Better Access to Mental Health               Top of page

This initiative aims to increase community access to mental health professionals and team based mental health care.

Local Provider Information

• Allied Health Professionals Directory ²⁰⁰⁹

• Local Mental Health Professionals have provided detailed information about areas of specialty, waiting times and fees. Click here for details. ^{Dec 08 update}

• Specialists in Private Practice Directory ²⁰⁰⁹

• Psychologists who are Medicare providers  (Australian Psychological Society)

• Find a Psychiatrist at the RACGP website  (You will need your RACGP user name and passord)

Templates - (Importing Instructions)

• MD Assessment-Plan-Review 2710 Template at the North East Valley Division. (Right-click on link, then Save-As)

• MD Assessment-Plan-Review 2710 Template at the Monash Division, (simplified version) 

• Mental Health 2710 and 2712 Medtech32 version 

• Outcome measurement tools: 

  • Online versions K10, SF12, HoNOS,

  • K10 in electronic template format  MD,  Best Practice,  Medtech32,

  • K10 Information Guide

General Information

• Checklist for GP Mental Health Assessment, Plan, Review & Consultation.

• GP Mental Health Care Plan Desktop Guide ^{2008 Update}

• Patient Pathways Desktop Guide

• GP Fees and Patient Rebates ^{Nov 08}

• Questions and Answers

• Better Access to Health care - Orientation Manual ^{2008 Update}

• Better Access - General Practice Briefing (MS PowerPoint Required)

Mental Health Services (MHS)               Top of page

Tasmania's Mental Health Services provide a range of community and inpatient services for individuals with a mental illness and for their families.

All referrals of new patients to Mental Health Services should be done via the Mental Health Telephone "Helpline" service. This is a statewide service that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is the single and preferred point of contact for Mental Health Services. The Helpline is staffed by a team of mental health clinicians who will gather referral information and make an initial assessment of the patient.

The Helpline also provides information about all DHHS Mental Health Services.

Contact the Helpline on 1800 332 388

Telephone referrals will take approximately eight minutes and will allow for more effective and efficient referrals and assessments. 
For those who prefer written referrals, these can be faxed to: (03) 6273 1788 utilising the appropriate referral form below:

Residential and Rehabilitation Services

Mental Health Services also fund a range of treatment, supported accommodation, individual support and recovery options. In order to access these services, the application form below needs to be sent to the Maximising Recovery Panel. The postal address is on the application form. GPs may be asked to help a patient complete the paperwork.

Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program             Top of page

General Practices are now able to receive monthly payments when they engage a mental health nurse to assist in managing community based patients with severe mental disorders. A once only establishment payment is also available.

If you are interested in finding out more information about this program go to the Medicare website or contact the .

Services and programs for GPs and their patients

(contact the for more information)

• Mental Health Fact Sheets for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse patients.
  Multicultural Mental Health Australia (MMHA) has released a number of mental health resources. The fact sheets are available in Amharic, Arabic, Assyrian, Chinese, Croatian, Dari, Dinka, English, Farsi, Greek, Italian, Khmer, Korean, Krio, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Swahili, Turkish and Vietnamese.
  The series has also been adapted for people with a print disability. MMHA and Vision Australia have produced the series into Braille, large print, electronic text for the internet and audio formats such as CD, cassette and DAISY for those with a print disability.
  These resources are all free and can be ordered directly from the MMHA office - 02 9840 3333 or downloaded from their web site.

• MAHS (More Allied Health Services) This successful program, funded by the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) is continuing as a service to GPs and their patients in the Huon Valley south of Hobart. The program funds a psychologist to take referrals from GPs for a variety of early interventions. The service is provided free to patients.

• GP Psych Support For free, fast response, telephone, fax and web support service click here. Specialist support for child and adolescent & drug and alcohol psychiatry also available.

Better Outcomes in Mental Health (BOiMH)             Top of page

For more information about BOiMH, go to the AGPN or DOHA websites.

• GP provider of Focussed Psychological Strategies (FPS) - GPs must be registered as a provider of Focussed Psychological Strategies with Medicare Australia to provide FPS and receive MBS rebates,  (see under Education and Training).

• Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) - to enable GPs to access allied health services to support their patients with mental health disorders. 
  This is a program offered to GPs as part of the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care initiative. GPs can refer patients for six free sessions of Focussed Psychological Strategies with an allied health professional. A further six sessions are available if considered appropriate when the GP reviews the patient. Locally this service is known as the Integrated Care Service (see information below)

Integrated Care Service - Relationships Australia             Top of page

The Integrated Care Service (ICS) is provided by Relationships Australia, Tasmania who has a dedicated team of mental health professionals delivering this service for patients. 

The Integrated Care Service delivers Focussed Psychological Strategies for patients with high prevalence mental health disorders under the Australian Government's Better Outcomes in Mental Health Initiative. GPs are able to refer patients who would otherwise have limited or no access to psychological services for 6 free sessions through the service.

To access the Integrated Care Service complete the Mental Health Assessment and Plan and forward via fax (6211 4073) to the Service Coordinator at Relationships Australia, Tasmania.

The Division has developed electronic Medical Director  templates which are available below. Once you have completed the Mental Health Assessment and Plan print and fax to the Service Coordinator at Relationships Australia, Tasmania on 6211 4073 if you wish to refer your patient for psychology services through the Integrated Care Service. Also please print off this information sheet for the patient.

Assessment  Plan  Review  K10  Template download instructions

Referral packs are also available by request  from General Practice South.

Education and training             Top of page

Mental Health Connection

This group meets regularly and all GPs in Southern Tasmania are welcome to attend. The meetings begin with a buffet dinner, followed by a presentation and open discussion on a topic of interest. Presenters are often psychiatrists but may also be GPs, psychologists, mental health nurses etc. Each session is worth 4 CPD points. If you would like more information about the Mental Health Connection meetings, contact the .

Mental Health Professional Development for GPs 

For information on 2008-2010 training requirements for GPs to deliver Focussed Psychological Strategies, please view the RACGP website.

A Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training course will be offered in Tasmania in March 2009. Counselling Skills and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for GPs, presented by Lidia Genovese will be held on March 20 to 22 in Hobart If you would like to register your interest or get more information, please contact the . 

'Can Do' Online Clinical Education module

A new 'Can Do' clinical education module for general practitioners and other health professionals is now available on-line. The 6 hour training module has been accredited by the General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration for Mental Health Skills Training (Level 1) and on-going Focused Psychological Strategies Skills Development (Level 2 maintenance). The interactive education package is a flexible model of training and provides up-skilling in mental health and drug and alcohol co-morbidity. The free on-line educational module covers coordination of care, assessment, care plan development, treatment, referral and review of people who present in primary health care with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions. 

For information on courses available throughout Australia please click on the GPMHSC training page. 

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