Operational Update

As we transition to a focus on recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic, the Western Australian Association for Mental Health (WAAMH) remains committed to doing what we can to support our members, the community mental health sector, our government, our teams and staff, people with lived experience, and the broader community to stay safe, well and connected. 

What is happening at WAAMH?

We are continuing to work collaboratively with government and other services to ensure a cohesive response to the current environment, and as we move forward into the recovery period, encourage sector-wide reflection on the innovations and learnings that have come out of the pandemic. 

After a series of sector forums dedicated to operational and scenario planning for the pandemic, WAAMH submitted a report to government outlining what requirements the community mental health sector had identified to appropriately respond to the pandemic, with a key aim to keep people well, and where possible, away from our hospitals that were bracing for the viruses impact.
Learn more about the process and read the full report here.

A key finding of the forums was the usefulness and benefit of having a shared and collaborative space to engage within the sector. 
With this finding in mind, WAAMH applied for and was successful in receiving funding through Lotterywest to develop this space; an online platform called the Collaborative and Responsive Engagement (CARE) Hub.

The CARE Hub will focus on 5 domains of sector support, including :

  • Providing support for Communities of Practice learning networks
  • Collating, adapting and developing practice frameworks and tools
  • Providing sector-responsive online interactive learning opportunities
  • Facilitating a communication and consultation hub where sector-relevant updates, scenario planning and peer conversations can occur, and
  • Establishing a skills-matching and recruitment platform.

Attend our CARE Hub launch event on 16 February to find out more and take a tour. 

WAAMH remains a key voice for the community mental health sector,  feeding the innovations, adaptions and lessons learned from COVID to government, and feeding information and updates back to our members and the wider sector.

We are strongly committed to representing and supporting you at this time, and this will continue to be our key focus.

WAAMH staff 

The WAAMH office on Nash Street, Perth, has re-opened from 8am - 4pm weekdays. WAAMH staff have transitioned back to working from the office and WAAMH has supported those staff who have decided to maintain some of their working hours from home. Thanks to technology, we are continuing to connect efficiently with our stakeholders across digital platforms where required, and face-to-face where appropriate. 

Training and events return to WAAMH

As the pandemic restrictions begin to lift, WAAMH has rescheduled its training semester to commence in September 2020, while also launching a brand new online Interactive Learning Stream, starting in August 2020.
Contract training courses are also available for bookings once again.
Sector Development and Advocacy events have recommended in face-to-face settings, incorporating online connectivity as required.
The health and safety of our participants, trainers, stakeholders and staff are a top priority and all appropriate hygiene and physical distancing measures remain in place at all WAAMH in-person gatherings.

In responding to the challenges posed by COVID-19, our aims are to:

Promote connectedness and care for each other: These have been and remain unprecedented, challenging times and many people may find their mental wellbeing is impacted. Whilst we may need to remain physically distant from each other, WAAMH champions ways in which we can still connect and support each other.

Recommended resources for self-care and supporting others: A dedicated COVID-19 resource list has been compiled here, featuring resources for self-care, resources for the community mental health sector, recommendations for accurate updates and information on the pandemic, translatable mental health information and more.

Be flexible and responsive to the community mental health sector: Whilst WAAMH has made reasonable and measured adjustments to our ways of working to promote health and safety, we have been and will stay accessible to our stakeholders.

WAAMH is still keen to know what would be helpful to your organisation from your peak body. With this in mind, if you are a community mental health service provider, please let us know how you, your staff, your clients and your service in general has managed the pandemic and now the gradual recovery, by contacting: 
Chelsea McKinney
Advocacy and Sector Development Manager
Email: CMCKinney@waamh.org.au