News
Project Officer Appointed
A national project officer, Kate Anthony, has been appointed to assist with the MHPOD pilot. Kate is based at the Department of Health in Victoria. Kate will be travelling to each of the pilot sites to assist in their preparation for piloting the first ten Topics to be released. A list of the pilot Topics can be found here. The pilot will include a trial of blended learning facilitation materials to supplement the online content for some participants.
Pilot Sites Selected
Eleven pilot sites nationally have been confirmed. Pilot sites have undertaken to provide between 20 and 50 learners to test about ten topics from MHPOD. A significant proportion of the participants will be in their first two years of working in a mental health service. The ACT has decided not to participate in the pilot, however, all other states and territories are involved. The list of selected sites can be found here.
Content Completion
Writing of content for MHPOD is now complete. Some additional materials are being prepared, including a curriculum guide for educators, and facilitator’s materials for a small number of topics. Attention is now shifting towards pilots of MHPOD nationally, and details regarding implementation of the Learning Management System (LMS).
Update: Expression of interest closes
An expression of interest (EOI) for public mental health services to participate as a pilot site for MHPOD closed during December 2009. The aims of the pilot process are to identify enablers and barriers to the successful implementation of MHPOD; support services to incorporate MHPOD in professional development programs; and to evaluate MHPOD’s effectiveness as a professional development tool.
MHPOD pilot
An expression of interest (EOI) for public mental health services to participate as a pilot site for MHPOD was released in November 2009. The aims of the pilot process are to identify enablers and barriers to the successful implementation of MHPOD; support services to incorporate MHPOD in professional development programs; and to evaluate MHPOD’s effectiveness as a professional development tool.
Two new sample topics
Two new topics are now available on the Sample Topics page (see the Try a Sample page): Classification of Mental Disorders and Dual Disability. Both topics deliver "on the ground experience" through the inclusion of audio interviews with practitioners, and some activities for you to check and refine your understanding of both subjects.
Project Update
About three-quarters of the topics that will comprise MHPOD have been developed to a near-final stage. Topics currently being worked on include gender sensitive practice, dual diagnosis practice, mental health histories and mental state examination.