About Us
Our Vision
The Mackay Regional Mental Health Network is an integrated network working
together to provide community focused mental health systems and services and
preventative activities that are person centred and recovery focused to the
communities of Mackay and the surrounding regions.
Aim: To provide a forum for Government and Non-Government bodies to share
information of Mental Health Services, initiatives and gaps in the Mackay
District, in order to add value to services provided in the community.
To form a united body to speak as one voice to lobby and inform government
of the local Mental Health needs in the District.
Objectives:
- To increase the strengths, identify and address gaps of Mental
Health Services offered to and for the community by networking and
communication.
- To form partnerships to support and rationalise Mental Health
funding applications in order to ensure the district receives a fair
portion of the national funding pool.
Membership: Any member in the Mackay District with an interest in Mental
Health.
Chairpersons: Jennifer Emmett (Chair) and Kerry Clarkson (Deputy Chair)
Media representative: Sandi Winner
Frequency of Meetings: 2nd Tuesday of each month
Meeting Time: 9.30am to 11.00am
History/Background
Mackay COAG Interagency Group
Following a Northern Area Mental Health meeting in early 2007, Community
Mental Health Services - Mackay called for participants in the region to
come together as a group to identify funding opportunities and partnerships
in mental health. Local organisations including Queensland Health, the
Mackay Division of General Practice and NGOs, who are engaged in mental
health work, have agreed to work together to optimise funding opportunities,
identify gaps in local service and to work together to co-ordinate service
provision.
Mackay Mental Health Planning Day 2008
The Mackay Mental Health Planning Day 2008 was held on Tuesday 12th
February 2008 Ocean International Hotel, Bridge Road, Mackay. The Mackay
Mental Health Planning Day 2008 was developed by the Mackay COAG Interagency
Group as a strategic planning opportunity to identify the strengths,
weakness, opportunities and threats to the mental health services in the
Mackay region. The Planning Day focused on partnerships and accessing the
available COAG funding opportunities for regional mental health agencies to
meet identified opportunities in mental health service provision.
Aims and Outcomes of the Mental Health Planning Day:
AIM – The Big Picture:
- Develop an overview of Mackay’s mental health service needs.
- Create a local environment that better cares for people with a mental health problem and their carers.
- Better quality of life for the community including prevention, early intervention and improved service provision in mental health care.
Expected OUTCOMES
- The identification of the top five opportunities.
- To further strengthen and develop working partnerships to maximise access to available funding.
- Formulate a clear plan for the progression of the mental health network.
OUTCOMES: The Top Five Priorities for Progression:
- Understand and know our own mental health network
- Commit to developing a strong network.
- Develop a vision for our mental health network.
- Develop a workforce strategy
- Access available Funding.
