National Program Enablement: Integrating the Medicare Mental Health Check In within Rural Systems Abstract:
This presentation shares key learnings from establishing Medicare Mental Health Check, a new national digital early intervention service, and embedding it within Australia's diverse mental health landscape where state-based mental health systems, PHN services and existing pathways vary considerably. A core focus of the session is digital care that works in the real world complementing, rather than duplicating, local systems through strong clinical governance, escalation and handover protocols, and targeted stakeholder engagement.
We examine the application of the Integration of Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) to support consistent assessment and referral practices across the stepped care model while enabling alignment with local service pathways and regional care models. The discussion highlights the importance of digital integration and interoperability in building trust and confidence among services and those who use them across jurisdictions.
Furthermore, the presentation explores how national digital models can advance equity and access through our Priority Populations and Engagement Strategy. Through a staged engagement model initially focusing on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+SB people, and those in rural and remote areas, consultation and discovery ensure the service remains responsive to local needs. We share insights from discovery interviews and working sessions that identified moments that matter for help-seekers across different communities and care settings.
Finally, we outline the engagement model that supporting sustained integration across the mental health ecosystem. Through communities of practice, stakeholder partnerships, and in-service sessions, practical connections are created between national digital infrastructure and local service networks. This session provides a reflections and insights from establishing national digital services that strengthen, rather than compete with, existing systems of care.