The North Coast Primary Health Network has been chosen as one of Australia’s 10 lead sites for the roll-out of the national mental health reforms.

In this role the NCPHN will be a pioneer in primary mental health care reform, with work to include testing models of co-ordinated care for adults with severe mental illness and complex care needs, including approaches to assessment, referral pathways and packages of care.

These models are likely to be tested in small cohorts in some regions. Implementing a systems approach to suicide prevention will also form part of its Lead Site work.

The NCPHN will work alongside consumers, carers and service providers to develop and model innovative approaches to regional planning, integration, low intensity services and stepped care in primary mental health care.

The work will be monitored and evaluated using a structured trial framework. Learnings will inform reform in other regions across the country.

The awarding of this opportunity is a reflection of NCPHN’s strong stakeholder relationships and the ongoing collaborative work within the mental health sector in both the Mid North Coast and Northern NSW regions.