Aboriginal mental health program wins achievement award for rural services

Current topic
Published in the HealthBulletin
Posted on:
1 October, 2010
Issue
Vol 10 No 4, October - December 2010
Related topics
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers Current topics Social and emotional wellbeing

The Aboriginal mental health workforce program has been awarded the gold achievement award for rural services at the Australia and New Zealand Mental Health Services conference. The program was recognised for its efforts in increasing the number of Aboriginal mental health workers in western NSW. It was developed by Len Kanowski on the premise that by increasing the number of Aboriginal people in the mental health workforce, there would be a corresponding increase in the number of Aboriginal people accessing mental health services. The Greater Western Area Health Service runs the program and since its launch in 2002, the program has increased the number of Aboriginal mental health workers in the western NSW region from four to 26. At present, the program is in the process of training 19 Aboriginal mental health workers, some of whom have moved from other states to participate in the program which is further testament to the program’s success.

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