July 2021: Campus Mental Health Strategy E-Update

What a journey – but we got there. After 18 months of work, we are so thrilled and grateful to have secured funding for the first 2 years of the Campus Mental Health Strategy. - thank you to the RCH Foundation. Thank you also to the members of the Steering Committee and the Executives of the Campus partners who advocated tirelessly for the Mental Health Strategy.

Over 60 people from across the Campus contributed to the development of the Mental Health Strategy in many meetings with working groups and individuals, most over Zoom or Teams to overcome the challenges of lockdown. Thank you to everyone who generously contributed to this process during a very unusual and stressful time.

The vision of the Campus Mental Health Strategy:

That all infants, children and adolescents and their families will be able to access high quality, equitable and consistent prevention and mental health care where and when they need it to achieve sustained, optimised developmental, health and wellbeing outcomes.

Campus Mental Health Strategy update

The focus is now on planning for the implementation of the Mental Health Strategy as shown in the figure above. We are setting up the processes for Campus wide collaboration and for the management of finances, monitoring and reporting.

Consultation with diverse stakeholders during implementation of the Mental Health Strategy is critical to its success. Belinda Horton (Program Director) has been meeting with different teams and craft groups over the last few weeks to talk about the Mental Health Strategy and invite peoples’ involvement over the coming months - see survey below. The first round of recruitment is underway with the advertisements of key roles (see links below). Definitely check these out.

We are also developing a communications plan to make sure that we are keeping the Campus and its partners, and all our stakeholders informed about our progress, such as this regular E-update.

There is a lot happening

This is an understatement in mental health across Victoria and within the Campus!

The world has changed since the Mental Health Strategy was first conceptualised, and yet the Strategy, its key activities and outcomes are more relevant than ever. We are currently exploring with many stakeholders how the Mental Health Strategy aligns with internal and external reform processes in mental health to make sure that we are not working in silos or duplicating effort, and that the Strategy resources are used as effectively as possible.

We need your expertise and involvement

There is enormous expertise among very busy people across the Campus that we hope to enlist. There will be many avenues for Campus staff to be involved in the implementation of the Mental Health Strategy, from participating in working groups, giving input, reviewing developed resources, working with consumers and carers in co-production, participating in consultation activities and leading co-production with teams.

We can be flexible in how we work with you if you only have limited time so please make sure that you complete the survey (via the link) to let us know if and how you want to be involved in the implementation of the Mental Health Strategy throughout 2021 – 2023.

Please circulate this survey link to your teams and colleagues.

Recruitment of key positions

Several important roles have been created to implement the Mental Health Strategy. The titles and links to the advertisements are below - please check them out, consider applying or send them to your staff and networks.

Strategy roles within MCRI:

Senior Clinical Implementation Lead- closing date 125 July 2021

Research Lead- closing date 25 July 2021

Mental Health Central Digital Administration Assistant- closing date 25 July 2021

Strategy roles within RCH:

Watch this space!!

Grand Round

We are really pleased to present the Mental Health Strategy at the Grand Round on Wednesday 21 July. Make sure you tune in to learn how each of the Campus partners will benefit from the implementation of the Strategy.

Thank you

Belinda Horton, Program Director
Campus Mental Health Strategy 2021 – 2025

Acknowledgement of Country

At Mental Health Central we acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we live, gather and work. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.

We acknowledge all people with a lived or living experience of mental ill-health and recovery. At the Campus, we particularly acknowledge children, young people, families, carers, and supporters. We recognise their vital contribution and value the courage of those who share this unique perspective for the purpose of learning and growing together to achieve better outcomes for the Campus, staff, sector, and all people of lived experience.

Proudly supported by the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation