Mental Health

Accreditation for posts is through the RACGP Training Post Standards Committee and is for a period of 3 years.

Approved training post can be either 6 or 12 months.

Trainees are expected to take on the roles and responsibilities of a junior registrar.

Training supervision

Due to the multi-disciplinary nature of mental health work, a range of people and agencies should be accessed to adequately teach this advanced rural skills training. This could include psychiatrists, psychologists, other GPs with experience in the field, accredited counsellors in particular fields, mental health workers, social workers, consumer groups and resource people with particular areas of expertise.

In general, each trainee will have 2 supervisors, one mental health specialist and one rural GP supervisor.
Trainees may be under the supervision of other staff in their day-to-day work activities.

One to one teaching should occur in the course of the training. Trainees should be encouraged to attend any educational sessions or programs offered to other staff.

Trainees are expected to take responsibility for directing their own learning in the negotiated topics while engaged in unit activities.

Trainees are required to maintain clinical diaries/log books which should be regularly reviewed with their supervisor.

Curriculum

The topic list provided is a guide to the areas of practice which should be considered for inclusion in the training programs. The determination of topic coverage should be negotiated between the trainee and their supervisors.

1. Acute presentations
2. The nature of rural communities
3. The scope of mental illness
4. Practical skills
5. Resource management
6. Self care

Note: A comprehensive ARSP curriculum statement and a learning plan proforma can be obtained by contacting the Program Coordinator on 02 4968 6753 or michael.geoghegan@gptvtc.com.au

Assessment

The assessment should be conducted primarily by the supervisors appointed at the beginning of the training. Formative assessment is via weekly discussion between trainee and supervisor including review of the trainee’s clinical diary/log books and monitoring progress against the curriculum.

Assessment of trainee’s response to various case scenarios should also be assessed over the course of the training post.

It is recommended that videotaping of counselling sessions and peer review occur on a regular basis.

Summative assessment is to be performed towards the end of the training period. This includes the completion of a training report jointly by the supervisors. Training report is based on:

1. Unit attachment report
2. 3-5 pieces of work which demonstrates the experienced gained and the mastery of core subject matter.