IIMHL Questions and Answers

Who are MH leaders?
Who can become an IIMHL member?
How do I join?
Can I join as an individual?
How can I get the best out of attending the exchange?
What is the Network Meeting?
Time commitment
What is the cost?
How is IIMHL funded?
Does IIMHL fund projects?
Does IIMHL provide other activities besides the IIMHL Leadership Exchange?
What is the difference between IIMHL and IIDL?
How do countries choose who can attend the Exchange and Network Meeting?
Other questions

Who are IIMHL leaders?

IIMHL encompasses a broad range of leadership roles from CEO's and Clinical Directors of mental health and addiction services to leaders of national consumer, family, funding and culturally based services. Leadership exchanges are focused on supporting those who have key decision making authority to help create innovative leadership solutions and assist in developing strong ongoing leadership within the sector. (IIDL leaders are discussed below).

Who can become an IIMHL member?

If you are an identified mental health or addiction leader in one of the member countries and have the support of your organisation you can join IIMHL.

How do I join?

The first step is to complete an online survey about you and your organisation. This information enables IIMHL to have data to better link people together accurately for common goals, interests and leadership exchanges. You then automatically get IIMHL Updates (a monthly e-newsletter outlining international innovation). If you are unsure how to proceed please contact Erin Geaney at erin "at" iimhl.com.

Can I join as an individual?

Yes, however, nearly all people who join are supported by their organisation. On occasion people who work as consultants at the national or state level join and pay for their own expenses.

What do people get as a result of joining and attending a leadership exchange?

This is best answered by quoting past attendees comments:

“Participation in IIMHL processes has given me more confidence as a leader to make changes in services.”
“The exchange has strengthened my leadership practice as it has affirmed my work and given me a resource of people to tap into.”
“It was great to have the time to reflect on my practice as a leader and now with my fellow exchange colleagues supporting me – the world is now a much smaller place”
“I wanted something different to happen as a result, some sort of new development across services, staff and systems. If you plan an exchange well you can ensure that your service can benefit hugely.”
“As a leader it was helpful to measure myself against senior leaders from around the world and realise that my “skills and expertise stack up with theirs.”
“Through my experience in IIMHL I am more able to see the bigger picture, am more respectful of input into collaborative across nation work.”

How can I get the best out of attending the exchange?

The first step to attending a specific exchange is to complete the online registration form for the specific exchange (e.g. in 2011 - San Francisco) so that your role and areas of interest and inquiry are clear (this helps match you with an appropriate group).
This information allows you to be “matched” with a like leader. In some cases (e.g. Ireland) the website has enabled “self-matching”. It is the host countries’ choice as to whether they have an online process or not.
When you are notified that you are “matched” we suggest you contact your "host" leader early and state clearly what you would like to learn from the exchange. We suggest you offer to do a presentation for local staff on your own service or other key issues or challenges you would like to work on when you return to your country of origin.
State any special needs that you might have (e.g. dietary or mobility issues).
Then stay connected to your matched group before, during and after your exchange so that everyone can learn leadership concepts together.

Some matches have continued working together for years on collaborative activities (e.g. writing a report for publication or peer review of services).

What is the ‘Network Meeting'?

The Network Meeting is the second half of the leadership exchange week. It enables continuity of leadership learning from the participants of the exchanges as well as focus on local input and inspirational leadership presentations.

Time commitment

If you attend the Leadership Exchange you will probably be meeting and working for 60 to 70 hours during the leadership exchange. This is an intensive leadership development programme and one of the results is that you will have direct links with overseas colleagues to facilitate the fast transfer of innovative and creative leadership and clinical practices.

What is the cost?

Attendance at the leadership development programme is free. Accommodation and travel are paid by attendee’s employers.

How is IIMHL funded?

The governments of each participating country (i.e. Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, and the US) pay a small amount to fund IIMHL's administration.

Does IIMHL fund projects?

No. IIMHL does not fund or manage projects within any of the IIMHL sponsoring countries.

Does IIMHL provide other activities besides the IIMHL Leadership Exchange?

IIMHL facilitates knowledge transfer in linking people and innovations between countries. These innovations may be evidence based but more often are promising (or wise) practices. Please see our annual reports for examples of how we facilitate and assist innovations being transferred between countries.

Many Exchange partners choose to work together in an ongoing way to do joint projects, service reviews or research. These are funded through the governments or organisations involved.

What is the difference between IIMHL and IIDL?

IIDL is a way of showcasing possibility and innovation in a small but powerful way. IIDL is a separate but linked group which focuses on issues for people with physical and/or learning disabilities. They are endeavoring to establish an international group so leaders can learn from each other about disability best practice.

How do countries choose who can attend the Exchange and Network Meeting?

Currently each country has their own process for this. All seven countries have agreed that the total number should be capped at 450. The country hosting the Network Meeting may have additional people attending the Network Meeting as often government officials and/or local leaders attend. Other countries may have a first come, first served structure. In 2010 New Zealand capped the number at 30 through a selection process.