Southern region forum 2009

A second South Island primary mental health forum was held in Christchurch on 29 May 2009. The forum was hosted by Dan Mustapic, South Island District Health Boards’ primary mental health network lead with support from the Ministry of Health (MoH).

Workforce development priorities and clinical leadership were the two major themes of the forum. In particular, the forum aimed to discuss how best to utilise the primary mental health workforce development funding the Ministry of Health has distributed to each of the DHBs in the South Island. A decision has been made that the recent funds made available for workforce development will be divulged by each DHB to primary health organisations (PHOs) in their areas. The South Island Regional Mental Health Network (SIRMHN) has indicated that future funding may be pooled and used as a regional resource.

The forum was very well attended with around 40 participants from a broad spectrum of the primary mental health sector including MoH, DHBs, PHOs, non government organisations, national mental health workforce development centres and tertiary education providers.

Brief presentations by MoH representatives were followed by a workshop to consider workforce development priorities for the region and what clinical leadership means to them. Case studies for learning opportunities were presented during the afternoon session. Topics included clinical leadership, working together and what works in rural settings.

There was general consensus that further work was necessary to establish what the regional primary mental health workforce development priorities were. Establishment of a small working group to look at this was muted. The South Island Shared Service Agency Limited (SISSAL) indicated it would be doing some work on this on behalf of SIRMHN.

More information

For more information, please contact Stuart Gray, Workforce Development Coordinator, southern region. Mobile: 027 207 4037; Landline: (03) 365 8607.

Page last updated: 7 July 2009