Strengthening delivery of mental health education

The NSW Government is modernising and strengthening delivery of mental health education and training in NSW.

From 2014, the NSW Institute of Psychiatry will be integrated into the structure of the NSW Health and Education Training Institute (HETI), further supporting the Government’s commitment to improving the physical health of people with mental illness.

Review of the NSW Institute of Psychiatry (IOP)

In May 2013 the Mental Health Commission of NSW engaged Dr Tim Smyth to undertake a functional review of the NSW Institute of Psychiatry (IOP). This review forms part of the ongoing work of the Commission under its Charter to, “review the work of academic and other institutions receiving mental health funding and prepare advice to the Minister on how activity might be better coordinated to meet the needs of current and future mental health care in NSW”.

In undertaking the review of the IOP, Dr Smyth was requested to consider:

• the extent to which the Institute of Psychiatry’s current activities reflect the role described under its Act and the extent to which the objects of the Act remain relevant
  
• the role of the Institute of Psychiatry as described under the Act in view of changes across the NSW Health system since 1964, including changes in mental health education and training and the creation of the Mental Health Commission of NSW and
  
• the extent to which the Institute of Psychiatry’s current functions require a specialised institute having regard to, but not limited to:
• overlap and duplication with other education providers
• how competitive the Institute of psychiatry is within that space and
• the ongoing feasibility of meeting resourcing and capacity requirements of a specialised institute model.