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Content last updated 12/10/2021

A Joint Regional Plan for Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, Alcohol and Other Drug Services in the Gold Coast region

A JOINT INITIATIVE OF:

GCPHN GCH Joint Initiative

The Joint Regional Plan for Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, Alcohol and Other Drugs Services  is the result of extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders and builds on a strong partnership between Gold Coast Primary Health Network (GCPHN) and Gold Coast Health.

The Joint Regional Plan, which was officially launched in July 2020, was informed by people with a lived experience, service providers, clinicians and community stakeholders and details a shared understanding of the issues our region faces, a shared vision for the future and a joint strategic roadmap for future service provision.

GCPHN and Gold Coast Health have continued to engage with stakeholders and progress a range of activities against the strategic roadmaps outlined in the Joint Regional Plan. Our Implementation Report – July 2021 shows how over the last 12 months we have transitioned to the implementation phase. This report is part of GCPHN and Gold Coast Health’s ongoing commitment to open communication and highlights key activities that GCPHN and Gold Coast Health have progressed under the Joint Regional Plan.

Implementation of the Plan

GCPHN and Gold Coast Health are focused on ensuring the implementation of the Plan draws on the momentum and enthusiasm that was present during the development. The early years of the plan will focus on building the necessary foundations and partnerships: key governance arrangements; a focus on better communication between services and across the system; putting in place local arrangements for supporting and networking; and collecting the necessary data to demonstrate progress against the plan.

To provide leadership and guidance throughout the implementation of the plan, the Strategic Oversight Committee has been established.

The Strategic Oversight Committee meets bi-monthly and provides a platform for leaders and people with lived experience and cultural knowledge to come together as partners, using their specific knowledge and expertise to inform the best ways to achieve the shared outcomes identified in the Joint Regional Plan.

To learn more about the governance groups and meeting outcomes from the planning phase, please view the Joint Regional Plan Development Process.

The Suicide Prevention Community Action Plan

The development of the Suicide Prevention Community Action Plan (CAP) was undertaken as part of the joint initiative between Gold Coast Primary Health Network (GCPHN) and Gold Coast Health to develop a Joint Regional Plan for Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, and Alcohol and Other Drugs (the Joint Regional Plan) in response to the new Suicide Prevention Strategy outlined by the Australian Government.

Using the LifeSpan framework, this plan aims to bring together lived experience, health services and community efforts to support a holistic approach to suicide prevention on the Gold Coast. The CAP seeks to strengthen relationships and collaboration in the planning, coordination, and implementation of suicide prevention activities and is intended to foster supportive social relationships, encourage effective help-seeking and positive connections to good health services, and support family harmony as well as a sense of purpose and control. As this plan is ambitious and wide-reaching people are encouraged to use it to guide all suicide prevention activities that are planned to increase the coordination and collective impact of our efforts.

This plan is intended to be iterative and ongoing and reflects the importance of a coordinated and continual approach to suicide prevention for our region.

To increase community involvement, individuals or community groups are invited to submit an expression of interest to join the Suicide Prevention Implementation Group and/or to be kept informed about current activities or have an opportunity to submit information.

Strategic Oversight Committee

Strategic Oversight Responsibilities
https://gcphn.org.au/about/our-partnerships-collaborations/joint-regional-plan/#strategic-oversight-responsibilities Copied to clipboard

Members of the Strategic Oversight Committee will work towards the shared outcomes in the Joint Regional Plan through the following responsibilities:

  • Identify issues and opportunities of strategic importance, including government reform and policy environment
  • Embed the Joint Regional Plan within internal organisational processes and activities
  • Influence and recommend short, medium- and longer-term actions, including alignment of existing and new resourcing, that would contribute to the ‘desired states’ and longer-term outcomes identified in the Joint Regional Plan.
  • Develop close relationships with stakeholders and collaborative groups to progress implementation of the Joint Regional Plan
  • Work as part of a team, share decision making and be well prepared for each meeting.
Meeting Outcomes
https://gcphn.org.au/about/our-partnerships-collaborations/joint-regional-plan/#meeting-outcomes Copied to clipboard
  • September 2021
  • We reviewed the results of the Joint Regional Plan partnership review, discussing elements that are important for us to work through to maintain and strengthen the partnership.
  • The First Year Implementation Report has been completed and was shared with the community as part of the Symposium. We acknowledged the progress we have made in the first year and the positive feedback on the Symposium.
  • We endorsed the scope of the next iteration of the Joint Regional Plan; agreeing to build on the existing plan by adding the service investment components as a more detailed addendum.
  • Working group progress updates for the AOD Strategic Partnership Group and the Gold Coast Psychosocial Alliance were tabled, with recommendations provided.
  • June 2021
  • We reviewed and endorsed the Gold Coast Psychosocial Alliance workplan.
  • We reviewed and endorsed the AOD Strategic Partnership Group workplan.
  • We provided input on the plans for the JRP and Australian Rotary Health Symposium, planned for 19 August.​
  • April 2021
  • We affirmed support for a collaborative project with the Institute of Urban Indigenous Health to analyse mental health service provision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations in South East Queensland
  • We had an in-depth discussion of early findings from the safe space co-design process and noted specific feedback to be mindful of as the work progresses.
  • We continued discussions on options to support engagement of people with lived experience in our region.
  • As they move into a new role, acknowledged the work of GCH’s Service Director of Partnerships and Planning as a key enabler during the implementation phase.
  • January 2021
  • A significant and positive step is the endorsement of the approach to building the capacity of lived experience
  • Aspirations for the PHN Rotary partnership for the 2021 Symposium is positive, and opportunity to showcase progress of the JRP, and progress future work
  • Approach to the development of the safe space is a great example of a joined up example of co-commissioning and partnership to improve service response; underpinned and enabled by existing partnership and ethos of collective working
  • November 2020
  • Reporting and monitoring approach endorsed including recognition of importance of including the perspective of lived experience is included in monitoring progress.
  • Communications and engagement strategy endorsed. Opportunities to build on existing PHN, Gold Coast Health and community sector work will continue to embed the vision of the Joint Regional Plan.
  • We acknowledge the joined up approach to responding to the significant demand on the mental health systems as a result of COVID, reflecting the Joint Regional Plan foundational elements.
  • We endorsed work to ensure the Crisis Reform agenda and broader suicide prevention implementation approach is aligned.
  • September 2020
  • The SOC had its inaugural meeting and endorsed the Terms of Reference which outline the SOC’s purpose as platform for leaders and people with lived experience and cultural knowledge to come together as partners, using their specific knowledge and expertise to inform the best ways to achieve the shared outcomes identified in the Joint Regional Plan. The SOC acknowledges we are still in process of recruiting General Practice and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s representation.
  • We endorsed the implementation approach, including oversight role of SOC.
  • We acknowledge the key pieces of work currently in progress that contribute to the Joint Regional Plan.
  • We recognise the need and desire for ongoing engagement with the sector and are planning targeted mechanisms as well as a joint symposium with Runaway Bay Rotary Club.

Stay engaged

To receive updates on the implementation of the Joint Regional Plan for Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, Alcohol and Other Drug Services & other GCPHN activities please signup to our online publication Your Local Primary Health Network News.

Would you like to contact us please email GCregionalplan@gcphn.com.au.