AICAFMHA:
promoting mental health for young Australians
Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association Ltd
ABN 87 093 479 022
COPMI Project Update - 22/10/2004
Mental Health Departments and COPMI
Phil Robinson chaired a valuable teleconference meeting today with representatives from State and Territory Mental Health Departments.
Each State or Territory has already begun to, or plans to, implement aspects of the Principles and Actions document (developed in Phase 1 of the COPMI project) in different ways. The COPMI project team wishes to promote the outcomes of the COPMI project in a manner that is supportive of, and compatible with, local initiatives. We also believe that we have a role to play in assisting 'copmi' related state/territory programmes to learn from strategic approaches in various states and in other countries. One of the aims of the initial joint meeting was to assist us to ascertain any common areas of support that we may be able to provide to states/territories. We also sought guidance for our work plans for the coming two years with regard to the promotion of the outcomes of the COPMI project to all States and Territories, major departments and organisations. We have offered to support the implementation of the resources for example, by participating in the showcasing of local initiatives/networks in the COPMI area where appropriate and some State/Territories have indicated willingness for this to occur.
The representatives contribution to items under discussion was most valuable and participants shared information about approaches in mental health workforce orientation and training, cross-government protocols, assisting relevant government departments to engage with some of the aspects of support for families and the care and protection of children, and possible strategies for evaluating the extent of awareness of, and engagement with, the Principles and Actions document.
Those attending today's meeting included Diana Petrovich and Elizabeth Davies (Qld.), Sarah O'Regan (NT), Therese Foster (ACT), Rebecca Graham (SA) and Amanda Smith (Vic). Other nominated state mental health department representatives who were unable to attend today's meeting are Bernadette Dagg (NSW), Tracey Carter (Tasmania) and Anna Clippingdale (WA).
We aim to meet as a group two to three times a year by telephone conference and will continue to share information electronically. The Project Team has offered to meet individually with the mental health department representatives or with them in conjunction with others in their state.
We look forward to continued communication and collaboration with the representatives and their departments.
Mental Health Workforce and COPMI
Letters were sent in early October to the professional associations or colleges associated with the 5 main disciplines in the mental health workforce (Psychiatry, Nursing, Psychology, Occupational Therapy and Social Work) inviting them to nominate a contact person with responsibilities in the area of education and training to liaise with the COPMI Project Team regarding support for workforce development in this area during the coming two years.
Once the nominations have been received, a telephone conference meeting of all parties will be scheduled where we will discuss ways in which the project may be able to support the development of 'copmi - related' education modules for trainees and students.
Elizabeth Fudge
Project Manager,
COPMI Initiative
Ph (08) 8161 6859
Fax (08) 81616983
fudgee@wch.sa.gov.au
PO Box 387, Stepney SA 5069
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