MidWest Area Mental Health Service (MWAMHS) has a full time FaPMI Coordinator based within the Primary Mental Health Team. The service was funded in October 2008 and recruited to the position in March 2009. The service covers the Shire of Melton, the City of Brimbank and Hume City Council (Sunbury only).
MidWest has a FaPMI Reference Group which meets quarterly and is instrumental in the role out of the strategy across the MidWest. The group has representation from Adult and CAMHS Mental Health, PDRSS, Child FIRST, several Family Service agencies, DOH representatives, and more recently AOD agencies.
Some of the initiatives of 2009 have included:
- Developing partnerships between MWAMHS and Brimbank-Melton Integrated Family Services (IFS)
- Establishment of an annual training calendar for IFS staff about mental illness and working with FaPMI. (sessions provided by PMHT and guest speakers)
- Direct referrals now able to be made from IFS to the PMHT Psychiatry Registrar for assessment and brief periods of interventions
- The FaPMI Coordinator being based onsite at Child FIRST for secondary consults, education and support
- Provision of secondary consultations and some training to MWAMHS and Network Partners
- Establishment of a PATS program
In 2010 some of the proposals are to:
- Focus more on the needs of the MWAMHS and PDRSS.
- Establish a proposed monthly secondary consultation session for IFS which would be co-faciliated by AMHS and CAMHS clinicians.
- Further development of the PATS program and development of other peer support programs.
- Further develop partnerships with the AOD sector.
Contact:
Tracy Seawright
FaPMI Coordinator
MidWest PMHT
Harvester Clinic
4a Devonshire Rd, Sunshine 3020
Ph: 92887095
Mobile: 0419520514
Email: tracy.seawright@mh.org.au
