Policy Development

Policy Consultations

Networks and Forums

Regional Mental Health Groups

Background

The Regional Mental Health Groups (RMHGs) have been operating since 2006, as a way of networking, facilitating information sharing, improving services for consumers, their families and carers, and working collaboratively to progress policy issues.

The Mental Health Services Stocktake identified during 2008 the need to develop a strategic interface with the community sector in order to collaboratively progress a range of issues that might improve pathways for consumers. The Community Sector Organisations/Statewide and Mental Health Services (CSO/SMHS) Interface Group is the forum to do this.

The RMHGs agenda while maintaining a focus of networking and information sharing will also be driven by and have input into the (CSO/SMHS) Interface Group strategic directions.

Purpose

The RMHGs provide an interface between the regions and the CSO/SMHS Interface Group. This will ensure that key local issues and initiatives are feed into the strategic level interface, enabling a more representative approach of not only consumer, carer and service provision organisations issues, but also those specific to each of the regions.

Role and Function

The group will function:

To be a formal mechanism for members to identify and progress, as applicable, key shared issues and initiatives which impact on the delivery of mental health services in their region.
To collaborate on ways to combine ongoing training and education.
To be a means for the community mental health sector to input into service planning and priority setting within Statewide & Mental Health Services.
To facilitate discussion and sharing of information.
To provide opportunities for the community mental health sector to make recommendations to Statewide & Mental Health Services on program development.
To be a mechanism to enable the better coordination and integration of services.
To establish working groups as required.

Meeting Updates

The MHCT is very happy with the way the meetings are progressing and would like to know if you have any feedback for us:

Are you happy with the format of the meetings?
Are there any changes you would like to see?
Are there particular topics or themes you would like to be covered at future meetings?

policy@mhct.org

The focus of the February meetings has been on supported housing and an introduction to and discussion of the MHCT research project on isolation, scheduled to begin in July 2013.

Once again, I would like to emphasise that state-wide representation does not start and end with face-to-face meetings, and it is important that lines of communication are kept open. Please contact me with any issues you would like to flag or believe the MHCT should follow up, and any notices you would like us to include in our monthly e-newsletters.

Dates for the next Regional Mental Health group meetings are as follows:

South

Thursday 9 May 2013

Phoenix Centre

Level 5 / 114-116 Bathurst St

9.30am – 11.30am

North

Wednesday 22 May 2013

Salvation Army

111 Elizabeth St, Launceston

1.30pm – 3.30pm

North West

Thursday 23 May 2013

Anglicare 31 King St, Devonport

10am – 12pm

Remaining meeting dates for 2013........................

Southern

Thursday 8 August

Thursday 7 November

Northern

Wednesday 21 August

Wednesday 13 November

North West

Thursday 22 August

Thursday 14 November

For more information or to express your interest in participating in the Regional Mental Health Groups please contact

Elida Meadows

MHCT Policy & Research Officer

policy@mhct.org

6224 9222

Mental Health in Touch

MH (Mental Health) In-Touch is a network that meets periodically to discuss how to best assist people living with a mental illness to access education, training or employment.

MH In-Touch aims to link mental health service providers with education and training providers and employment agencies.

It provides a chance to share what is happening, hear about new initiatives and meet others.