The mental health partnership between Orbost Regional Health (ORH) and Latrobe Regional Health (LRH) in Traralgon is going from strength to strength under the leadership of an Orbost region local.
Jackie Taylor is a senior mental health clinician at the Orbost Community Mental Health Service, based at the Orbost Medical Clinic.
The service is a partnership between ORH and LRH Mental Health Services.
Jackie is a 20-year veteran with LRH Mental Health Services working across Gippsland.
She grew up in the Orbost area and last worked at the Bairnsdale Community Mental Health Service.
When a full-time role came up in Orbost, Jackie jumped at it.
She has moved back to the area from Bairnsdale and started full-time in Orbost in January.
She is now available nine days per fortnight for clinic and off-site appointments and serves communities from Marlo to the NSW border.
“I know the area, and I really love this area. It’s kind of a homecoming,” Jackie said.
“I know the communities around here. I know what struggles they have and what resources they have and don’t have.”
It’s a challenging space thanks to our vast and rugged terrain, transport difficulties and connectivity issues, particularly in our smaller communities.
But Jackie said that as people have got to know her, her presence is having a stabilising effect.
“I think people are really responding to the frequency of my visits and knowing that I’m going to be here in the clinic every day,” she said.
“They know what my times are. The other week, somebody called me and left a message. The message was, “Oh, you’ll be on the road. I’ll see you when you get at the office at 11. So, they know when I’m going to be available and what I’m doing.
“That’s a positive effect. It’s routine. It’s structure. It’s really underrated how that can benefit people.” Orbost Medical Clinic manager Andrew Phillips agrees.
“Jackie came in. She has made herself known. She knows our reception team, the admin team and the GP team,” he said.
“Having someone in who is an expert in the area working here has huge benefits for our community compared to that off-site visiting presence we have had for a while.”
With Jackie’s consistent presence, LRH executive director mental mealth Mike Gatsi said LRH and ORH are looking at ways to expand the mental health service in Orbost.
He said that the Orbost area has communications issues that must be overcome, with many areas having little or no mobile phone or internet access.
“We have been talking about a Department of Health digital project trial because some of the areas Jackie covers there’s no capability for using the internet. Not so long ago, I was asked to sign off on a satellite phone (for Jackie),” Mike said.
“We are also talking about, to enhance the partnership is to provide training to some of the general nurses around managing violence and aggression because some of the clinicians have to send nurses to remote areas to provide care and support, and Jackie has also assisted Orbost Regional Health nurses and staff with violent and aggressive people.”
ORH chief executive officer Vicki Farthing said she is pleased that the mental health partnership is working, gathering strength.
“Jackie is a great addition to the Orbost Medical Clinic and our area. We are looking at a range of supports to enhance the partnership and help Jackie to provide the best possible mental health care for our region,” she said.
“The partnership between ORH and LRH has been in place for more than 20 years, but Jackie has refreshed the mental health services we offer. She’s really become a vital part of our community.”
Consultations with Jackie Taylor, senior mental health clinician at the Orbost Medical Clinic, must be booked through LRH Mental Health Services.
