This innovative program is setting new standards by providing onsite clinics, support, and capacity building to mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) services in Mildura.

The program represents a significant step forward in connecting specialist expertise with regional needs. “Many regional towns struggle with a lack of addiction support services,” says Allison Szarejko, Senior Clinician at Hamilton Centre, Austin Health.

Our goal is to demonstrate the comprehensive support the Hamilton Centre can offer to both staff and consumers. By addressing knowledge gaps and fostering integration between mental health and AOD services, we are committed to improving outcomes for consumers with co-occurring needs.”

The program was initiated after Allison, along with Prof Edward Ogden, Addiction Medicine Specialist, conducted a site visit to Mildura. Their visit included meetings with local services and discussions about how the Hamilton Centre could provide support for mental health and addiction issues in the area.

“Our focus was on identifying gaps in current services and exploring how we could improve support for local teams and consumers dealing with addiction and mental health concerns,” says Allison.

During their visit, the team engaged with Sunraysia Community Health and Mildura Base Hospital, where they delivered an educational session on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and substance use to over 30 members of the hospital's mental health teams.

Program approach and key activities

The Hamilton Centre Austin and GVH team is committed to visiting Mildura on a quarterly basis to provide essential support, conduct outreach clinics, and offer educational sessions at local services.

The onsite clinics will focus on individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental health concerns and aim to support local teams to optimise their integrated care delivery by facilitating consultations and providing targeted assistance.

Educational sessions can be held in person or online. “We invite local services to suggest specific topics they are interested in, and we can tailor the sessions to meet those needs,” explains Allison.

Additionally, the Hamilton Centre Austin and GVH team will offer clinical supervision support to the newly appointed AOD psychologist at Mildura Base Hospital. “This type of capacity building is crucial for rural areas and for enhancing knowledge in inpatient psychiatric units and community mental health sectors,” highlights Allison.

Feedback and impact

Supporting rural and regional services is a key objective for the Hamilton Centre Clinical Network, particularly in areas with limited addiction medicine specialist resources.

In the past three months, the clinical teams have conducted over 350 hours of capacity-building activities in various areas of Victoria, from Bairnsdale in Gippsland to Mildura in the far northwest of the state.

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” concludes Allison.

Regional teams appreciate the support and the ability to contact us for AOD-related questions and service navigation. Many were excited to find a service offering comprehensive addiction assessments and ongoing treatment plans.”

In the coming years, this program is expected to significantly enhance client support, medication management and capacity building across the region.

This collaboration between metropolitan AOD and mental health clinicians with regional workers will enhance the quality of care and equip regional teams with essential skills and knowledge for effective integrated care delivery.