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Purro Birik - (Healthy Spirit)
7. Recommendations for
Implementation of an Improvement Strategy
The recommendations for
the implementation of an improvement strategy focus on identifying steps to
further progress work on the Purro Birik Koori Mental Health Project.
Four main areas emerged
from the consultations, namely:
-
the need to address
the social, emotional and cultural wellbeing service and workforce
development issues identified throughout the 'consultation process;
-
the need to establish
local partnership agreements between Koori community controlled health
services and mental health services;
-
the need for better
coordination of social, emotional and cultural well being resources; and
-
the need to develop a
training strategy that addresses the training needs of Koori health services
staff in delivering 'social, emotional and cultural wellbeing services, and
of mental health services staff in providing mental health services to Koori
people;
The identification of
these areas has led to the development of the following twelve
recommendations. It is acknowledged that excellent work, particularly in
relation to training and local partnerships already occurs in some
locations.
Recommendations in
relation to service development
Recommendation 1
That an ongoing
community controlled, social, emotional and cultural wellbeing service
development position be established and located at VACCHO.
Recommendation 2
That VACCHO and relevant
funding bodies give priority to the development of the 'healing place'
concept.
Recommendation 3
That the development of
a vision for the delivery of social, emotional and cultural wellbeing
services be given priority.
Recommendations in
relation to the development of partnership agreements
Recommendation 4
That the development of
local partnership agreements between community controlled Koori health
service providers and mental health services be given priority, and that the
Victorian Mental Health Branch resource VACCHO to provide support to Koori
health services to establish agreements.
Recommendation 5
That the relationship
between the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service Mental Health Network and
mainstream mental health services be further developed to clarify roles and
responsibilities and to ensure an effective, culturally appropriate response
to the mental health needs of Koori people.
Recommendation 6
That the Victorian
Mental Health Branch in consultation with VACCHO identify key issues to be
addressed through local partnership agreements, and that Mental Health
Branch examine options to encourage mental health services to participate
actively in the partnership strategy.
Recommendation 7
That the Victorian
Mental Health Branch in consultation with VACCHO develop a strategy or
guidelines for the provision of mental health services to Aboriginal people.
Recommendation 8
That mental health
services be required to establish a Koori portfolio which reports annually
on how they are developing a better response to the Koori community.
Recommendation 9
That Koori health
services identify a key worker/portfolio holder for liaison with mainstream
mental health services. This person should provide a report to the local
Koori community controlled health service management committee annually.
Recommendations in
relation to improving coordination and planning
Recommendation 10
That a Planning Group be
developed (coordinated by VACCHO), consisting of VACCHO and relevant State
and Commonwealth funding bodies. This group could establish principles to
direct social, emotional and cultural wellbeing-related funding allocations.
A sub-committee consisting of VACCHO executive and members should be formed
to consult on and coordinate VACCHO's position on funding distribution
issues.
Recommendations in
relation to training
Recommendation 11
That the curriculum
development for the Regional Training Centre, currently being developed by
VACCHO consider the training needs identified in this discussion paper.
Recommendation 12
That the Victorian
Mental Health Branch encourage mental health services staff (including
administrative staff and doctors) to take part in VACCHO endorsed ongoing
Koori cross-cultural training programs.
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