Southern region

Welcome to the Southern region workforce development coordinator’s webpage. Here we hope to provide information on the workforce development activities the South Island mental health and addictions sector is engaged in.

An overview of the sector and some key regional organisations and groups are described. Relevant workforce development activity and upcoming events will be listed here, such as hui, conferences, workshops, training, scholarships and publication releases.

These pages will also be used to spotlight some of the excellent work that is going on in the sector in this region. You are encouraged to tell us of your organisation's initiatives so that others may be informed.

On this page:

• Southern region DHB geographical coverage
• Southern region DHB overview
• Organisations and groups
• Regional workforce coordinator contact details

Southern region DHB geographical coverage

The southern region encompasses all of the South Island. The main centres in this region are Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Timaru, Nelson and Greymouth. Much of the region's population is based in rural areas.

There are considerable distances between each of the main centres, providing significant logistical challenges. The majority of people live on the East, North and South Coasts. The West Coast has the longest coastline but is sparsely populated compared to other districts. The centre of the South Island is dominated by high mountain ranges and hence is much less inhabited.

There are five District Health Boards (DHBs) within the southern region, which have responsibility for ensuring their population has access to mental health and addiction services. Several specialist services are provided regionally by Canterbury DHB and Southern DHB.

These five DHBs are assisted by the South Island Shared Service Agency Limited (SISSAL). SISSAL has a mental health team, which coordinates and provides resources to support the South Island Regional Mental Health Network (SIRMHN). The DHB boundaries are illustrated in the map (click the image to see in a larger view).

DHB overview

Below is a brief summary of each DHB in the southern region. The information is taken from their respective websites and their District Annual Plans (available from the DHB websites).

Nelson Marlborough DHB (NMDHB)

Leading the Way to Health Conscious Families.
Situated in the north of the South Island, NMDHB covers the three districts of Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough. The population is 134,500 of which 8 per cent are Maori. 15 per cent of the inhabitants are over 65, and 35 per cent reside in rural settlements.

NMDHB funds a range of mental health services from primary mental health to acute inpatient facilities. Services are provided either directly by NMDHB, or by agencies contracted by NMDHB.

Canterbury DHB (CDHB)

To promote, enhance and facilitate the health and well-being of the people of the Canterbury District.
With a population of 466,416, CDHB is the largest DHB in the South Island and receives close to half the population-based funding available to the region from the Ministry of Health. There are six districts covered by the CDHB - Christchurch City, Hurinui, Waimakariri, Selwyn, Ashburton and Kaikoura.

7.2 per cent of the population are Maori, with the tangata whenua being Ngai Tahu, Nga Puhi and Ngati Porou. Those identifying as Pacific take up 2.2 per cent of the population. The Asian population is around 6.1 per cent. Most of the people from these cultures live in the Christchurch City district.

A quarter of the overall population, live outside urban Christchurch with 7,000 people residing in remote areas. 34% per cent of people in Canterbury are under 25.

A wide range of mental health services are delivered by CDHB at a number of locations. Some of these services are regional and accessible to the whole southern region. Most of the community providers of mental health services are funded by the CDHB.

South Canterbury DHB (SCDHB) 

To enhance the health and independence of the people of South Canterbury.
Half the 55,318 people who reside in this DHB live rurally. The districts within the DHB's boundary are Timaru, Waimate and Mackenzie. Maori and Pacific together only make up 7 per cent of the population. 10,510 (19%) of people are older than 65.

Timaru is the hub for delivery of a range of mental health services. SCDHB provides a 15 bed inpatient unit, community mental health services for adults along with children and adolescents, and an alcohol and other drug service. SCDHB funds community organisations to provide other mental health services.

West Coast DHB (WCDHB)

To be the New Zealand centre of excellence for rural health services.
The WCDHB has the lowest population density of any DHB in New Zealand. The overall population is 31,326 and spread throughout three districts - Westland, Grey and Buller. Maori make up 9 per cent of the population, with Pacific and Asian having 0.9 per cent and 1.1 per cent respectively.

Each of the three districts has a community mental health team that delivers a range of services. Inpatient facilities are at Grey hospital in Greymouth. There are a few non-government organisations (NGOs) providing services to the community.

Southern DHB

To improve, promote and protect the health of our population.
Otago and Southland DHBs merged to form the Southern DHB on 1 May 2010.

This new DHB covers a large area and includes the districts of Dunedin City, Invercargill City, Central Otago, Clutha, Gore, Queenstown, Southland and Waitaki.

Maori make up approximately 8% of the total population, with the mana whenua being Ngai Tahu. Those identifying as Pacific represent a little over 1.3% of the population.

Southern DHB will undergo a period of adjustment with this merger, however at present Otago and Southland operate distinct mental health and addiction services.

Dunedin is the hub for the coordination and delivery of a large range of mental health services to Otago. Comprehensive inpatient and community services are provided by the DHB. Many of the community services are delivered by a wide range of non government organisations.

Given the rural nature of Southland, many of the clinical mental health services are delivered by small community mental health teams. Inpatient services are provided at Southland hospital in Invercargill. A variety of non government organisations work collaboratively with the Southland DHB to provide a comprehensive array of community services.

Southern region organisations and groups

The South Island has a number of groups/organisations that operate at a regional level. A few are described below, together with links to access further information.

South Island Regional Mental Health Network (SIRMHN)

Consumers/tangata whaiora have access to high quality mental health services that enable them to achieve their goals for recovery.
The SIRMHN is made up of representatives from the six South Island DHBs who are appointed by their planning and funding general manager. Meeting six weekly, this group provides advice to South Island regional general managers (planning & funding) on regional planning and funding priorities and activities for the mental health and addiction sector.

South Island Shared Service Agency Limited (SISSAL)

Supporting the South Island District Health Boards.
SISSAL is owned by the six South Island DHBs and provides a range of shared service functions to assist the DHBs in their roles as health and disability service funders for their resident populations. The SISSAL mental health team coordinates and provides resources to support the SIRMHN and specific DHBs to improve outcomes in mental health.

Key workforce development activity

Let’s get real

Te Pou have been providing assistance with the implementation of Let’s get real to organisations and groups across provider arm and non government organisations in the Southern region. Initially this has been in the form of briefings on the implementation resources (enablers). More recently we have provided targeted workshops. Te Pou will continue to offer a range of support and are currently planning activities with a number of organisations. The regional workforce development coordinator will be available to provide local and regional support.

Below is a table summarising Let’s get real (LGR) implementation activity in the Southern region.

District	Organisation/Group	Activity	Date
Nelson Marlborough	Te Roopu Tupu Tahi - mental health advisory forum	LGR enablers briefing	Nov 09
	Nelson Liaison on Alcohol and Other Drugs (LOAD) meeting	LGR enablers briefing	Nov 09
West Coast	DHB mental health and addiction leaders	LGR enablers briefing	Dec 09
Canterbury	Specialist Mental Health Service Training & Development Committee	LGR enablers briefing	Dec 09
	Te Pou NGO Forum in Christchurch	LGR enablers workshop	Oct 09
	Pegasus Bay Supporting Families and Familial Trust	LGR enablers briefing	Nov 09
	Group of NGO leaders	LGR enablers briefing	Oct 09
		Workshop on Leaders and Managers Guide	Feb 10
	Christchurch LOAD meeting	LGR enablers briefing	Nov 09
South Canterbury	DHB mental health and addiction leaders	LGR enablers briefing	May 10
	Timaru LOAD meeting	LGR enablers briefing	Nov 09
Otago	Otago Mental Health Roundtable Group	LGR enablers briefing	Nov 09
	Otago NGO leaders	LGR enablers briefing	Nov 09
	Dunedin LOAD meeting	LGR enablers briefing	Nov 09
	DHB mental health and addiction leaders	Workshop on Leaders and Managers Guide	May 10
Southland	Te Pou NGO Forum in Invercargill	LGR enablers workshop	Oct 09
	Future Directions Southland Mental Health Network	LGR enablers briefing	Nov 09
	DHB mental health and addiction leaders	Workshop on Leaders and Managers Guide	Mar 10
	Southland NGO Network	Workshop on Leaders and Managers Guide	Mar 10

Co-existing problems project

This Ministry of Health-led, Matua Raki-supported, project aims to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the way addiction and mental health treatment services respond to people with CEP.

Te Pou supported this project by delivering process mapping training, called Tools 'n' Techniques (TNT), to a group of leaders in the sector. These people will be assisting Matua Raki to workshop process mapping with organisations to support service planning and development.

Workshops are underway, starting in the Central Region. These will be rolled out to the Southern Region early 2011.

For more information on the southern region

Stuart Gray
stuart.gray   "at" tepou.co.nz
Mobile: 027 207 4037; Landline: (03) 365 8607
Address: 396 Colombo Street (P O Box 7683), Sydenham, Christchurch 8240.

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Page last updated: 28 May 2010