Policy framework: Clinical & Non-clinical academic positions and activity 2004-09

The Mental Health Branch (MHB) of the Department of Human Services has funded clinical academic positions within mental health services over the last two decades. This funding has enabled employment of suitably qualified clinicians who have an academic role within a university and a senior clinical role within a public mental health service.

These positions have been created to enable senior clinicians to undertake ongoing research, teaching and training in various specialist areas. It has also been expected that appointees will provide leadership to the mental health workforce and contribute to recruitment and retention of quality staff.

The Mental Health Branch of the Department of Human Services (MHB) has also funded nonclinical academic positions over the last two decades. These positions have predominantly been created in research centres, institutes or universities, thereby enabling appointees to undertake ongoing teaching, research and training in various specialist areas.

Recently created positions with broader advocacy and sector wide responsibilities – such as consumer and carer academic positions - may be more usefully understood as being auspiced by their employing organisations.

During 2003, a review of clinical academic positions in public mental health services was undertaken by Emeritus Professor Scott Henderson AO.

A number of recommendations were made in relation to clinical academic positions and non-clinical academic positions. Those relevant to funding and activity are addressed in these frameworks.