Aboriginal MHDA Psychiatry Mentoring Program

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Aboriginal MHDA Psychiatry Mentoring Program

• Donna Stanley
• Clinical Leader Aboriginal MHDA
• Orange Western NSW LHD

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Acknowledgment of Country

• With respect I honour the traditional owners of
  the land upon which we meet today.
• Acknowledging the Gumbaynggirr Peoples thousands
  of years of spiritual connection to this country
  and for welcoming us here to enjoy and celebrate
  this beautiful place.
• I honour and pay my respect to Elders past
  present, all other Aboriginal nations and our
  Non-Aboriginal Brothers Sisters.

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Introduction

• Closing the Gap
• Defining Mentoring
• Historical background
• Mentoring Concept
• Policy Context
• Mentoring Model
• Mentoring Review
• Future work

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Defining Mentoring

• Mentoring is a mutually beneficial relationship
  that involves a more experienced person helping a
  less experienced person to achieve his/her
  goals.

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Historical Background

• Concept developed in 2007
• 18 of Inpatient Population Aboriginal
• Aboriginal Population 7.3 (ABS Data)
• Policy implementation by MH Teams, Strategy 5 A
  supported and skilled workforce (Mentoring)

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Historical Background

• The Project Aim
• To develop long term sustainable models of
  mentoring between the Aboriginal Mental Health
  Workforce and psychiatrists who are current
  employees of former GWAHS
• Objectives
• To facilitate two way learning between Aboriginal
  Mental Health and Psychiatry
• To provide sound clinical mentoring and support
  to Aboriginal Mental Health Workers
• To improve support structures for Aboriginal
  Mental Health Workers

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Historical Background

• Underlying Principles of the Project
• AMHWs are essential to improving AMH Aboriginal
  Mental Health
• Psychiatrists are a critical part of the process
  to improve AMH
• Education and learning is required both ways
• This work is additional to current services
  provided by both psychiatrists and AMHWs
• The project is a long term career development
  process
• Participation in the project is on a voluntary
  basis

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Mentoring Model

• Who provides the mentoring?
• A consultant psychiatrist is contracted to
  provide mentoring for a maximum of two days per
  month. He is currently providing mentoring one
  day per month. He is flown from Sydney to Orange
  specifically to conduct the sessions.

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Mentoring Model

• Who attends the mentoring sessions?
• Aboriginal Mental Health Clinicians and Trainees,
  Clinical Leader, Area Coordinator and State-wide
  Coordinator participate in mentoring sessions.
  (Voluntary)

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Mentoring Model

• Coordination
• The Clinical Leader coordinates
• the psychiatrists visit
• arranges the individual and group sessions
• sends out a mentoring schedule for the coming
  year
• Individuals are allocated individual sessions
  during each visit.

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Mentoring Model

• Individual Mentoring
• Group Mentoring
• Post Session Follow up
• Organisational Follow up

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Mentoring Review

• Reviewers engaged in 2012 (Carol Watson and Nea
  Harrison)
• Methodology based on qualitative data
• One Focus Group
• 39 Interviews
• Lead by Clinical and Management Steering Group

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Mentoring Review

• Mentees Access to highly experienced,
  independent, supportive senior mental health
  clinicians and a two way learning environment
• Senior MH Clinical Leaders Time and access to
  independent mentors who understand the mental
  health context
• Mentors Time specifically allocated for
  mentoring and opportunity to build relationships
  and learn more about Aboriginal culture, and
• Organisation/Management A committed group of
  high calibre psychiatrists provide additional
  support to the Aboriginal Mental Health workforce
  and learning's are taken back to the team to
  inform practice.

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Mentoring Review

• Building of mentees knowledge, skills and
  confidence
• Mentees supported, validated and empowered
• Psychiatrists knowledge of Aboriginal culture,
  community concerns, family dynamics and the role
  of the AMHW strengthened
• Aboriginal mental health workers retained, and
• Status and perceived value of Aboriginal MHDA
  workforce increased.

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Mentoring Review

• Issues noted were
• The lack of initial clarity around a formal
  program design, and some variances in the type of
  mentoring models conducted by different
  psychiatrists this in the context that there is
  overall agreement to the benefits of the program.
  
• Concerns about funding support for the program
  moving forward
• Consideration of other clinical professional
  groups as mentors, and
• Clarity of governance for the program
  monitoring, quality processes and reporting.

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Future Work

• Challenges arising from the Review are now to
  ensure
• A core mentorship model is further developed
• A monitoring and evaluation framework is
  developed
• Workforce requirements are reviewed
• A commitment to continue

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Aboriginal MHDA Mentoring Program

• Comments/Questions