Rethink 2020: Progress report and updated implementation plan

The plan for translating Tasmania’s overarching mental health reform strategy – Rethink 2020 – into action has been updated for the year ahead.

The Rethink 2020 Implementation Plan for 2022-23 contains a range of actions in new and existing priority areas, including:

• establishing a network of Head to Health services across Tasmania
• releasing the new Tasmanian Suicide Prevention Strategy and associated implementation plan
• completing the development and implementation of the Central Intake and Referral System (CIRS) for mental health service access in Tasmania, and integrating the national Head to Health assessment and referral phone services into the CIRS
• expanding the Police, Ambulance and Clinician Emergency Response (PACER) service into the north west of the state as the next phase in evolving PACER to a statewide model
• developing a service model for the implementation of Mental Health Hospital in the Home for young people in the north west
• implementing the Older Persons Mental Health Services (OPMHS) Reform Project, including recruitment of key staff and establishment of working groups to design operational service models for OPMHS inpatient and community services.

The implementation plan is being reviewed and updated each year throughout its 2021-25 lifespan.

Rethink 2020, the implementation plan and progress reports were jointly developed by Primary Health Tasmania, the Department of Health, Tasmania and the Mental Health Council of Tasmania. The Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drug Leadership Group also provided valuable guidance and input.

The Rethink 2020 Progress Report for 2021-22 has also been released.

Rethink activities undertaken by Primary Health Tasmania in 2021-22 included:

• establishing the Launceston Head to Health adult mental health centre
• progress towards implementing patient experience measures in general practice and among our mental health service providers
• supporting Flourish to continue to deliver a consumer engagement short course, with a focus on rural and remote communities
• working with Mental Health Families and Friends Tasmania to identify mechanisms for building capacity for family and friends representatives
• trialling the Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) tool for use by Tasmanian health professionals
• reviewing mental health Tasmanian HealthPathways against the IAR levels of care and new referral pathways
• identifying general practice training needs in the mental health space, and developing a calendar of training events.

Click here to access the Rethink 2020 Implementation Plan for 2022-23.

Click here to access the Rethink 2020 Progress Report for 2022-23.

Click here to find out more about Rethink 2020.