Improving access to mental health services for children

According to the National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, 50% of all adult mental health challenges emerge before the age of 14. It is also notable that almost 14% of children in Australia aged 4-11 years have a diagnosed mental illness, and that suicide is the leading cause of death for Aboriginal children aged 5-17 years. 

To improve support for children under 12 who experience mental health challenges, a team of the District’s mental health professionals have been working on a project over the last 12 months, ‘Connecting the Dots’. 

This project aims to provide equitable access to effective, best practice mental health support across the District for children under 12, while reducing confusion for caregivers and referrers. It also aims to provide a more positive experience for consumers, improve staff experience and confidence, and reduce long-term costs to the health system. 

The project team utilised redesign methodology, supported by the Agency for Clinical Innovation, and identified that there was significant variance in service criteria and the way services were delivered across the District, that represent missed opportunities for early intervention. It also highlighted the challenges our Aboriginal families face when engaging and working with our services.     

The project team identified two main areas of focus to improve access:  

• Establish a consistent and developmentally appropriate referral and criteria model for mental health service for children and adolescents that prioritises children under 12 and Aboriginal families. 

• Create culturally safe mental health support for Aboriginal children under 12 and their families by streamlining referral processes, providing safe cultural spaces and options for care delivery, as well as access to well supported staff. 

The project team is currently building and implementing a number of integrated solutions to support these priorities and ensure sustainability within the system. ‘Connecting the Dots’ has been a true example of meaningful collaboration between services with involvement from Mental Health, Population and Community Health and the Aboriginal Health Directorate. Initiatives implemented by the team will help improve care and outcomes for children experiencing mental health challenges and their families, now and later in life. 

The project team graduated with a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Redesign, presented by the Agency for Clinical Innovation Centre for Healthcare Redesign in partnership with the University of Tasmania. 

24 June 2025

Pictured: Chris Hay, General Manager for Mental Health Services (Project Sponsor); Marcia Pankhurst, Mental Health Quality Improvement Advisor; Mireille Schlesinger, Violence Abuse and Neglect Coordinator; Jacki Bracey, CAMHS Clinical Coordinator; Stephanie North, Mental Health Service Development Manager; and Laura Giblin, Change Manager (Redesign Coach).