Pursuing a career in mental health – Occupational Therapist Lily Buchanan.
A new Allied Health graduate program is helping boost mental health services in the Central West Hospital and Health Service region.
Mental Health Allied Health Director Joni Barrie said Central West Health had received funding to host an Occupational Therapist on a two-year graduate program with the Central West’s Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs (MHAOD) service.
The Allied Health Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Services New Graduate Program has been developed and implemented by the Office of the Chief Allied Health Officer as part of Better Care Together – a plan for Queensland’s state-funded mental health, alcohol, and other drug services to 2027.
A key priority of Better Care Together is to improve workforce capability and sustainability in mental health and alcohol and other drug services across the state.
Allied Health graduates participating in the new program will undertake a comprehensive two- year work-based graduate program in mental health services across the state.
Ms Barrie said the aim of the program was to build and expand the range of Allied Health professionals working in mental health services.
“There is a growing demand for mental health services across the state and increasing complexity in the demography of people seeking mental health services.
“The new program helps expose Allied Health graduates to a career in mental health, which they might not otherwise have considered as part of their career progression as Allied Health professionals.
“This in turn will help build and expand the mental health workforce of the future, especially in rural and remote areas where recruitment of clinicians is always challenging.’’
Ms Barrie said Occupational Therapist Lily Buchanan – who recently graduated from Sunshine Coast University – was Central West Health’s first participant in the newly-introduced Allied Health MHAOD new graduate program.
“I did a placement while I was at university with a mental health team at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and I really enjoyed the work, which got me thinking about getting into mental health when I graduated,’’ Ms Buchanan said.
“I’m from Brisbane but I was interested in working in rural and remote areas, so when I saw this graduate position advertised in the Central West, I thought it would be a perfect fit for me.
“I particularly like the additional mentoring and extensive support that is provided to participants throughout the course of the two-year training program, which will be very valuable as I progress.’’