AICAFMHA:
promoting mental health for young Australians
Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association Ltd
ABN 87 093 479 022
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Australia Day Honours 2004
Award: Public Service Medal
Mr Philip Robinson
Chief, Division of Mental Health
Women's and Children's Hospital
Department of Human Services
For outstanding service to child and adolescent mental health
Mr Philip Robinson is well respected within the South Australian health system and has continually promoted the Women's and Children's Hospital and mental heath service within South Australia to the benefit of the community and, in particular, to the children of South Australia. His pursuit of consumer involvement in service design and provision has been at the leading edge in South Australia and Australia.
Through Mr Robinson's leadership, the Women's and Children's Hospital mental health service has been at the forefront of developing innovative health service delivery systems such as telemedicine to remote communities in northern South Australia and the Northern Territory. This has been coupled with a high level of customer service and engagement through the development of web-based mental health promotion resources through the award-winning Headroom project.
At the national level, Mr Robinson was instrumental in establishing the Australian Infant Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association (AICAFMHA), Australia's first mental health association addressing the needs of children and their families through a partnership of consumers and professionals. Mr Robinson was elected the inaugural chair and convened showcase national conferences. In 2001, Mr Robinson led the planning and providing by AICAFMHA of a national child and adolescent mental health conference, which was very successful in bringing many people together to hear overseas and local speakers, including young people.
Mr Robinson is very skilled at identifying opportunities where useful links can be made, such as AICAFMHA now having membership of the Mental Health Council of Australia and an international child and adolescent psychiatry umbrella group.
In 1999, Mr Robinson managed the Children of Parents Affected by a Mental Illness Scoping Project, funded by the Commonwealth, and launched in 2001. This was the first time in Australia that an attempt had been made to document the programs available to these children and their families. Subsequently, through Mr Robinson's effort and drive, AICAFMHA was successful in receiving the funds to develop the current COPMI project, also funded by the Commonwealth. Again this is the first national project to address the needs of the children and their families, and as such will make a significant contribution to advancing awareness and understanding on a broad level.
Mr Robinson's efforts have contributed to the setting of national mental health priorities and the development of processes to address identified gaps in Australia's service delivery systems. The broader outcomes are that effective lobbying at the federal level and representation of child and adolescent mental health issues in national initiatives are now directed through AICAFMHA.
http://www.ocpe.sa.gov.au/default.asp?idL1=20&idL2=26&idL3=64&idL4=1281
Back to AICAFMHA Homepage / News in Brief Index / Issue #4.01
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