results in different areas.

Report Recommendations

1. Working party to review and strengthen the Program (broad membership)

2. Review Program direction, governance and accountability (including points [a – m] = 13 areas)

3. New Policy Directive

Report Recommendations

4. Strengthen Program implementation (including points [a – k = 11] & 9 sub points = 20 areas)

5. Communication between mental health services and the university

6. Program management (including points [a – c = 3] & 4 sub points = 7 areas)

Changing context AHS >>>> LHD – split or transfer of funds & trainee

and Clinical Leader positions

Activity Based Funding

Ministry, Pillars and MHDAO – restructure, relationships and roles

Mental Health Commission – policy and planning role; MHDAO resources and role

Implementation Working Group

An IWG was established in November 2013 with Mental Health Program Council approval

Comprises representatives from most LHDs, and key partners

Many Aboriginal people and others with Program experience are on IWG

Full and frank discussions are occurring

IWG is discussing recommendations and addressing key issues

Some key issues

Scope of program, including Trainees and Clinical Leaders

Consistent program implementation (following the Practical Guide)

Qualification that equips program graduates as beginning mental health professionals.

Employment conditions and applicable Award

Program governance

Program data and communication

Outcomes of IWG & Response to Recommendations will be part of an ongoing communication strategy with LHDs to promote and reinvigorate the program.

The Ministry needs to consider how LHDs/SHN are using Ministry funding as we want to see fair distribution of positions and no positions held vacant.

Need to gather better information on employment outcomes and career pathways of graduates

Forward Plan

It is timely now to develop a coherent forward plan which will

prove the value of the program to Mental Health

build commitment to the program at all levels

identify what needs to be done to achieve improvements

make best use of current resources

build case for growth

Questions and discussionWe invite your comments on the

Evaluation findings

Issues

Forward Plan

Any questions?

Contacts Tom Brideson, Statewide Coordinator, Aboriginal Mental

Health Workforce Program, Bloomfield Campus, Forest Road, Orange 2800

Tel (02) 6369 8891 Thomas.Brideson@health.nsw.gov.au

Christine Flynn, Senior Policy Officer, Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Office

Tel (02) 9391 9728 cflyn@doh.health.nsw.gov.au