National Youth Mental Health Workforce Strategy 2016-2020 (Orygen)

National Youth Mental Health Workforce Strategy (2016 – 2020)

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Acknowledgement Nationally and internationally, many people across the mental health sector, broader health and human service sectors and in academia have contributed a wealth of experience and advice to Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, during the development of this strategy, and we are grateful for this broad support. We are also particularly grateful to the young people from across Australia who contributed their ideas, experience and advice to Orygen in the development of this strategy. Disclaimer This information is provided for general education and information purposes only. It is current as at the date of publication and is intended to be relevant for Australia and may not be applicable in other countries. Any diagnosis and/or treatment decisions in respect of an individual patient should be made based on your professional investigations and opinions in the context of the clinical circumstances of the patient. To the extent permitted by law, Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your use of or reliance on this information. You rely on your own professional skill and judgement in conducting your own health care practice. Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health does not endorse or recommend any products, treatments or services referred to in this information. © Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health 2016 This publication is copyright. Apart from use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 and subsequent amendments, no part may be reproduced, stored or transmitted by any means without prior written permission of Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health. Enquiries concerning this report and its reproduction should be directed to: Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health. Telephone: 1300 679 436 Internet: www.orygen.org.au Suggested citation Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health (2016). The National Youth Mental Health Workforce Strategy. Melbourne.

National Youth Mental Health Workforce Strategy (2016 – 2020)

NATIONAL YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE STRATEGY (2016–2020) 4 Foreword Mental ill-health is the number one issue facing young people worldwide. As the leading cause of disability in those aged between 10 and 24 years it contributes 45 per cent of the overall burden of disease. Australia is leading the world with transformational reform and investment to address the needs of young people experiencing mental ill-health. To support this reform we need a clear road map to ensure we have a sustainable and skilled youth mental health workforce now and into the future. This strategy is built on the principle that young people with mental ill-health should be able to access the highest quality care wherever they present for support across a range of service systems. It also acknowledges the vital role for young people with a lived experience of mental ill-health, their family and carers within the mental health workforce. Drawing from recent research and evidence for youth focused mental health service delivery this strategy aims to provide all in the sector with a way forward to build a skilled, capable, collaborative and sustainable youth mental health workforce. One that has the flexibility to respond to new and innovative practice now and into the future. It provides guidance for service planners and funders so that they can respond strategically to existing gaps and emerging opportunities and improve the response to youth mental health, ensuring appropriately qualified and skilled staff are employed in key services and settings. For mental health services, this strategy describes opportunities and enablers that they can consider and adopt in their own recruitment strategies and staff development policies and processes, ensuring support for young people's mental health is part of their core service delivery. Outside clinical mental health service delivery, this strategy also describes the broader youth mental health workforce, such as youth and community workers, teachers, primary care providers and Aboriginal health workers, and articulates core competencies for these professionals. This strategy should be read in conjunction with the National Youth Mental Health Training Framework which has also been produced by Orygen. Together they will be of use to all those who plan health and human service workforces, who employ people who come into contact with young people and who research in the area of workforce development.

NATIONAL YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE STRATEGY (2016–2020) 5 Contents Introduction 6 Background 7 Principles 11 Domain 1 – A capable and skilled youth mental health workforce 12 Domain 2 – A sustainable and qualified professional youth mental health workforce 16 Domain 3 – An innovative and adaptive youth mental health workforce 20 Domain 4 – A connected, responsive and flexible youth mental health workforce 24 References 27

NATIONAL YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE STRATEGY (2016–2020) 6 Introduction The National Youth Mental Health Workforce Strategy (2016-2020) provides direction on workforce development, reforms and initiatives to improve the care for young people, aged 12–25 years, who are experiencing mental ill-health. It outlines a clear roadmap for Australia to build a sustainable and skilled youth mental health workforce across four key domains. These are: 1. A capable and skilled clinical and non-clinical youth mental health workforce which can provide evidence-based and appropriate care to young people across the stages of mental ill-health. 2. A sustainable, secure and ongoing supply of appropriately qualified youth mental health professionals and specialists. 3. A culture of innovation and continuous improvement which is embedded across the youth mental health workforce. 4. A responsive, collaborative and flexible youth mental health workforce. Within each domain, an overarching goal is articulated, with evidence provided to support the rationale. A set of enablers and barriers to achieve this goal are then described and each domain concludes with a way forward. These proposed actions can be implemented by governments, service planners and funders, service managers, educators and workers ensuring they contribute to the future development of the youth mental health workforce. This strategy has been shaped and informed through: • a comprehensive review of peer-reviewed and grey literature; • advice from national and international experts; and • the experiences of key stakeholders (including young people with a lived experience of mental ill-health).

NATIONAL YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE STRATEGY (2016–2020) 7 Background At present there is a clear argument for focusing on the youth mental health workforce and developing innovative workforce approaches specific to young people. This includes: • The scale and extent of the young people's mental ill-health. • Consistent (global) evidence of low rates of help-seeking by the young people who most need help (McGorry et al