Linking General Practitioners (GPs) with Psychiatrists Grant Opportunity

Overview

The grant opportunity aims to optimise the existing workforce capabilities and allow the workforce to work at the top of their scope.  The purpose of this grant opportunity is to trial a free national support line for GPs to access clinical advice and support from psychiatrists. Under Program 1.2: Mental Health, the Australian Government is committed to improving the mental health and wellbeing of all Australians, including a focus on suicide prevention. The objectives of the grant opportunity are: to provide GPs with access to clinical patient management advice and support from psychiatrists to support management of more complex patients in their practices; increase access to specialised psychiatric advice to support patients who may not have access to psychiatry services in a timely way, or due to cost barriers; and to assist with ongoing management of patients while waiting for higher acuity care. The intended outcomes of the grant opportunity are: creation of a National telephone advisory support line and website, offering advice to GPs from a pool of suitably qualified psychiatrists between 7-7pm (AEST), Monday to Friday; ensure advice is provided at zero cost to GPs; GPs will be able to seek advice from psychiatrists on a range of subjects including mental health, safety, medication, psychosocial advice, treatment, diagnosis and referral pathways via a national telephone line; self-reported increased knowledge and capabilities of GPs in the management of more complex patients in their practices; and  provide increased support for consumers who may not be able to access psychiatry services in a timely way or due to cost. To view the grant opportunity documents, please select the red "Grant Opportunity Documents" button on the left hand side.