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Workforce Development

MHCC works to improve services by promoting and developing the skills and capacity of the non government mental health workforce.

National Mental Health NGO Workforce Study

The National Health Workforce Taskforce (NHWT), in collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers, has commenced a project that aims to better understand the existing non-government mental health workforce, and what the future needs of the workforce may be. MHCC strongly encourages you to participate in this project to ensure the highest quality data is collected about our workforce. Whilst this survey is distinct from the National Mental Health Workforce Strategy and Plan being developed in partnership with Siggins Miller, there are strategic linkages. The two projects will be liaising on an ongoing basis to maximise the synergies between the two projects.

It is acknowledged by jurisdictions that government has limited knowledge of the scope, size and skills of the current mental health workforce in the community sector. The NGO mental health sector is increasing in size and importance, but little is known about the workforce, hampering planning. The valuable contribution that this sector makes should and needs to be better understood. The aim of the project is to design and test a methodology to support mental health workforce planning for the non-government community mental health sector, through the provision of improved data and information on workforce supply and trends. The data collected will assist in raising a consistent and professional profile for the mental health non-government organisation sector.

The study aims to create a workforce planning tool for future planning, and to achieve a minimum dataset for the workforce. The first phase of this program will involve distributing a survey for the completion by managers of non-government organisations providing mental health services to the community. This first stage of data collection is an internet based survey, with a paper based option. It seeks to identify the activities, size and needs of the organisations and workforce, and contributes to government policy. Data collected will be de-identified, and will assist the sector with forward planning and ongoing workforce recruitment, retention and development. Further, it will support raising a consistent and professional profile for our often under-valued workforce.

The Landscape survey opened 16 December 2009 for a response by 5 February 2010. NOW EXTENDED TO 7 MAY 2010 - see update below.

National NGO Workforce Study Update – April 2010

REOPENED - National Mental Health NGO Workforce Study
Project Status Summary
Thankyou to all MHCC members and other community managed mental health services that responded to the survey in December and January. The organizational “Landscape Survey” has been reopened from 12/4 to 7/5 to increase response rates. The “Workforce Survey” will be opened on 10/5 for replies from individual staff of selected organizations responding to the Landscape Survey by 11/6.

You are encouraged to participate in this most important project that will help shape workforce development opportunities for our sector into the future. The survey can be accessed and completed online at www.nhwt.org.au/mentalhealthsurvey.asp

Mental Health Non-Government Organisation Workforce Study Update From PwC.

• The first rounds of the Landscape Survey have provided a good initial sample response in relation to the Mental Health NGO sector.
• Strong engagement with the sector has been promoted through a number of communication channels and methods. The work of the Expert Reference Group, mental health peak associations and other stakeholder organisations have greatly assisted in achieving a positive response rate since the commencement of the Landscape Survey at the beginning of 2010.
• You may have already received information regarding this survey and/or completed the survey. However we have reopened the survey (until Friday, 7th May) to give those organisations that did not have an opportunity to complete the survey initially to do so now and be counted in this important study.

The Study consists of 2 phases:

Survey 1: The Landscape Survey – with a focus on obtaining information from managers/executives of community managed organisations providing support to mental health consumers and carers. This survey commenced in December 2009 and was originally due for completion at the end of March 2010, but now extended to Friday 7th May.

Survey 2: The Workforce Survey - directed at a sample of individual staff members within organisations captured in the Landscape Survey who provide direct and indirect support to mental health consumers and carers. This second survey will be conducted between 10th May 2010 and 11th June 2010 and further information will be provided closer to the launch date

What can you do…..

• If your organisation has not completed the Landscape Survey we request your assistance in assistance in completion.
• The survey can be accessed and completed online at www.nhwt.org.au/mentalhealthsurvey.asp 
• If you are unsure whether your organisation has completed the survey please call the project assistance line on (03) 9092 2074 or nhwt@dhs.vic.gov.au 
• We recognise that web-based may not be the optimal method for all participants and therefore faxed or paper-based copies of the completed survey will be accepted. Copies of the paper-based survey can be accessed at www.nhwt.org.au or by contacting the hotline.
• Completed responses of the survey can be faxed to (03) 9092 2093 or emailed to nhwt@dhs.vic.gov.au .The paper based surveys can also be posted to the National Health Workforce Taskforce, Level 12, 120 Spencer Street, Melbourne, 3000.

Our commitment is to ensure the best possible response to the survey and to provide the Australian Governments with an adequate picture of the size, contribution and value of the sector. We would ask your timely assistance in achieving this.

As a further incentive there will be a draw for a $100 Myer’s voucher for organizations completing the survey.

Further information on NHWT and the NGO Mental Health Workforce Study can be found at www.nhwt.gov.au

A hotline to answer any specific questions about the survey has been set up and is available Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. The hotline number is 03 9092 1890.

MHCC Is producing resources to assist organisations to develop their workforce within a recovery framework

NEW RELEASE - Mental Health Recovery Philosopy into Practice: A workforce development guide

MHCC is assisting Community Based Organsiations to attract and retain staff and help individuals in their career development

Much of the work of the workforce development strategy is about making working within the mental health NGO sector more rewarding. A key aim is to raise the sector’s profile, addressing issues concerning career pathways, skills recognition and development and industry standards. We do this by:


Our work in workforce development is informed by The Workforce Development Reference Group which provides MHCC with advice and knowledge of the NGO mental health workforce sector’s training and workforce development needs. Click here for more information on the Workforce Development Reference Group, including how you can be involved and records of meetings.

Our overall strategy in workforce development aims to ensure that:

  • service delivery is characterised by quality, innovation, and evidence based practice;
  • service delivery involves a continuous process of enhancing the workforce to ensure it is capable of delivering organisational objectives into the future; and
  • necessary steps are taken to improve the skills and capacity of the mental health workforce
  • This includes addressing career development, workforce expansion, organisational governance and management.

Various MHCC documents relating to workforce development