Barwon Health has won a top public healthcare award for a new approach to delivering mental health services that ensures consumers have an active role in their care and treatment.
Minister for Mental Health Mary Wooldridge presented Barwon Health with the Health Leader’s Award for delivering innovative alcohol and drug or mental healthcare at the 2013 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards in Melbourne.
Ms Wooldridge said Barwon Health was working to change the culture within its mental health and drug and alcohol service to one of recovery-oriented service delivery.
“The Victorian Coalition Government is committed to increasing and improving recovery-oriented support within mental health services by ensuring the patient is at the centre of decision-making about their treatment and care,” Ms Wooldridge said.
“A genuine change of attitude and approach is required to make a difference in patients’ lives.
“Barwon Health has put itself at the forefront of this shift by delivering a framework for change.”
Ms Wooldridge said that more than 200 staff at Barwon Health, including all psychiatrists employed, attended recovery-oriented service training.
“There is now a culture at Barwon Health that is focused on embracing the change required for recovery-oriented care,” Ms Wooldridge said.
“The project has achieved a complete attitude change in staff and led to fundamental change in the way patients interact with the service.”
Barwon Health also won regional health service of the year.
