Older Persons' Mental Health Service: Team

The Old Age Psychiatrists are medical doctor who have specialised in psychiatry and further sub-specialised in the unique mental health needs of older adults. Their expertise bridges the gap between medical, psychiatric, psychological, and social care, ensuring a comprehensive and person-centered approach.

Key Roles & Responsibilities:

• Comprehensive Assessment and Management
  
  Overseeing holistic care plans that consider the complex medical, cognitive, emotional, and social needs of older adults, supporting both consumers and their families.

• Service Coordination
  
  Professional leadership, ensuring seamless integration of care across all settings—inpatient, community, outpatient, and consultation-liaison services.

• Teaching
  Providing mentorship and supervision to early-career psychiatrists and mental health practitioners, promoting evidence-based practices in the care of older adults

• Academic Research
  Contributing to advancements in the field of old age psychiatry, and leading a wide range of teaching and academic initiatives..

Old Age Psychiatrists play a pivotal role in shaping the quality of mental health care for older adults, combining clinical expertise with leadership, research, and advocacy.

Old Age Psychiatrists: Associate Professor Chanaka Wijeratne and Dr Alison Crawford

The Nurse Unit Manager is a senior nurse responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the ward, ensuring high-quality patient care, and managing the overall coordination of services. As the central point of leadership within the unit, the Nurse Unit Manager plays a key role in fostering a safe, efficient, and supportive healthcare environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Patient Care Coordination
  Ensuring seamless delivery of care by managing patient admissions, discharges, and treatment plans while prioritising patient safety and wellbeing.

• Ward and Staff Management
  Leading and supporting the nursing team and promoting professional development to maintain high standards of care.

• Quality and Safety Oversight
  Implementing policies and procedures that align with best practices and healthcare regulations, ensuring the ward operates safely and efficiently.

• Resource and Unit Management
  Managing the ward’s resources, including staffing, equipment, and budgets, to optimise service delivery and patient outcomes.

The Nurse Unit Manager is vital in creating a therapeutic, safe, and supportive environment, ensuring that all mental health patients receive person-centered care while fostering a cohesive and well-managed ward.

OPMH Nurse Unit Manager: Timothy Kramer

Registered & Enrolled Nurses

The primary focus of Mental Health Nurses is to work closely with consumers and their families to manage and overcome the symptoms of mental health conditions, promoting ongoing personal recovery by providing compassionate care and therapeutic support within the OPMH

Community Mental Health Nurses

Community Mental Health Nurses focus on supporting older adults to remain in their homes for as long as possible, providing tailored care and services to promote independence and well-being. This service is essential for preventing hospital admissions, enabling earlier discharges, and reducing re-admission rates, all while fostering person-centered recovery...

OPMH Community Nurses: Sean Concannon (CNC), Michelle Leahy, Abbie McCreanor and Sophie Zammit-Haber (CNC)

The Assertive Outreach Clinician provides consultancy, clinical coordination, advice, and assessment to clients experiencing acute or complex mental health concerns. By delivering proactive and specialized care, the Assertive Outreach Clinician ensures that individuals receive the support they need in managing their mental health in the community, aiming for stabilization and long-term well-being.

Key Responsibilities:

• Consultancy and Clinical Coordination
  
  Offering expert advice and guidance to healthcare teams, ensuring coordinated care for clients with intricate mental health needs.

• Comprehensive Assessment
  
  Conducting thorough assessments to understand the complexities of each client's mental health, and developing individualized care plans to address immediate and ongoing needs.

• Acute and Complex Care Support
  
  Providing targeted interventions and crisis management for individuals experiencing severe mental health challenges, ensuring a safe and effective path to recovery.

• Collaboration and Outreach
  
  Working closely with community services, families, and other healthcare professionals to ensure clients are supported in all aspects of their mental health care.

OPMH Assertive Outreach Clinician: Karen Lazarus

The Diversional Therapist focuses on improving quality of life by encouraging participation in recreational activities that align with individual interests and abilities. Through both individual and group sessions in the Euroa Ward, opportunities are created  for enjoyment, connection, and personal growth.

Activities are designed to offer intellectual and physical stimulation, helping individuals reconnect with lifelong interests while exploring new challenges in a supportive and engaging environment.

The Aims of Diversional Therapy:

• Person-Centred Care – Tailoring activities to meet individual preferences, needs, and abilities.
• Diversion & Enjoyment – Creating meaningful moments that bring joy and reduce stress.
• Social Interaction – Promoting connection through group activities and shared experiences.
• Skill Maintenance – Supporting cognitive, emotional, and physical skills to foster independence.
• Boosting Self-Esteem – Encouraging a sense of achievement and personal value.
• Positive Environments – Creating spaces that uplift mood and promote emotional wellbeing.
• Physical Activity – Integrating movement into daily routines to enhance overall health.

Through Diversional Therapy, the aim is  to enrich the lives of our consumers by fostering creativity, connection, and joy, while supporting their mental and physical wellbeing.

The Occupational Therapists (OT) provides personalised care aimed at helping patients maintain independence and improve their quality of life. Through tailored assessments and interventions, they support individuals in developing the skills needed for daily living and community participation.

Services Include:

• Functional Assessments
  
  Evaluating a range of skills across daily tasks, including basic self-care, home management, and community living activities such as shopping, cooking, and mobility.

• Personalised Strategies and Equipment
  
  Recommending strategies, adaptive techniques, and specialised equipment to support independent living, tailored to each consumer’s diagnosis and unique needs.

• Support for Families and Caregivers
  
  Providing families and carers with education, practical strategies, and resources to assist in managing memory loss, cognitive challenges, and other functional impairments.

• Hospital-to-Home Transition
  
  Offering follow-up support post-discharge to ensure a smooth transition from hospital to home, helping patients meet their recovery goals and maintain independence in familiar environments.

The Occupational Therapist focuses on empowering consumers to navigate daily life with confidence while supporting families and carers in providing the best possible care.

Occupational Therapists: Natalie Narunsky, Linda Lu and Grace Mann

The Psychologists offers comprehensive mental health support for inpatients and outpatients, focusing on improving emotional wellbeing, cognitive health, and overall quality of life.

Services Include:

• Psychological Assessments
  
  Conducting in-depth assessments to understand cognitive, emotional, and behavioral needs, forming the foundation for tailored treatment plans.

• Individualised Formulation
  
  Developing a clear understanding of each person’s mental health concerns by identifying contributing factors, strengths, and potential barriers to recovery.

• Targeted Psychological Intervention
  
  Providing evidence-based therapies and strategies to address mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, adjustment issues, and cognitive decline, while promoting resilience and emotional wellbeing.

The Psychologists work collaboratively with patients, families, and care teams to deliver compassionate, person-centered care in both clinical and aged care settings.

OPMH Psychologists: Dr Arielle Taylor, Dr Emily Connaughton (neuropsychologist), Ryan Joffe and Zoe Morgan 

The Residential Aged Care In-Reach Clinician plays a vital role in enhancing the mental health and overall wellbeing of residents in aged care homes. Through collaboration, planning, and specialist support, the aim aim to improve outcomes for older adults living with emerging or chronic high-risk mental health conditions.

Services Include:

• Community Partnerships
  Building strong connections with residential aged care homes to provide tailored mental health support and foster a collaborative care approach.

• Specialist Mental Health In-Reach
  Expanding the reach of the Older Persons Mental Health Service by developing and implementing care plans that address complex mental health needs directly within aged care settings.

• Preventing Hospital Admissions
  Early intervention and proactive care strategies help reduce preventable hospital visits, ensuring residents receive the right care in the right place.

• Seamless Transitions of Care
  Supporting safe and timely transitions from the Older Persons Mental Health Inpatient Unit back to residential aged care homes, promoting continuity of care and stability for residents.

The goal is to empower aged care providers with the expertise and resources needed to create a supportive environment where residents can thrive, both mentally and emotionally.

OPMH Residential Aged Care In-Reach Clinician: Gina Strauss

The Social Workers provide comprehensive support to inpatients, community consumers, and their families or carers. Through personalised care, advocacy, and education, they help individuals navigate the complexities of mental health, aged care, and community services.

Services Include:

• Psychosocial Assessments and  Discharge Planning
  
  Conducting thorough assessments to understand individual needs and developing effective discharge plans that promote continuity of care and long-term wellbeing.

• Emotional Support, Education and Counselling
  
  Offering psychosocial support and tailored counselling to consumers  and families, empowering them with coping strategies, mental health education, and pathways to recovery.

• Family & Carer Support
  
  Providing families and carers with vital information about mental illness, treatment options, and available community services, fostering understanding and collaboration in care.

• My Aged Care Assistance
  
  Helping patients and families navigate the My Aged Care system, including applications for in-home services or residential aged care, ensuring access to the right level of support.

• Community Aged Care Liaison
  
  Building strong connections with community aged care services to ensure seamless transitions and ongoing support for older adults.

• Reports for Legal and Mental Health Health Tribunals
  
  Preparing detailed reports for the NCAT Guardianship Division and Mental Health Tribunal, advocating for consumers' rights and ensuring appropriate care decisions.

The Social Workers are committed to promoting dignity, independence, and holistic wellbeing, guiding consumers  and their families every step of the way.

OPMH Social Workers: Daniella Kanareck, Tanya Jochelson and Andrew Myhill 

The Welfare Officer plays a crucial role in supporting both in-patients and community consumers, along with their families, by offering practical assistance and guidance. The focus is on promoting independence, improving quality of life, and ensuring patients have access to the right resources and services.

Services Include:

• Support and Practical Assistance
  
  Offering emotional support and practical help to patients and their carers, addressing individual needs during treatment and recovery.

• Bridging Hospital & Community
  
  Acting as a key link between the hospital and community services, helping patients achieve their highest possible level of independence, and where possible, supporting them to continue living in their own homes.

• Connecting to Resources & Entitlements
  
  Guiding patients and carers through available community resources, services, and entitlements, ensuring they receive the support they need.

• My Aged Care Assistance
  
  Providing help with My Aged Care applications, whether for in-home services or transition to residential care, simplifying the process for patients and families.

• Respite and  Residential Aged Care Coordination
  
  When needed, arranging respite care or facilitating smooth admissions into Residential Aged Care Facilities to ensure continuity of care and peace of mind for families.

The Welfare Officer is dedicated to making the healthcare journey smoother, more informed, and centered around the needs of patients and their families.

OPMH Welfare Office: Peace Mukorera