Background
The establishment of the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health
Queensland is the result of a series of activities that began in 2003 through
discussions of clinical need in north Queensland. There has since been a
feasibility study resulting in a Discussion Paper, widespread consultation
with academic, service, community, Indigenous, consumer and carer, and
other interests. The Implementation Steering Committee was made up of
representatives from the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), James Cook
University, the University of Queensland, Queensland Health (Mental Health), Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, Wuchopperen Health Service (endorsed by Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council), Rotary, Comalco, with Indigenous and non-Indigenous consumers. The implementation phase was funded by RFDS (Queensland Section), the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing OATSIH and Queensland Health.
The Commonwealth and State Governments have committed funding that will guarantee state-wide Centre operations through the first three years. In addition to this, additional contributions from Centre participants and other organisations include dedicated positions, project funding and contributions in-kind, such as accommodation and staff time.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section), James Cook University, University of Southern Queensland, the University of Queensland, Wuchopperen Health Service, Griffith University and Queensland Health are the foundation participants in the Centre. The Queensland University of Technology has recently become a Participant in the Centre. The legal and organisational structure for the CRRMHQ (the Centre) has been developed to facilitate formal participation or affiliate agreements with organisations interested in being involved in the
activities of the Centre.
The Centre is set up as a joint venture between the company, Rural and Remote Mental Health Queensland Ltd and the Participants and was registered on July 31st 2006. A skills-based Board of eight, with Mr Jim Petrich as the Chairman, was elected and the first Board meeting was held in August 2006. Dr Jennifer Bowers commenced in her role as CEO on 1 November 2006.
Centre Activities
The focus of the Centre’s activities is to advance the development and
implementation of frameworks for action and resource allocation necessary to sustain improvements in rural and remote mental health, through:
• leadership in advocating and acting as a catalyst for change and
innovation;
• accelerating the coordination, quality and reach of mental health activities
and services to people in rural and remote areas;
• developing and delivering new approaches to ensure the expansion,
sustainability and effectiveness of the rural and remote mental
health workforce;
• supporting and undertaking collaborative clinical and population mental
health research in rural and remote areas, including:
......• identifying research opportunities and resources,
......• developing research capacity and ensuring quality,
......• providing research translation and implementation to inform policy
......and practice;
• ensuring that the outcomes of Centre activities are communicated
strategically to engage and inform all stakeholders towards optimal
mental health outcomes.
Key activity areas for the Centre have been identified as:
Clinical Enhancement: enhancing and providing more equitable access to
services across the spectrum of mental health interventions by building on
existing operations of participating organisations and targeted research to
increase service capacity.
Population Health: research and practice (projects, programs and policy) that identify and respond to population level mental health needs, such as, mentalhealth literacy, prevention and social support.
Workforce Development: education and training to build and support
Queensland’s rural and remote mental health workforce.
Development of Regional Nodes will ensure that activities of the Centre respond to regional needs and increase regional capacity through direct
dialogue between research and service expertise, and local communities,
agencies and providers. The Centre in collaboration with Participant
organisations are discussing contributions and projects for Centre activities in Mt Isa - Gulf region, Toowoomba - South West Queensland, Longreach and Rockhampton - Central Queensland and Weipa - Cape York regions.
Priority Populations for the Centre include Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islanders as well as culturally and linguistically diverse populations.
Promotion of the Centre involves the promotion of business and resource
development across the range of Centre services and research, as well as
promoting engagement with communities, health and other service providers, policy makers, potential investors and sponsors.
The legal and organisational structure for the CRRMHQ (the Centre) has
been developed to facilitate formal participation or affiliate agreements with
organisations interested in being involved in the activities of the Centre. This
structure allows the Centre to collaborate with Participants and other interested
organisations in service delivery, population mental health and workforce
initiatives in rural and remote communities. Minimum annual Participant
contributions can be cash or in-kind contributions to the value of $20,000 in
each financial year. These contributions are generally related to in-kind staff
and infrastructure support for projects and initiatives. For example, in-kind
contributions are being used to collaboratively develop projects, applied
research and evaluations in order to attract external funding and grants.
Participants (but not Affiliates) are entitled to membership of the Participant
Executive Committee (PEC) which is an advisory committee to the Board and
meets at least twice a year with voting entitlements based on their annual
contribution. The PEC carry out the functions required of it under the Centre
Agreement and provide advice and recommendations to the Board on the major
issues relating to the direction and functions of the Centre including:
• the strategic objectives of the Centre;
• electing the Directors in accordance with the Agreement;
• receiving the Annual Reports and Financial Statements on the operation
..of Centre;
• admission of new participants to the Centre; and
• activities required under the Agreement or requested by the Board.
The Centre staff look forward to further developing productive working
relationships with organisations interested or involved in rural and remote
Queensland with the intention of enhancing rural and remote mental health
promotion, prevention and care, particularly in Indigenous communities.