About mental health networks
Mental Health Professional Networks (MHPN) establishes and supports interdisciplinary mental health networks across metropolitan, rural, regional and remote Australia.
These locally-driven mental health networks aim to improve consumer outcomes by promoting collaboration between clinicians working in primary mental health care.
There are established mental health networks in both urban and remote remote locations. For more details, including eligibility and benefits, see mental health network overview.
How do I find and join a mental health network?
Find and register for a network on the mental health network map.
Mental health network overview
Am I eligible to join a network?
Any one with a professional interest in mental healthcare is welcome to join a mental health network.
MHPN actively encourages mental health clinicians in the following professions to join networks:
- General Practitioner
- Psychiatrist
- Mental Health Nurse
- Psychologist
- Pediatrician
- Social Worker
- Occupational Therapist
Each network is encouraged to have a mix of professions. Local GPs are fundamental in the referral of consumers to appropriate providers.
What are the benefits of belonging to a mental health network?
You may contribute, influence and improve your local mental healthcare landscape by taking part of an interdisciplinary network.
Benefits include:
- A collaborative approach to mental health treatment.
- Local collegial support.
- The strengthening of professional relationships between local practitioners and services.
- New opportunities for ongoing professional development.
- Leadership opprtunities through coordinating a mental health network. Find our more about mental health network coordination.
Continuing Professional Development Points (CPD)
Participation in a network may attract continuing professional development points. Management of continuing professional development is self-directed by the individual. MHPN will send active participants a Network Meeting Certificate of Attendance stating your name and duration of attendance at meetings.
General Practitioners (GP) may also be able to register for Small Group Learning and Individual Active Learning Modules with the RACGP to gain 40 category 1 points.
For further information on CPD, view details about recognition for professional development and refer to your professional association for details on CPD reporting requirements.
Network member directory
Network members may also be added to the MHPN member directory. This directory includes the following contacts:
- members who have attended one or more meetings of your network (active members), and
- members who have provided MHPN with consent to share their details with the other network members.
The network member directory is emailed out to active members after each network meeting.
Mental health network meeting frequency
Networks aim to meet at least four times per calendar year. Meeting dates and frequency are decided locally by the network.
Coordination of mental health networks
Each network is coordinated by a network member, or a small group of members, with support from MHPN project officers. This coordinator liaises with MHPN to set the time, date and venue for meetings. View the MHPN network coordinator profiles.
Coordinators often organise the meeting focus and agenda. All members are encouraged to take an active role by:
- providing suggestions
- offering support to obtain guest presenters
- volunteering to share their expertise
- inviting colleagues to attend, and
- supporting the network in ways to ensure its sustainability.
Are you interested in coordinating a network meeting? Please contact MHPN for details.
Network members have the ability to shape their network to meet their areas of interest.
Meetings usually follow one or a combination of the following formats:
- education
- clinical review
- peer support
- networking
- community development, and
- collaboration.
Content presented at network meetings may consist of:
- presentations on a topic of interest
- panel discussions
- case study discussions
- knowledge sharing
- skills and expertise exchange, and
- discussion of local referral pathways.
Support for mental health networks
We provide the following support to networks:
- general administration
- events management for network meetings
- funding to contribute to venue advice, guest speakers and catering.
Recognition of service
Network coordinators in service for two years or more are recognised on our coordinators honours board.
Further information about MHPN networks
To find out more about mental health networks, please contact MHPN.
How do I find and join a mental health network?
Ready to join a mental health network? Find and register for a network on the mental health network map.