Addressing Rural Mental Healthcare Workforce Wellbeing and Productivity Challenges: a Local Health District and University Partnership Case Study
Tracks
Room - Stanley B
| Thursday, November 9, 2023 |
| 11:40 AM - 12:10 PM |
Overview
James Hindman, Western NSW Local Health District | Mhda
Speaker
James Hindman
Clinical Nurse Consultant
Western NSW LHD | MHDA
Addressing Rural Mental Healthcare Workforce Wellbeing and Productivity Challenges: a Local Health District and University Partnership Case Study
Abstract
The 2020 Productivity Commission Inquiry Report on mental health in Australia highlighted concerns about an aging mental healthcare workforce, posing sustainability concerns. Alongside low recruitment and retention rates, a significant staff shortage looms in the medium to long term. The report emphasised the necessity of collaboration between Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol (MHDA) services and universities to develop innovative approaches for professional development, research, and service delivery. This presentation focuses on a partnership between an MHDA service and a university that aims to improve recovery outcomes for consumers and wellbeing and productivity outcomes among mental health nursing staff in a rural area health service.
To enhance the experience for new graduate nurses and attract potential recruits, the MHDA service engaged multiple universities to redevelop its Post-Graduate training. Once a University partner had been identified, collegiality became crucial. Success requires both parties to have faith in innovation and collaboration, demonstrating this through a willingness to work together towards an undefined goal. This necessitated an open-mindedness and active search for opportunities, which the creativity of the parties fostered. Over an eighteen-month planning period, participants met on many occasions to brainstorm and develop new and novel ideas to improve the new graduate experience. However, the collaboration was not without its challenges, as misalignment of goals, project scope creep, and bureaucracy at both ends presented some hurdles that had to be overcome. Despite these challenges, the partnership persevered, resulting in a successful collaboration that is beginning to address the obstacles.
This presentation offers insights into establishing a successful partnership between an MHDA service and a university. Implementing these approaches has already shown improved outcomes for consumers, staff, and the mental health nursing culture. The presentation hopes to inspire participants to create their own partnerships to enhance mental health service delivery and professional development opportunities.
To enhance the experience for new graduate nurses and attract potential recruits, the MHDA service engaged multiple universities to redevelop its Post-Graduate training. Once a University partner had been identified, collegiality became crucial. Success requires both parties to have faith in innovation and collaboration, demonstrating this through a willingness to work together towards an undefined goal. This necessitated an open-mindedness and active search for opportunities, which the creativity of the parties fostered. Over an eighteen-month planning period, participants met on many occasions to brainstorm and develop new and novel ideas to improve the new graduate experience. However, the collaboration was not without its challenges, as misalignment of goals, project scope creep, and bureaucracy at both ends presented some hurdles that had to be overcome. Despite these challenges, the partnership persevered, resulting in a successful collaboration that is beginning to address the obstacles.
This presentation offers insights into establishing a successful partnership between an MHDA service and a university. Implementing these approaches has already shown improved outcomes for consumers, staff, and the mental health nursing culture. The presentation hopes to inspire participants to create their own partnerships to enhance mental health service delivery and professional development opportunities.
Biography
James Hindman is a Clinical Nurse Consultant in WNSWLHD, and PhD candidate at the University of Notre Dame. James has dedicated his career to improving services in the Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol sector in rural and remote settings. Blending a background in business and software development with a passion for mental healthcare, James has developed innovative models, tools, and training programs that support Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol nurses’ delivery of care. James believes that curiosity, entrepreneurialism, and technology have the potential to improve mental health service delivery, consumer outcomes and staff experience.
