Western Victoria Primary Health Network (WVPHN) has announced the appointment of a number of partnerships across the region that will deliver improved mental health and alcohol and other drugs (AOD) services from 1 July 2023, with a transition period for some current clients from 1 April 2023.
Called Regional Care Partnerships (RCP), these teams of highly experienced health care agencies have the task of delivering mental health and AOD services that target individual needs of health care clients who were seeking a holistic approach to their health support.
The RCP service providers are:
- Uniting Vic Tas (lead agency) and Grampians Community Health in Wimmera Grampians
- Ballarat Community Health (lead agency), Maryborough District Health Service and Central Highlands Rural Health in Ballarat Goldfields
- Mind Australia (lead agency) with WRAD (Western Regional Drug & Alcohol Centre), genU, Brophy Family and Youth Services and Portland District Health in Great South Coast
- Neami National (lead agency) with Windana Drug and Alcohol Recovery, Drummond Street Services and Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative in Geelong Otway
WVPHN CEO Rowena Clift said: “The Regional Care Partnerships model is about care and coordination. Each client will be supported by a team of health care providers with specialist skills and knowledge to lead them through the journey to better health.”
“Together, the aligned health care agencies will guide clients toward the support that is best suited to their needs no matter where they live in the region. Importantly, this includes ensuring services are sensitive to cultural needs.”
“We have also combined mental health and AOD under the single support umbrella. Not every patient will need support for both but for those who do, it will be a smoother and more coordinated experience when working toward improving their health and wellbeing.”
“This new approach will establish more effective local health networks, consistent with recommendations from the Victorian Royal Commission into Mental Health to improve the accessibility and delivery of mental health support services,” said Ms Clift.
Ms Clift said that over the next three months, WVPHN would be transitioning to the new service model ensuring all clients are transitioned by the beginning of July.
“WVPHN will be working closely with relevant individuals and organisations throughout the transition period and beyond. We have begun conversations with all service providers – current and future – to work through the steps needed to ensure this transition is as seamless as possible,” said Ms Clift.
The introduction of the new service model for mental health and AOD support follows a lengthy consultation process involving people with lived experience, their families and carers, and the health professionals who are responsible for delivering care.
This consultation commenced in 2021 by speaking with scores of people from all over the region as part of a process to co-design ideas for improving how mental health and AOD care is delivered.
The appointment of the new Regional Care Partnership consortium follows an open tender process undertaken in late 2022.
Background
Regional Care Partnerships for Mental Health and AOD services will bring together the following programs:
- Psychological Therapy Services (PTS) – place-based treatment services to provide better access to mental health support particularly for people who face barriers using mainstream treatment due to low income, living in a rural or remote location, or who are in a hard-to-reach demographic. They are delivered via a panel of allied mental health professionals commissioned by WVPHN.
- Services and Treatment for Enduring and Persistent Mental Illness (STEPMI) – available for people with severe and complex mental illness to improve coordination of their clinical care.
- Drug and Alcohol Program (DAP) – a series of initiatives for supporting people with AOD issues. Specific programs include Brief Interventions, Dual Diagnosis and initiatives targeting young people.
- National Ice Action Strategy (NIAS) – Federal Government strategy to reduce demand for the drug, ice, and reduce harm. Includes measures to improve access to treatment, especially for rural, regional, remote and First Nations communities.