IIMHL scholarship recipients 2009

Each year leaders are able to apply for a scholarship to attend the IIMHL Leadership Exchange and Network Meeting. This year the focus was on emerging leaders and ten people were selected to attend an exchange and the Network Meeting in Brisbane. As part of the requirements each person is required to do a report on their experiences and show how this will enhance their current and future work in the mental health and addictions sector. The following are excerpts from the report that each person undertook following their IIMHL experience.

Christine Zander
Claire Booth
Donna Blair
Fiona Clapham Howard
Heather Campbell
Lorelei Olafson
Manu Fotu
Michael Williams
Niki Smith
Vicki Burnett

Christine Zander – Manager, Supporting Families Manawatu (NGO)

Meeting other Family/Whanau leaders from around the world was an amazing experience for Christine. She feels exchanging support programmes and discussing the challenges of working with families was invaluable. The significant connections she made throughout the week were with the five other family/carer representatives from Canada, Ireland and Australia. They spent three days sharing programmes, training and the challenges of supporting Family/Carers. By the end of the week they had written a draft paper on Social Inclusion from the Family/Carers perspective. They plan to keep in contact share resources. Some have expressed an interest in visiting Christine’s service.

The main benefit for Christine and Manawatu SF has been the connections she made at the network meeting. She brought back a large number of resources which she will be sharing with the wider SF Branches and other family services.

Christine learnt that family organisations such as Supporting Families need to improve their profile and knowledge about the programmes/models developed over the years. It appears that the New Zealand mental health sector has more family support services in the community than other IIMHL countries. She believes that Supporting Families has a great deal of knowledge and experience that should be shared with other organisations.

Claire Booth – Counsellor, South East and City Primary Health Organisation

For her IIMHL exchange, Claire visited a rural/remote secondary mental health service in Orange NSW. This was interesting and challenging as the bulk of her work has been in primary mental health. The hosts were warm and welcoming, however the visitors were given little time to present their perspective (about 20 minutes) and this was to an audience of 6.

Claire wanted to share her ideas about outcome informed clinical practice but was unable to get her message across well. Claire had not realised that the service was purely secondary and served people with significant and complex mental health problems. Claire’s information and views were strongly challenged. This made her think about how she presents new information. In a recent presentation, where she knew the audience would have a different world view, she accomplished a much better presentation and the ideas were better received. Although uncomfortable at times, IIMHL has been an extremely valuable experience in developing Claire’s leadership skills.

During the exchange Claire made a good connection with a leader from Pegasus Health in Christchurch. Connections with leaders from the intellectual and physical disability sectors in NZ were also made during the Network Meeting in Brisbane. She anticipates that these connections will serve her well in her new role as facilitator for the confidential listening and assistance service in the Department of Internal Affairs.

The main benefits from the IIMHL for Claire were:

• Experiencing the power of the traditional bio-psychosocial paradigm 
• Realising that enlightening some about client directed and outcome informed care is challenging
• Recognising the need to carefully anticipate the needs and hopes of my colleagues and address them well when trying to offer new information and lead colleagues in a new direction
• Knowing that innovative client directed and outcome informed work is occurring with, and by mental health consumers in the UK, Scotland, Ireland and NZ. An area where NZ is leading the way
• Recognising in sectors (particularly disability) with the most vulnerable of consumers, advocacy is still an essential beginning for positive change in service delivery.

If given the opportunity to take part in IIMHL again, Claire would investigate and choose a "closer match" (that is she would ensure the client group was closer in type to her own). “In doing so the exchange may be more mutually fertile”.

Donna Blair - General Manager, Te Utuhina Manaakitanga Trust AOD (NGO)

Donna was matched up with Gurinney Yealamucka, an Aboriginal health service, and Gindaja, a 19 bed alcohol and other drug service in Yarrabah, Cairns, Queensland. The community of Yarrabah had few community resources and with 3,500 people living in 400 houses, Donna was struck with a sense of hopelessness. She was interested in the effectiveness of the alcohol ban placed on the community and learnt that alcohol is regularly smuggled into the community from nearby Cairns.

Thelma, programme manager for Gindaja, and Donna shared knowledge of managing residential programmes and they continue to correspond. The exchange experience brought home to Donna the relative gains made in Maori health services in New Zealand.

The Network Meeting provided some challenges as to how those gathered might contribute to mental health and addiction services world-wide. Indigenous nations supported the development of ‘The Wharerata’ – a framework supporting indigenous leadership that was developed during the indigenous people exchange led by Prof. Mason Durie and involving Maori, Aboriginal, First Nations people among others.

Fiona Clapham Howard – Coordinating Consumer Adviser, Canterbury District Health Board

Fiona arrived in Brisbane “feeling a bit cocky”, suspecting that we had been matched to Queensland Health for what they stood to learn from us, more than the other way around. That cockiness was quickly turned on its head when meeting the mental health branch of Queensland Health, which turned out to be a wealth of resources and experience, driven by engaging leadership, clear commitment to the recovery model and a congruent strategic document, the Queensland Plan for Mental Health 2007-2017. Highlights for Fiona were:

• The Consumer and Carer Workforce Pathway information outlined by Rick Austin, Principal Project Officer for Consumer and Carer Participation
• The processes used to engage with culturally and linguistically diverse communities to increase their uptake of mental health services
• An overview of the work being undertaken at the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Learning, a training institute established to coordinate mental health workers’ training and education in line with the requirements of the Queensland Plan.

Visiting an emergency department the next day, and an acute inpatient ward at the same hospital, did back up those “behind the times” comments Fiona had heard, which reminded her that “there is always a gap between policy and practice”.

Fiona remains impressed, however, with the vision and leadership being shown from the top and believes some ideas and initiatives are transferable to her work within Canterbury DHB’s Specialist Mental Health Services and the New Zealand mental health sector. Fiona was also able to attend the Queensland Alliance’s Global Madness Luncheon. Five speakers from around the world discussed mental health reform from their country’s perspective.

During IIMHL Fiona consolidated collegial relationships with Australian consumer consultants. Among the consumer workers and advocates she met from the UK, there were two she in particular she will follow up with:

• Christina Cooper, Services Manager for the TODAY group in Fife, Scotland
• Jessica Berry, Area Manager for Together Working for Wellbeing

Since her return from Brisbane, Fiona has been contracted alongside Kevin Fjeldsoe, Director of Queensland Health’s Mental Health Plan Implementation and one of our Brisbane hosts, as part of a mental health service review team he is leading in New Zealand at the moment. Ideally next year, Fiona would request an exchange with TODAY in Scotland and other groups such as the Scottish Recovery Network.

Fiona believes the time away from managerial tasks is vital for developing the vision required for effective leadership. She appreciated the working sessions within the network meeting that provided practical opportunities to display leadership within smaller groups.  The Consumer and Carer Workforce Pathway information from Queensland Health will be one of the most immediately useful projects for Fiona to follow.

After experiencing clear leadership and congruent sectoral planning in place in Brisbane, these experiences will be brought to bear on the current realignment under the new GM of Canterbury DHB’s Specialist Mental Health Services, Sandra Walker. A foundation framework document for the regional sector, which was informed by material brought back from the Queensland Health exchange, is about to be released for comment. Fiona anticipates drawing on her IIMHL experience and networks as they work through the implementation of this plan.

Heather Campbell - Service Manager, Te Kupenga Net Trust (NGO)

Heather’s IIMHL journey began in Manoora, Cairns where she spent several days at Wuchopperen Health Services. Wuchopperen is a well established Aboriginal and Torres Strait owned and managed primary health care organisation that combines western medicine and cultural translations and approaches to health.

During her time there Heather made significant connections with staff and local people who referred to her as their “indigenous sister”. She met with many staff members including Sandi Taylor the CEO. The possibility of Wuchopperen staff visiting our organisation in Gisborne was discussed.

IIMHL enhanced Heather’s knowledge of the mental health sector particularly from a global perspective. She learnt more than expected from talking with other leaders and sharing ideas, innovations, challenges, and positive outcomes on our work.

This experience assisted in developing and expanding Heather’s leadership skills and “helped validate the work we do in our region”.

With Social Inclusion as the theme of the conference Heather was proud that NZ is leading the way in many areas with innovations such as the Like minds Like Mine project, and Peer support services such as ours. “Thanks to the IIMHL exchange, our organisation can now add an international reputation to our strong local and regional reputation”.

Heather has been able to share the knowledge gained during her time in Australia with many forums and community groups, within her workplace, and within my own professional and personal sphere.

As a Manager and a leader Heather has gained new skills, new ways of thinking, and more confidence in all aspects of her work.

Lorelei Olafson - Team Leader, Methadone Maintenance Service, Wairarapa NGO

Lorelei was teamed up with the Substance Use and Mental Illness Treatment Team (SUMITT) in Melbourne. Summit is developing a training program for Mental Health nurses to develop the skills to begin some addictions work with their clients. This has given Lorelei a number of ideas for assisting local mental health clinicians to motivate their clients into addressing their addictions. She also met with addictions field leaders from New Zealand and plans to follow up these contacts, particularly prior to New Zealand addictions networking conferences.

The ideas, values and practises shared will influence Lorelei’s own practice. She plans to present feedback to my own team, to be more involved in representing her team in any dual-diagnosis meetings and to incorporate these experiences into the development of her portfolio. Lorelei believes the IIMHL experience has equipped her to develop a research question in the ‘dual-diagnosis’ area. 

Lorelei expected a greater focus on the area of addictions. Much of the information she gathered was more relevant to the mental health sector. However, she is hoping to engage the interest of clinicians to explore this area with her, which she believes will be an advantageous outcome for her service and area.

Manu Fotu - National General Manager of Operations, Vaka Tautua (Pacific NGO)

“Inspirational and motivating”, was how Manu described his experience at IIMHL. A comprehensive programme was organised by his host – Queensland Trans-Cultural Mental Health Centre. Manu learnt a lot about what influences decision making in the Queensland mental health sector. One of the issues highlighted was how the NGO sector is poorly supported by the state.

His hosts have developed impressive resource materials and training pathways. They also have mechanisms in place to ensure that cultural aspects of service deliveries are carried out appropriately. The exchange of knowledge between their organisations has been valuable.

IIMHL gave Manu the opportunity to further enhance his leadership skills by supporting me to hold conversations with members who are great visionaries. “From participation to inclusion’ is a theme that is applicable in any environment, and I am now able to create leadership frameworks using Pacific metaphors. Vaka Tautua will be able to use this framework as a pilot process for other Pacific providers within the mental health and addiction sector”.

Michael Williams - Clinical Director (psychologist), Youth Horizons (NGO)

Michael’s exchange was at the Southern Adelaide Child Adolescent Mental Health Service (SA CAHMS). Dr Clive Skene, the clinical director for SA CAMHS and his team were tremendous hosts, providing a series of professionally delivered programme presentations and site visits.

SA CAMHS has several specialist programmes coupled with research and evaluation, some of which are leading best-practice developments in the CAMHS sector. Michael established connections with several key staff and intends to foster these relationships in order to share knowledge and innovation. He returned with several important ideas which he discussed with his team.

Michael was particularly interested in three main areas of the SA CAMHS which he thought had relevance for Youth Horizons, namely:

• Electronic case-management system, clinical KPI’s and benchmarking
• Full time research position
• Parent and Child Therapy (PACT)

The IIMHL network meeting helped Michael to see the need for greater consumer input at all levels of service delivery if Youth Horizons is to enhance its ability to be a responsive and consumer focus organisation. These ideas are woven into their business plan for this year. “My hope is that we will be able to implement these ideas, which in time will translate to improved care and outcomes for the young people and families that Youth Horizons’ works with”.

Niki Smith - Consumer Advocate, Alcohol and Drug Association of New Zealand

Niki’s match for the IIMHL exchange was Consumers of Mental Health Western Australia (COMHWA) – a consumer network with a focus on advisory.  They discussed the challenges of co-ordinating people separated by distance with limited access to communication technology. The difference between mental health, and AOD consumer experiences, and how to address the needs of people with a dual diagnosis was also discussed. Another significant link made was with Western Australia Substance Users Association, a peer service similar to the NZ needle exchanges, but also offer advocacy. AOD peer services are still thin on the ground so there is a real sense of value in that connection. They will be continuing these conversations.

The ripple out effect of IIMHL was demonstrated for Niki recently. An Australian service putting forward a proposal for AOD consumer advocacy has requested feedback and support from Niki…”ultimately that kind of connectedness is of benefit to my peers”.

This experience has given Niki drive for a ‘big picture’ perspective. It cemented her passion for peer driven services that are shared and part of the way forward. Niki believes there is ample scope, particularly within the Aotearoa AOD Consumer Network, to apply the benefits of her experience at IIMHL.

Vicki Burnett - Independent Consumer Consultant, Northern DHB Services Agency

Vicki’s exchange included a visit to a 204 bed facility which provides medium to long term inpatient assessment, treatment and rehabilitation, and meeting with the senior management team for the District Mental Health Service. Although the theme of the exchange was Social Inclusion, Vicki felt that both services were some way off reflecting this in practice.

“The 204 bed unit facility has an average length of stay of 5.4 years. Staff there believe there is no viable alternative for these ‘difficult to house and difficult to support people’. Non-Government organisations (NGO), which are better placed to deliver services that support people to live well in a setting of their choice, make up only 5% of services in Australia” said Vicki.

The District Mental Health Service was keen to know how services in New Zealand and Canada differed from the places Vicki had visited. Much of the discussion centred on models that might enable transfer of people out of the 204 bed facility into small support facilities in the community. Vicki noted that change seemed slow and the ability to change funding from hospital to community services was limited. There appears, for many staff, a lack of distinction between Rehabilitation and Recovery.

The Network Meeting provided great opportunities to share thinking and initiatives around a very broad range of topics. Vicki also managed to attend the weekend meeting ‘Heart to hearts’ that was run for and by consumers.
For Vicki the advantages of joining IIMHL were to connect with leaders from seven countries, in particular, to meet consumer leaders and join in discussion and challenge ideas. She enjoyed people’s willingness to network and their expectation to learn from each other. It was an opportunity for Vicki to “take stock of where we are internationally and confirmed for her that New Zealand is leading in many areas and willing to learn from others”.

Page last updated: 18 May 2009