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Training for mental health practitioners initiative

Welcome to the web-page of the DVA Training for Mental Health Practitioners Initiative!

In 2009 ACPMH began an exciting new training initiative for mental health practitioners funded by and on behalf of the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Designed for practitioners who work with veterans, current or former ADF members, or who wish to do so in the future, this training provides case formulation and treatment planning skills to deal with complex cases. Training workshops occur in every state and regional groups have been formed. Practitioners were assigned to a local network to share information and provide peer support and advice. Ongoing follow-up support and expert consultation is being provided by ACPMH experts. Professional Development training credits are available for successful completion of this program.

We hope that you find the information you require here. If not please contact us.

Please read our FAQ.

• Introduction
• Training involves
• Additional benefits
• Professional Development Points
• Participant requirements
• Where?
• When?
• The project team at ACPMH
• Contact us

Introduction

This new initiative provides training for mental health practitioners which can be readily used in everyday clinical practice. The initiative is based upon the Learning Collaborative approach, which is specifically designed to support practitioners in using effective clinical interventions, to ensure that those interventions are relevant to practitioners' day to day practice and to create lasting changes. This approach emphasises adult learning principles, interactive training methods and skill-focused learning. It also provides an opportunity for people from a diverse range of settings to be brought together, and to learn from one another’s collective experiences.

Practitioners from 15 regions nationwide attend free training, and then work together with other practitioners in their local area to apply the learning in a way that is pertinent to them. A series of workshops, ongoing support and regular expert consultation are being conducted over a 9 month period. The training centres upon the needs of practitioners who work with veterans that present with complex problems.

This initiative is also part of the Australian Government Mental Health Lifecycle Initiatives for Veterans and Former Serving Members.

Training involves:

Training from experts in veterans’ mental health, and the opportunity to meet other practitioners from your local area, and apply what you have learned in a way that is pertinent to you. Structured peer support activities and regular consultation sessions with experts support this process.

Key training topics

The training centres upon veterans with complex presentations, and includes the following topics:

• Veterans and current ADF members’ experiences and mental health
• Evidence-based treatment principles
• High-risk presentations
• Case formulation skills
• Treatment plans and sequencing in relation to:
• alcohol and other drug use
• trauma
• anger & violence
• Training transfer to practice

This training:

• specifically addresses issues presented by VETERANS, CURRENT OR FORMER ADF MEMBERS and their treatment.
• focuses on case formulation and treatment planning skills for complex co-morbid VETERAN presentations with D&A, Anger and posttraumatic stress issues.  
• does NOT teach treatment skills (Treatment skills training courses for PTSD are available)
• involves group based consultations over 9 months.

Format

This initiative is based upon the Learning Collaborative approach: Two workshops with local groups carrying out transfer and implementation activities in between.

• Workshop 1 (two days)
• 6 x monthly teleconferences & implementation activities
• Workshop 2 (One day, six months after the first workshop)
• Follow-up (three months after the 2nd workshop)

This model is specifically designed to support practitioners in case formulation and treatment planning skills in order to identify effective clinical interventions, to ensure that those interventions are relevant to practitioner’s day to day practice and to create lasting changes:

• Regional workshops conducted by experts in the field, where case formulation skills will be taught for use in the treatment of complex cases.
• A practical approach to learning- the training will use case studies with an opportunity to see experts in action and to problem solve around complex cases you have encountered in your practice.
• Allocation to local collaborative groups, who will share information and provide support and advice.
• An opportunity to test the training ideas in your own practice, with implementation successes and challenges shared amongst the collaborative to enhance the learning of the entire group.
• Templates and resources from ACPMH will be provided to support you in carrying ideas, skills and techniques from the training phase through to everyday practice.
• Monthly teleconferences or meetings with expert support and case-based follow-up discussions over a 6 month period.

Additional benefits:

• The training is free.
• Professional Development Training credits.
• The formation of regional groups, and peer support networks.
• The provision of expert consultation.
• An opportunity to engage in collaborative learning.

Professional Development Points

The training is endorsed as follows:

APS – 21 Counselling & community points (code 08-547)

AASW – 2 points per learning hour (Appellation no 00274)

Participant requirements:

• Participants may be Psychologists or Social Work practitioners who are DVA or VVCS registered providers, but this initiative is also open to any private practitioner who works with veterans, or is interested in doing so in the future.
• Must be able to commit to fully participating in the training - attending an initial 2 day workshop then a follow-up 1 day workshop 6 months later.
• Must be interested in contributing to the local learning collaborative group. It is a minimum requirement to participate in the monthly phone link-ups.
• Must complete pre-training reading and activities, and demonstrate completion prior to the first workshop.
• Must be willing to adapt and apply effective practices to their own settings over the course of the 9 month learning process.
• Must evaluate outcomes of applying training. Use of outcome measures and processes will be negotiated so as to incorporate what practitioners are currently using.
• Must be willing to share outcomes, successes and difficulties with local learning collaborative group

There is a strong element of self driven learning involved in this program. The program involves active participation and networking for a period of nine months with regular support from experts and the provision of resources and tools

Where?

The training workshops is taking place in the 15 Regions listed below.

VIC

Region/ Hub	Potential local learning collaboratives/spokes
Geelong	Geelong Area, Ocean Grove, Ballarat, Warrnambool, Werribee, Melton, Bacchus Marsh, William’s base Laverton.
Frankston & Peninsula	Dandenong area, Frankston, Mornington Area, Outer Eastern Suburbs, Western Port & HMAS Cerberus.
Northern Victoria; Hub Seymour Area	Bendigo, Echuca, Shepparton, Albury, Wangaratta, Melton, Lilydale, Sunbury, Craigieburn, Bandiana Army Base, Puckapunyal military area.

TAS

Region/ Hub	Potential local learning collaboratives/spokes
Hobart	Hobart & surrounds
Launceston	Launceston, Devonport/Burnie, East coast e.g., St Helens, Swansea

SA

Region/ Hub	Potential local learning collaboratives/spokes
Adelaide	Adelaide (central), Adelaide (outer metropolitan), Victor Harbour, Mt Barker & Stirling, Christies Beach & Happy Valley, Mt Gambier, Edinburgh Defence Precinct, Berri, Riverlands and Barossa Valley.

WA

Region/ Hub	Potential local learning collaboratives/spokes
Perth	Perth Metro, Mandura, Albany, Bunbury-Dunsborough

NT

Region/ Hub	Potential local learning collaboratives/spokes
Darwin	Darwin, Katherine

North QLD

Region/ Hub	Potential local learning collaboratives/spokes
Townsville	Townsville, Cairns, Mackay, Airlie Beach

South QLD

Region/ Hub	Potential local learning collaboratives/spokes
Brisbane & South West	Towamba, Ipswich, Brisbane (central), Beenleigh
Maroochydore-Caloundra & North	Maroochydore-Caloundra, Nambour area, Caboolture, Maryborough/Hervey Bay, Noosa/Gympie

NSW

Region/ Hub	Potential local learning collaboratives/spokes
Northern Rivers: Balina/Lismore	Tweed Heads from SQLD, Northern rivers area, Ballina, Lismore, Coffs Harbour
Port Macquarie to Newcastle (Probable hub Newcastle)	Port Macquarie area, Armidale, Tamworth, Taree, Maitland, Newcastle.
Sydney	Gosford, Penrith, Sydney, Wollongong.

ACT

Region/ Hub	Potential local learning collaboratives/spokes
Canberra	Nowra NSW, Coast south of Nowra NSW, Wagga Wagga NSW, Canberra Metro, Yass NSW, Cooma NSW.

When?

Registration for this training has now closed.

Region	Initial Workshop date (2009)	Follow up workshop
Maroochydore-Caloundra (QLD)	3-4th March	7 October
Adelaide (SA)	1-2 April	22 October
Frankston & Peninsula (VIC)	29-30 April	19 November
Sydney (NSW)	14-15th May	11 December
Darwin (NT)	16-17 June	16 Feb 2010
Perth (WA)	1-2 July	4 Feb 2010
Brisbane (QLD)	16-17 July	11 Feb 2010
Canberra (ACT)	20-21 July	25 Feb 2010
Northern Victoria/ Seymour (VIC)	3-4th August	15 Mar 2010
Tasmania (Initial training in Launceston; 6 mo follow up in Hobart)	19-20 August	18 Mar 2010
Newcastle & Central Coast (NSW)	27-28 August	26 Mar 2010
Geelong & SW Victoria (VIC)	14-15 September	19 April 2010
Ballina & Northern Rivers area (NSW)	23-24 September	5 May 2010
Townsville (QLD)	15-16 October	TBA
Last updated 27/Oct/09

 

The project team

The team, pictured here, from left to right.

Del Lloyd – manages the practical aspects of organising the training sites and marketing.

Tracey Varker – assists in the production of the training and marketing materials.

John O’Connor – is based in Adelaide; works with Anne-Laure in designing and delivering training products.

David Forbes – Clinical expert from ACPMH oversees the initiative.

Anne-Laure Couineau – leads the project at ACPMH.

More detailed biographies of the team members can be found here.