ABOUT THE CENTRE

BACKGROUND

The CRRMH was established in 2001 and is a major partnership between the University of Newcastle, the Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Office (NSW Health) and the Greater Western Area Health Service. The CRRMH has made substantial contributions to the achievement of state wide policy goals in rural mental health through its research, education and service development initiatives.

The Centre aims to improve the provision of mental health services through the identification of and response to the needs of rural and remote communities. In particular, this includes the development of appropriate service models for rural mental health care, providing professional development opportunities for clinical staff and offering education and training.

SHORT HISTORY

The concept of the Centre was initiated by Dr John Hoskin, a psychiatrist with many years experience in the Orange area, and Associate Professor Paul Fanning, former Area Director of Mental Health for the Mid Western Area Health Service (now the Greater Western Area Health Service). The transition from concept to reality was achieved by Professor Beverly Raphael, former Director of the Centre for Mental Health (now the Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Office), through her role in securing the funding for the Centre.

In October 1999 Professor Vaughan Carr, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Newcastle, submitted a successful tender to the NSW Department of Health to develop a Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health in Orange. A statement of agreement between the Health Administration Corporation and the University of Newcastle was signed in June 2000 providing funding over five years to be made available to the University to establish the Centre.

The Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health was established on the grounds of Bloomfield Hospital, Orange, and opened its doors in January 2001 with two staff members - Bruce Middleton, Development Officer, and Wendy Gillard, Administrative Officer. Together they were responsible for the refurbishment of the building, development of the Centre's infrastructure, and preparation for the full operation of the Centre by July 2001, when Professor Sadanand Rajkumar took up his appointment as Director of the CRRMH.

PHOTOS