Chair Report

With this release of APMHA’s inaugural Annual Report, I feel honoured to be the appointed Board Chair of APMHA Healthcare Limited. As a founding Director, I have been lucky enough to witness the year on year growth of the company since its inception as Victorian Primary Mental Health Alliance Pty Ltd, in 2015.

The company has made a full transition from a “for profit” entity, into a charitable organisation – Not for Profit in 2019.

Traversing the COVID landscape has been our ongoing challenge as a Company and Board. We believe that due to our front end investment in virtual platforms, this has ensured flexibility and adaptability to meet the needs of ongoing restrictions and our vulnerable populations.

For a company that commenced in 2015, we have been extremely active in the landscape and I would like to take the time to recognise some of the significant adaptations and our change leaders, both past and present, who have helped share the vision and shape the Company’s direction.

Our history began with four mental health nurses, passionate about ensuring primary mental health reform included all professions, and remained focused on disadvantaged communities. Tireless work, many hours in our respective home offices, developing our service model, recruitment of a highly skilled workforce, business and clinical governance and tendering for funded services. I give special note to these inaugural members: Donal McGoldrick, Renee Hayden, Jennifer Craggs, Tung Le supported by our small team Monique Ataryniw and Zac Williams.

We were later joined by Rebecca May, and Gary Bourke who supported our business continuity and accreditation.  In 2019, the Directors of Victorian Primary Mental Health Alliance Pty Ltd , made the decision to transition the company to a Not for Profit entity. This was a unanimous decision to ensure our position and status better reflected our core business, values and programs, which is to target under-serviced, vulnerable and priority populations.

During the course of transitioning to a Not for Profit, APMHA undertook a strategic review of our Executive Team and Board of Management: Jennifer Craggs, Rebecca May and Gary Bourke (Chair) were pivotal in the decision and subsequent support of APMHA transitioning to a registered charity and stepped aside to allow for the recruitment of new external Board members that more broadly reflected our new company structure. I would like to thank them for their incredible efforts over their involvement in VPMHA and APMHA HealthCare Ltd.

I would like to take the time to acknowledge three critical people:

• Jennifer Craggs, who was momentous in establishing and driving forward the company from its inception. Her dedication to our Company and our vision was instrumental.
• Rebecca May, who has worked tirelessly in establishing our virtual CRM, Client Management Systems and Quality Accreditation. She has been instrumental in many of our successful tender applications, and we would not be the success we are without her.
• Gary Bourke, who commenced with APMHA as the inaugural Board Chair, brought passion and enthusiasm to the role. We thank Gary for a smooth handover to myself as the new Board Chair and wish him well in his new endeavours in Queensland.

Creating our new Board

In order to support a more seamless company transition from VPMHA to APMHA HealthCare Ltd, a key decision was made to retain 50% of the original company Directors of VPMHA in the roles of Board Secretary and Executive Directors. This critical move ensured the historical knowledge and key relationships that were integral to the success and growth of the company. The earnest process of recruiting a high calibre Board began in 2020, but was delayed due to the impact of COVID and the need to prioritise internal restructuring to accommodate the fast changing, COVID impacted landscape. Despite the headwinds presented by COVID, APMHA was delighted to attract and subsequently formally induct 3 new Non Executive Board Directors in Rodney Johnston, Keran Wicks and Dr Thai Ohtsuka in May 2021. The new Board members bring a wealth of expertise in finance, corporate business leadership, lived experience and clinical mental health.

As a company, APMHA is well positioned for continued future growth, with an established brand and reputation as a pioneer of efficient and effective stepped mental health care service delivery in Australia.

The strength of APMHA’s position as a company is testament to our on-going commitment to strong governance; we have established a new Clinical Governance Committee and a Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, and invested heavily in the area of Quality and Risk Management, which we believe should be the bedrock to future company growth.

Finally, I would like to extend a deep gratitude and appreciation to the entire APMHA team, our clinicians, our funders and our valued partners, for the exceptional work they have done to support consumers in the mental health space. I feel privileged to be part of the journey to date and excited at the prospect of what lies ahead.

CEO Report

It is with great pride, I submit our first Annual Report for APMHA. How very proud I am writing this report, under what has been a year that none of us could truly prepare for.

I sit here humbled by the dedication of our staff and sub-contractor workforce who continue to show flexibility and ensure business as usual through exceptionally trying times for our clients, but also ourselves personally, our families, our communities and indeed our world. This virus has brought out the best in us, but sadly also the worst. We have seen division in thinking, beliefs and nationalism. The increase in mental health needs of our communities has exponentially grown, and so too has the need for us as a company and a workforce, to respond accordingly.

As this is APMHA’s first Annual Report, this is a celebration of the transition of our organisation’s growth, direction, intention and achievements.

APMHA HealthCare Ltd (APMHA) was established as a Not for Profit company in July 2019 having evolved from the Victorian Primary Mental Health Alliance Pty Ltd (trading as Australian Primary Mental Health Alliance) which commenced operations in October 2015. This critical change to a Not for Profit entity was made to truly reflect the core operations, values and benevolent focus of APMHAs mental health programs for under-serviced, vulnerable, priority populations.

APMHA’s service delivery model was designed to align with stepped mental health care – ensuring our clients are able to receive the level of care response to match their needs, at any given time.

APMHA HealthCare as a company has continued to adapt and respond to this ever changing environment, and we could not do this without you – our staff, our broader workforce, our funders, our partners and the wonderful communities we serve.

Our celebrations

• We were funded to deliver 24 different programs from 10 different funding sources.
• Our dedicated National workforce, we have delivered 21,066 clinical sessions to 4,480 individuals living in Victoria and NSW.
• Our amazing intake team have triaged 4,770 referrals and ensured allocation in a timely manner to the most appropriate and skills matched clinician.
• We continue to rapidly adapt to the ever changing COVID restrictions and lockdowns both in Victorian and in NSW applying full COVIDSafe operations.
• Since the commencement of the Pandemic, we have delivered 24 COVID provider webinars, ensuring our workforce have an avenue to be supported in the care they give and the challenges they encounter.
• We have expanded and adapted our programs to enable quick response and service delivery such as HeadToHelp, 2019-20 Bushfires, RACF psychological services program, RACF staff support program etc.
• We have delivered targeted training programs for our workforce, expanding their suicide prevention skills and confidence to respond to the mental health needs of our First Nations Peoples.
• We have moved our Victorian headquarters from Flemington Road, North Melbourne, to our new office in Footscray.
• We have achieved Quality Accreditation for the third year in a row with AS/NZS ISO-9001, National Mental Health Standards and NDIS.
• We have strengthened our business operations by implementing a virtual contract management and risk management platform.
• We have cemented our ‘Alaya House’ concept – creating a welcoming space for Shepparton and now Footscray to deliver critical services.

Additional funding for mental health services welcome news

We welcome the announcement by the Victorian Government of an additional $22 million to deliver fast-tracked, tailored mental health care within the community. The new package includes 20 pop-up community mental health services across the state. Also the Royal Commission recommended that Victoria establish up to 60 new Local Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Services (Local Services).

Local Services are a new service stream and by the end of 2022, the first six Local Services will be set up in Benalla, Brimbank, Frankston, Greater Geelong, Latrobe Valley and Whittlesea. The remainder will be rolled out over the next four years.

Critically, these new services will draw on the strength and agility of Victoria’s incredible network of community health and mental health organisations, which are ideally placed to provide services that meet the specific needs of local communities.

Whilst writing this report – it is also pleasing to note that NSW and the Federal Government have also responded for 21-22 financial year in its contribution to bolstering mental health in direct response to community needs.

For NSW, the State Government announced new mental health support packages totallying funds of $5.15 million which have been allocated for a range of existing mental health services across NSW, to boost existing crisis and mental health services, this was further supported by the Federal Government.

The Federal Government’s announcement and roll out of the new HeadToHealth Pop Ups in NSW, which replicate Victorian HeadToHelp services and have been developed to support the mental health of people in NSW, of all ages, struggling during extended lockdown.

Huge thank you to all our wonderful staff and extended workforce who have been the backbone of all that we do and achieve. APMHA and the programs we deliver would not be possible without you all.

Finally, I want to thank our Executive Team for the many hours and dedication you have to this Company and our staff and to the Board in their tireless efforts to ensure the Company remains robust, responsive and resilient.

GM Business Ops Report

The unique conditions of the past year provided unprecedented challenges to businesses of all sizes operating in the not-for-profit sector.

I am incredibly proud to be part of a company which has so successfully navigated the year that was, with APMHA continuing to expand its footprint of mental health services to vulnerable populations in NSW and Victoria, bolstering its large workforce of accredited and credentialed mental health clinicians, whilst maintaining the highest standards of quality and governance across the organisation and funded services.

Our continued service expansion was matched by an increased funding commitment to our quality systems; this is reflected in our successful certification under ISO 9001 and National Mental Health Standards for Services 2010. Additionally, APMHA attained NDIS registered provider status with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission for the first time in July 2020. Integral to our quality processes has been the continued refinement of Folio (APMHA’s contracts, risk and compliance software), with a parallel investment of time integrating and developing our quality suite of documents and systems to reflect the current fast-changing landscape.

With a burgeoning workforce of over 130 fully accredited and credentialed mental health clinicians nationally, APMHA has offered our providers training opportunities tailored to meet local population priorities, including suicide prevention, with COVID support webinars for small private practices a staple throughout 2020-21.

I would like to finish by extending special mention and thanks to Renee Hayden (CEO) for her stewardship and support of APMHA staff during such a tumultuous year, whilst enviably positioning the company for continued strong growth in 2021-22.

GM Service Delivery Report

This past year has thrown a myriad of unforeseen and unexpected challenges at us.  At home, here in Australia, we have endured droughts, bushfires and the impact of the global pandemic that is COVID.  I’m proud to be part of a company which has been front and centre in responding to the mental health challenges that have arisen as a result of communities directly impacted by these events.

For APMHA,  it was our busiest year ever. Our broader clinical workforce, primarily consisting of Credentialed Mental Health Nurses, Mental Health Social Workers, Mental Health Occupational Therapists and Psychologists, were supported by admin staff, care navigators and educators in delivering exceptional mental health services to vulnerable populations in funded programs across NSW and Victoria. Our combined resolve was tested as we were required to adapt to the increased and unprecedented mental health challenges presented. What was evident and so highly commendable was our amazing workforce’s professionalism, dedication to supporting their community and willingness to evolve in these most testing of circumstances. We thank them.

The decision to close our Melbourne office and support our employees to work from home was made in advance of the first lockdown in Melbourne in March 2019. In Victoria, we endured 5 lockdowns, the closure and decommissioning of our North Melbourne office and the reopening of a new Melbourne office in Footscray in 2021, just prior to the advent of another lockdown. The APMHA workforce responded with a willingness and energy that was more than admirable. We changed our approach to how we worked on a daily manner, how the team communicated with each other and how we communicated with external parties. Most importantly, we continued to work collaboratively and supported each other in our day to day work.  This included training and inducting new staff via virtual platforms.  Included supporting the broader workforce with switching to telehealth services when required. I cannot overstate how the flexibility and resilience of APMHA staff shined in these times, with a focus on supporting client needs and best outcomes always front and center.

A key factor in our system changes was moving to a virtual based softphone system. This enabled the Intake team rapid flexibility to change between working from home and office locations to ensure business continuity. It was one of the many system changes we incorporated to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.

Pivotal to effective service delivery for APMHA is the Intake Team, consisting of a clinical mental health workforce. The team is essential in the assessing, referring and allocating of clients to our broader mental health workforce across multiple programs, ensuring clients receive high quality, evidence based mental health care matched to their presenting need and in a timely manner. It is true stepped mental health care implemented in line with the recommendations of the National Mental Health Commission and the reform which followed.

In this financial year, our amazing intake team have triaged 4,770 individual client referrals and ensured allocation in a timely manner to the most appropriate and skills matched clinician. These are further broken down by funder:

• 1743 Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network
• 1922 Murray Primary Health Network
• 698 Western Victoria Primary Health Network
• 68 EAP clients
• 393 Bushfire clients (North East Victoria)
• 15 North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network

We know that the next 12 months will continue to throw many challenges to our clinicians, our intake team, and our clients – COVID is not done with us yet. However, I believe we are ready. Tired, but ready to continue to respond and provide essential care to those who are our most vulnerable.

Board of Directors

Tung Le is a Credentialed Mental Health Nurse and Cultural Consultant with over 20 years of experience in mental health and the alcohol or other drugs sector in a diverse range of environments. Tung has worked as a senior mental health nurse and CALD consultant in both management and service development roles across the public and private sectors.

Tung is an experienced Board member with involvement in three Boards since October 2015. He comes with the founding company knowledge and historical perspective from the initial establishment of VPMHA Pty Ltd which later changed to APMHA HealthCare Ltd. Tung is also a Board member of Alaya Partners Australia. Tung is also on the Clinical Advisory Committee for NWMPHN.

Fluent in both Vietnamese and English and with a strong, on-going interest in working with the Vietnamese and culturally diverse communities, Tung brings with him energy and professionalism in all aspects of his work as the General Manager Service Delivery at APMHA HealthCare

Donal McGoldrick is a Credentialed Mental Health Nurse with over 17 years’ experience including senior mental health nurse and management roles in addiction, clinical mental health, forensics and community mental health. He has worked at a senior management level within the Department of Health and Human Services and at a Deputy CEO and Board level with primary care services.

Donal is an experienced Board member with involvement in three Boards since October 2015. He comes with the founding company knowledge and historical perspective from the initial establishment of VPMHA Pty Ltd which later changed to APMHA HealthCare Ltd. Donal is also a Board member of Alaya Partners Australia.
Donal has applied his experience of business operations, as well as business and clinical governance to his role as General Manager Business Operations at APMHA HealthCare. He maintains a strong interest and oversight in human resources, quality management and contract management.

Renee Hayden is a founding member of APMHA HealthCare Ltd and its predecessor Company, VPMHA Pty Ltd, trading as Australian Primary Mental Health Alliance. As the CEO of APMHA HealthCare Ltd, she comes from a diverse executive, management and clinical background firmly cemented in mental health, AOD and primary care.

She has an extensive working history leading management and executive teams and working with Boards, overseeing governance, operational and strategic matters.

Renee has transitioned with primary care from initial roots with Divisions of General Practice, then Medicare Locals and now working alongside primary health networks and other national funders to deliver commissioned services.

Renee has steered APMHA HealthCare to truly resemble the National Mental Health Commission’s vision of stepped mental health care and reform for Australia’s most vulnerable. She is passionate about care that is excellent, high quality and equitable for all. This drives the Company’s recruitment of expert clinicians and support staff to ensure that this is truly experienced by our clients.

Thai is a bilingual clinical and health psychologist who has extensive experience working in private and public mental health services. Her special interest has been in the use of data-driven and information technology in combination with interpersonal relationship building to understand and influence positive change at both individual and systemic levels.

Over the past 20 years, she researches, evaluates, assesses, designs, educates and implements evidence-based interventions for a range of emotional and behavioural health issues in clinical, social and organisational settings.

Keran Wicks is proof that hard work and determination are the prerequisites for success, going against all predetermined notions of “traditional” business leaders. Founder and CEO of The Network Group, Keran Wicks is a true self-made business leader, and carer with lived experience of mental health.

Keran is also a committed mentor and advocate of strengthening businesses across the nation. A regularly and globally sought-after speaker, having spoken at numerous international business summits, seminars and conferences, Keran has also mentored over a thousand Australian small businesses over the last two decades. Additionally, as the mother of two sons, one having battled a mental illness and drug addiction, Keran’s an advocate for improving the mental health and rehabilitation systems. Keran is a passionate speaker on these topics and many more.
Keran has appeared in the media countless times over the last two decades as an industry expert and business leader and is regularly sought after for comment.

Rodney has been providing financial advice to clients for the past 22 years and really enjoys the process of helping people use their money wisely. The role encompasses understanding client needs, providing education, analysis of investment alternatives and creation of retirement strategies within the rules of the day, to move clients closer to their lifestyle goals. He has a real interest in people and their mental health as he meets lots of people in different financial and lifestyle situations.

He has a real sporting and community connection as Secretary of Footscray Rotary Club, which undertakes projects to improve the local community. Rodney is also Secretary of the Community Bike Hub which re-purposes donated bikes for allocation to refugees, asylum seekers and locals in need. He also enjoys playing field hockey and is a life member and Board member of Footscray Hockey Club. Rodney is married to wife Karen and has a son Joshua, who are all members of the Western Bulldogs.

Our Team

Leadership Team

Charles Mahagodage is a certified practising accountant with more than 20 years of experience in accounting and financial management for both profit and non-for-profit sectors. He brings significant depth of financial knowledge and skills to APMHA HealthCare, ensuring robust financial oversight.

As the Company Accountant for APMHA HealthCare, Charles eye for detail ensures all program budgets and company funds are managed appropriately, while also providing advice/support to staff around wages.

Monique Ataryniw has a background in education, welfare and IT and became a Mental Health First Aid instructor in 2018. In her past roles, Monique has been involved in the development of child and adolescent respite programs, adult english classes, community programs and the implementation of differentiated learning programs for adolescents in Brisbane and Melbourne. Monique has a passion for helping people access and navigate health pathways, resources and education.

Rebecca has eighteen years experience leading mental health and alcohol and other drug projects for community organisations, the Victorian Department of Health’s Mental Health, Drugs and Regions Division and Victoria Police. She has a strong understanding of government policy, processes and funding mechanisms through developing departmental service specifications and service plans. As consultant and executive manager in the primary care sector, Rebecca has delivered various projects for primary health networks, community health services, general practices, Aboriginal community controlled health organisations, rural and metropolitan health and hospital services, alcohol and other drug treatment services, mental health services, rural health workforce agencies and primary care partnerships.

Our Staff

Zac Williams has a background in small business management and finance, running a successful coffee business alongside his work with APMHA HealthCare. He also has experience in IT Support and assists all APMHA HealthCare staff navigate the required systems and platforms, including security requirements.

Zac has continued to expand his knowledge and skills in financial administration and currently administers all contract payments, staff payroll and financial bookkeeping for APMHA HealthCare.

Sharyn is an experienced senior mental health nurse working in key strategic disaster response roles delivered by APMHA. Sharyn has extensive experience working in various AOD and mental health services both in metro, rural and remote areas. Sharyn was crucial in providing mental health services to the Towong Shire bushfire affected region and is now focused on supporting staff of NWMPHN’s RACFs who have been impacted by COVID 19.

Phoebe Logan-Jacobson completed her Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) at RMIT in 2019. Phoebe is highly adaptable, practice driven and proficient in IT management platforms. She is passionate about her work with clients and grounded in her client centred, strength beased, anti-opproessive social work perspective.

Phoebe started working with APMHA HealthCare Intake and Allocations Team in 2019 as our new Mental Health Intake Coordinator. In this role, her passion, and approach will continue to inform the transition and support of clients under our services.

Carl is a Social Worker with a Masters degree from the University of Melbourne. Carl is hard working, being employed amongst a number of sectors concurrently with his most recent role being a Personal Care Assistant in the aged and disability sector.

Carl comes from a diverse educational background, completing a number of courses in Psychology, Social Work, Adolescent Counselling and Dual Diagnosis. In this role he will provide a well-rounded response to client’s intake, allocation and support under our services.

Louise is an experienced psychologist and has been a teacher in both primary and secondary settings. As a coach and facilitator, Louise has supported various businesses in the area of workplace well-being and cultural change, and has extensive experience working with clients (individually and group workshops) in areas of grief and loss, body image, depression, anxiety and adjusting to life changes.

Louise started working for APMHA in August 2019. She supports clients as a member of the Intake and Allocations Team and works with clients doing Telehealth Counselling under the Psychological Therapy Services Program. Her passion, experience and approach supports clients and other stake-holders under our services.

Trish has practiced as a registered nurse and mental health clinician for the past 30 years. Trish has worked in a variety of roles including operations management, intake coordination, outreach management, day programs, and management of inpatient and community units in private hospitals, not for profit organisations and for the Victorian government.

She has extensive experience in triage, crisis management, staff/student training, management and running of day programs, behavioural management, clinical governance, and communication with clients, professionals, families, and service providers for people  with mental health challenges, disabilities, comorbidities, and homelessness, from diverse backgrounds.

Trish is compassionate and dedicated in supporting people with mental health and other challenges and their carers and support professionals, utilising a strength-based and trauma informed approach which promotes recovery and optimal outcomes for everyone. Trish has returned to the not for profit sector as she is passionate about the provision of quality mental health support for all service users, and facilitating them to reconnect and develop their own innate strengths and abilities.

Alec Farrow is a media communications professional, cinematographer and performer currently studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre at the Victorian College of the Arts. In 2020, he completed a Bachelor of Communications majors in Media Arts & Production and Journalism at the University of Technology Sydney.

He also spent time as a Radio Producer at 2ser107.3 Sydney and Audio News Editor for UTS Central News (Australia’s leading university publication) before relocating to Melbourne this year to pursue his love for the performing arts and begin working as an Admin Support Officer and Media Editor for APMHA.

Alaya House Shepparton Team

Sacha obtained an undergraduate degree in Modern and Medieval Languages and then enjoyed a varied career as a journalist, farm stock manager and giraffe keeper (amongst other things!). Since arriving in Australia from the UK, she has gained 12 years experience as a practice manager in multidisciplinary clinics in the Goulburn Valley. Sacha is passionate about access to affordable and high quality healthcare for all, so she is excited to be joining an organisation that actively promotes healthcare for the most vulnerable members of our community. Sacha is the practice manager of the Shepparton Alaya House office.

Dr Michael Moon is a British GP with a specialist interest in Sexual Health, Mental Health, AOD and Emergency Care. He has been working as a doctor for 12 years, with 7 years of experience in general practice. Mike has been living in Australia for two and a half years and enjoys working with a varied patient groups in our Sheppartion clinic.

Marg Lingard has practiced as a registered general and mental health nurse for 25 yrs+. Marg has worked in a variety of roles including: acute inpatient units in Victoria and Queensland, worked in Community Mental Health in Case Management, Acute Response Teams and Triage. Marg has also worked in Forensic in a 2IC position working across 2 prison sites in Victoria for over 4 years. Marg worked in Primary Mental Health for several years before transitioning to APMHA HealthCare in 2017.  Marg is working across a number of programs, PTS, PMH-CCC and Older Minds Mental Health Program providing support to these clients.

Marg has a keen interest in Meditation and Mindfulness and how these practices benefit mental health and recovery by empowering clients with a sense of internal strength, resilience and peace.

Smitha Vincent is a Social Worker with work experience in hospital and community settings in NSW and Victoria. She joined the APMHA family from the Aged Psychiatry team within Goulburn Valley Mental Health team. She has experience working with consumers across the age group in acute and sub-acute settings. She has extensive experience working in regional areas and has a good understanding of the challenges people face in regional Australia, especially in accessing quality services promptly.

As a social worker, her practice is guided by the values and ethics as per the Code of Ethics of Australian Association of Social Workers. She strongly believes in everyone’s right to safety, respect, and dignity. She promotes the idea of common humanity and suffering in human life and responds to this suffering with compassion, as discussed in Mindful Self-Compassion training. She aims to provide a trauma-sensitive therapeutic space for consumers. She primarily utilizes skills and strategies from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She supports and encourages consumers to develop a compassionate mind and have a compassionate relationship with themselves as an anecdote to voices of self-critic and shame.

Aminah Fazlic has experience in administrative and accounts management and is the newest member of our Shepparton team.

As APMHA HealthCare’s administration and project officer, Aminah is the face that greets you at Alaya House. Aminah’s willingness to learn and attention to detail has been a fantastic addition to the team, especially while setting up this new facility.

Hayley Fitzgerald is the Care Navigator for HeadtoHelp at Alaya House in Shepparton and Seymour satellite site. Hayley provides a warm referral pathway to support individuals and their family to connect with the appropriate care options available and is passionate about providing high quality services to mental health care and personalised support for individuals experiencing distress. Hayley has experience navigating the NDIS, advocating for individuals and their families and working alongside a variety of populations to maintain their health and wellbeing.

Hayley has a Bachelor of Health Sciences, a Certificate IV in Disability and is currently completing a Masters of Health and Human Services. Hayley has a keen interest in the provision of high-quality services throughout regional Victoria

Kennedy is a registered and mental health nurse with around 29 years of experience spanning from Africa, Europe, and Australia. He has worked in private and public hospitals, nursing homes, community HIV/AIDS counselling and asylum seeker/refugee centres here in Australia and Nauru. Kennedy chose to become a mental health nurse because he has passion, it is a field that interested him and enjoys the challenging of mental health.

Kerry has practiced as a registered nurse for the past 35 years, and has specialised experience working within the mental health sector for the past 20 years. Kerry has worked in a variety of diverse roles including; case management and co-ordination of complex clients, working within crisis assessment teams, management roles in recovery rehabilitation services, counselling roles at Headspace and providing clinical service provision and working closely with GP’s within the primary mental health area.

Her work within primary care began with working with Division of GP’s in Shepparton and Wodonga, Medicare Locals and for a brief period with PHNs. Much of this work was providing clinical outreach services to clients and GP’s in rural and remote areas.

Kerry started working with APMHA HealthCare in 2019 across a number of programs including PTS, Older Minds Program and PMH-CCC program providing psychological therapy and support to these client groups within North East Regions. Kerry is passionate about recovery orientated practice, empowering and ensuring positive client outcomes.

Jane Phillips worked for many years as a General Trained nurse and Midwife, before completing a Degree in Psychology and further studies in Family Therapy, Grief and Trauma Counselling.  Since then she has gained extensive experience in the Mental Health field. Jane was employed as a Mental Health Clinician based in GP Practices in the North East of Victoria for 12 years, before making a ‘Tree change’ to the Yarra Valley and honing her skills in complex trauma counselling with Road Trauma Support Services Victoria.

Jane started with APMHA HealthCare in 2019, and is based in GP Practices in Alexandra and Yea, where she provides psychological therapies to clients with both high prevalence and more complex Mental health disorders through our PTS,  Bushfire and PMH-CCC programs.

Greg Calder is a mental health nurse with over 45 years experience as a clinician and service manager, and has worked in public, private and community health settings. Greg has worked across all facets of mental health services as a clinician, and at senior management level in public mental health services in both Victoria and South Australia, and with NHS Community Trust in the UK.

Greg has always maintained an extraordinarily strong client centered approach to his work. While managing mental health services in South Australia he was instrumental in the development of some Australia firsts in mental health service design and program developments to improve the experience of consumers, including an acute “hospital at home” program as an alternative to hospital admission for acutely unwell clients. In addition, Greg has diverse management and service development experience in both homelessness and family violence, including a successful housing first program in South Australia for people experiencing primary homelessness; and managing family violence services in northeast Victoria, working at regional and State level on strategic initiatives to hold perpetrators of violence to account, and to improve safety for women and children. In both these areas of work Greg maintained strong connections with mental health services to ensure clients received optimal support for their wellbeing.

Our Partners