Advancing Rural Mental Health: Collaborative Training Program to Address Workforce Shortage
Tracks
Auditorium and Virtual via OnAIR
| Thursday, November 9, 2023 |
| 1:10 PM - 1:30 PM |
Overview
Chantal Bachere-crinquand, WA Centre For Rural Health
Speaker
Mrs Chantal Bachere-crinquand
Mental Health Academic
WA Centre For Rural Health
Advancing Rural Mental Health: Collaborative Training Program to Address Workforce Shortage
Abstract
Recruiting and retaining a qualified and competent mental health workforce is an ongoing challenge in rural areas, particularly for a new mental health inpatient service in Geraldton WA. To address this workforce risk, the Midwest Mental Health service and WA Centre for Rural Health Mental collaborated to develop an orientation and education program for the WA Country Health Service staff who will work in the new mental health unit.
In late 2021, a team of WACRH academics with Mental Health expertise were commissioned to develop the program using a collaborative, co-designed, and evidence-informed approach. The program aims to advance the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of health staff in providing evidence-based mental health care consistent with contemporary recovery principles.
The program includes face-to-face training on required competencies, with a list of topic areas developed and allocated to local content experts across the teams. Each topic contains a module facilitator's handbook with accompanying teaching resources, including PowerPoint, group activities, and competency-based assessments. The educational approaches are evidence-based, interactive, and based on adult learning principles, with learning outcomes assessed through evidence via demonstration, reflection, and peer observation.
The program is the first of its kind in rural WA and reflects the collaboration of rural mental health experts in developing an innovative training program that addresses the local rural mental health workforce shortage. There is potential to replicate this program across WA regional and rural mental health sites.
Three key learnings from this program include rural health professionals collaborating on a common aim of increasing a suitably competent workforce, growing a rural health mental health workforce, and developing a sustainable model that meets local needs. This program provides an excellent example of how collaborative, evidence-based training programs can address the workforce shortage in rural mental health services.
In late 2021, a team of WACRH academics with Mental Health expertise were commissioned to develop the program using a collaborative, co-designed, and evidence-informed approach. The program aims to advance the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of health staff in providing evidence-based mental health care consistent with contemporary recovery principles.
The program includes face-to-face training on required competencies, with a list of topic areas developed and allocated to local content experts across the teams. Each topic contains a module facilitator's handbook with accompanying teaching resources, including PowerPoint, group activities, and competency-based assessments. The educational approaches are evidence-based, interactive, and based on adult learning principles, with learning outcomes assessed through evidence via demonstration, reflection, and peer observation.
The program is the first of its kind in rural WA and reflects the collaboration of rural mental health experts in developing an innovative training program that addresses the local rural mental health workforce shortage. There is potential to replicate this program across WA regional and rural mental health sites.
Three key learnings from this program include rural health professionals collaborating on a common aim of increasing a suitably competent workforce, growing a rural health mental health workforce, and developing a sustainable model that meets local needs. This program provides an excellent example of how collaborative, evidence-based training programs can address the workforce shortage in rural mental health services.
Biography
Chantal is the WA Centre for Rural Health mental health academic and a board director for Rural Health West. With a clinical nurse specialist and nurse educator background, her focus lays in developing and facilitating mental health training programs to the community, provide workforce development and upskilling in the health, education, and welfare sectors. Working in regional WA for over 15 years has given her a strong understanding of the mental health needs of the community and its nursing workforce. Chantal is committed to advocating to improve mental health outcomes in rural WA in her leadership and educational roles.
Moderator
Shinade Hartman
AST Management
Mel Stewart
Director
AST Management
Justine White
Event Manager
AST Management
Presenter
Chantal Bachere-crinquand
Mental Health Academic
WA Centre For Rural Health
Session Chair
Anita McRae
Senior Manager System Integration
Murrumbidgee PHN
