Message from the Chair

Happy new year and welcome to the first edition of the General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) newsletter for 2021.

With the 2020–22 continuing professional development (CPD) triennium well underway, I’m pleased to see the continued support for GP training and education in mental health. The ongoing success of the GPMHSC relies on collaboration between GPs, our dedicated member organisations and training providers.

Productivity Commission Inquiry Report on Mental Health

The GPMHSC will make a submission to the Australian Government’s consultation on the recommendations and proposed actions outlined in the Productivity Commission Inquiry Report on Mental Health. Although the final report addresses a broad range of fundamental issues, such as social determinants and accessibility to mental health services, the specific recommendations around GP gateway to care and reorientation of primary mental health services lack clarity.

Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia

I encourage GPs and training providers to download the Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia. Embrace Multicultural Mental Health (the Embrace Project) has incorporated the framework into national programs to help individual practitioners, organisations and others work effectively in a multicultural context.

You can also visit the Embrace Project website, which houses a collection of free online resources and information on delivering culturally and linguistically diverse mental healthcare.

The impact of COVID-19 on training and education

The resurgence of COVID-19 cases in some states over recent months has brought back some restrictions that may affect the delivery of face-to-face training workshops. I recommend you seek alternative ways to learn, such as online education and activities.

I urge training providers to take this opportunity to consider redeveloping existing training and education, so it doesn’t involve face-to-face contact. You can find more information on submitting a distance-learning application to the GPMHSC in this newsletter.
 
Associate Professor Morton Rawlin
Chair, GPMHSC