Key themes in North Coast NSW
Analysis for the North Coast region utilised written notes from two consultations in Kempsey (attended by around 54 people) and Ballina (attended by around 48 people) with photos of the butcher’s paper also available for Ballina. From the materials available the following key themes were distilled:
- Stigma, reduced stigma, societal change view, media and public health campaigns to be improved, destigmatising and demystifying mental health issues
- Peer workforce, peer led services, more lived experience peer workers
- Well educated and informed workforce, mental health worker training, more support for all workers in mental health system, workforce strategies, improved professional development, self-care, recruit good people
- Funding, short funding cycles, competitive tendering processes, funding responding to needs of the community, funding allocations
- Infrastructure, transport, appropriate housing, long-term, affordable housing, community hubs, stable housing
In addition, the following key themes emerged in response to the questions: what is working well, what are the challenges, and what are the priorities?
What is working well in North Coast NSW?
| What is working well? | Qualifiers/examples |
| Peer work |
Peer worker program; Staff with lived experience/peer workers - now recognising lived experience of staff members |
| Collaboration |
Home visits; Community based points of contact; Partnerships with NGOs; Carers groups; Support groups; Collaborative relationships between government and community sector |
| Stigma |
Decrease in stigma, high profile people talking about it; More positive reporting in the media |
| Trauma informed care | |
| Community engagement |
Building a resilient community; Community will for acceptance and change; Safe community |
| Co-design | Increased design processes for co-design |
What are the challenges in North Coast NSW?
| What are the challenges? | Qualifiers/examples |
| Infrastructure | Stable housing; Need for housing support; Transport |
| Isolation |
Outreach to isolated people is needed; Rural areas facing distinct challenges; Access to services is challenging |
| NDIS |
Access and assessment; Out of pocket expenses; Services won't engage until an approved plan |
| Funding |
Short funding cycles; Competitive tendering processes; Funding responding to needs of the community; Funding allocations |
| Training |
Short funding cycles; Competitive tendering processes; Funding responding to needs of the community; Funding allocations |
| Workforce |
Lack of paediatricians; Lack of child psychiatry; Lack of GP services; Staffing gaps; Workforce skills shortage; Lack of counsellors; Staff burn out; Ageing workforce |
What are the priorities in North Coast NSW?
| What are the priorities | Qualifiers/examples |
| Well educated and informed workforce |
Mental health worker training; More support for all workers in mental health system; Workforce strategies, improved professional development, self-care; Recruit good people |
| Removing stigma |
Reduced stigma; Societal change view; Media and public health campaigns to be improved; Destigmatising and demystifying mental health issues |
| Improved infrastructure |
Transport; Appropriate housing, long-term; Affordable housing; Community hubs; Stable housing |
| Children and youth services |
Increase specialist children's services; More school-based education; Services go to kids in their environment; Early intervention for young people and children |
| Funding |
More strategic increase in funding; Waiting times for lifeline; Transition for funding change; Funding for emergency services; Funding commitments that reach beyond funding cycles; Funding for peer support, community care, research |
| Peer work |
Peer led services; Peer support embedded in neighbourhood services; Peer support for youth; More peer workers; More lived experience peer workers |
Download the PDF of Key Themes in North Coast NSW
The Mental Health Commission of NSW acknowledges the contribution of The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), who were engaged to conduct a qualitative data analysis for the mid-term review of Living Well.