Mental Health and Wellbeing Services Team

Russell is Western Health’s Chief Executive, having held this role for the past six years. He joined the organisation in 2013 as Executive Director Operations.

Russell is passionate about Western Health’s provision of Best Care and welcomes the opportunity to incorporate mental health and wellbeing services to support the physical, mental and social needs for the community of the West.

Russell looks forward to growing the Western Health workforce by welcoming the staff of MidWest from NorthWestern Mental Health Services from July 1, 2023.

Russell’s role within the Mental Health and Transition Project is to support the project team, as well as the staff and patients who will be transitioning to Western Health come July 1.

A key aspect of Russell’s role within the project is to chair the Western Health Mental Health Transition and Integration Steering Committee.

The Steering Committee guides decision making, issue resolution, risk management and is the point of escalation for the project.

What are you looking forward to throughout the transition and integration of Mental Health to Western Health?
Collaborating, learning and growing together through the transition and integration phases and beyond; welcoming our new colleagues to Western Health and being able to expand our services and provide Best Care to our growing Western Health communities.

Adj. Prof. Paula Stephenson – General Manager, Mental Health and Wellbeing Services

Adjunct Professor Paula is a registered nurse with over 30 years of clinical, education, leadership and management experience, and was appointed as General Manager Mental Health and Wellbeing Services at Western Health in October 2022.

In this role, Paula leads the planning and implementation of the transition and integration of mental health services to Western Health for a go live of 1 July 2023.

Prior to joining Western Health, Paula worked at the Department of Health’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Division where she focused on the delivery of service reform resulting from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. Paula was also a former Executive Director of Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Officer at Epworth Healthcare and is Board Member of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (Victorian Board) and the Nurses Board Victory Legacy Limited.

What excites you about this project?
It’s a privilege to lead such an important project to establish mental health and well-being services at Western Health and create opportunities to seamlessly care for the physical and mental health of our community.

PICTURE CREDIT : PENNY STEPHENS

Jolene Geh – Divisional Director, Mental Health and Wellbeing Services 

Jolene is a Registered Nurse, and has worked in mental health for a number of years across inpatient and community settings. Her last position before moving to MWAMHS was Manager, NWMH Triage Service.

Jolene’s current role has operational and financial responsibilities for the full of services within MWAMHS. Working in partnership with the Director of Clinical Service, Jolene leads all aspects of service delivery within the service as well as operationalising new clinical initiatives. Another part of her role is to lead the service in the transformation of the mental health service as part of the larger project based on the recommendations made at the RCVMHS.

What is one thing you love about your role?

The dynamic nature of the role and having the privilege of working with such an amazing and dedicated group of mental health clinicians and lived experience practitioners. I also love the fact that I am in a position that can influence and improve the lives of those who are suffering from mental health challenges within our community.

PICTURE CREDIT : PENNY STEPHENS

Ryan Dube – Director of Nursing, Mental Health and Wellbeing Services

Ryan is a Registered Nurse with extensive experience, expertise and leadership within Mental Health.

Previously at Mercy Health, Ryan was the Deputy Program Director for Access, Inpatient and Residential Services, a role that he held since 2020. Prior to this, he was the Director of Clinical Services at Belmont Private Psychiatric Hospital in Queensland and the Executive Director for Prison Mental Health Services at Forensicare.

What excites you about this role?
Becoming the inaugural DON for one of the biggest mental health services in Melbourne is exciting. I look forward to leading and shaping the mental health nursing culture of excellence at Western Health. I am excited by the prospect of leading various workforce development initiatives that are taking place and leading the reform agenda from the Mental Health Royal commission.

Dr. Naveen Thomas – Director of Clinical Services, Mental Health and Wellbeing Services 

Since 2009, Dr Naveen Thomas has been actively providing psychiatric services, starting as a Senior Registrar at Sunshine Hospital after completing psychiatric training in India. As of 2010, he has been working as a Consultant Psychiatrist at Sunshine Hospital.

Additionally, Naveen has held the positions of Acting Director of Clinical Services for Mid-West Area Mental Health Services since July 2019 and Director of ECT Services for North Western Mental Health since November 2016, allowing him to expand his expertise and make valuable contributions to the field. In 2020, he took on the role of Director of Clinical Service for Midwest Area Medical Services.

What do you find rewarding about your role? The most rewarding aspect of my role is the opportunity to address the challenges of integrating and disaggregating mental health services. I am fully committed to tackling these challenges with enthusiasm, recognizing its importance for all individuals. In the Western suburbs of Melbourne, I witness a bright future for mental health services and psychiatry. The remarkable growth of psychiatry and mental health services in the area fills me with excitement, and I am thrilled to contribute to its progress.

PICTURE CREDIT : PENNY STEPHENS

Livia Cremona-Bellizia – Director, Service Improvement and Reporting

Livia has experience as a Clinical Psychologist with a Master of Clinical Psychology, previously working as a clinician for Midwest Area Mental Health Service as well as experience as W&C Business and Service Improvement Lead.

As the Senior Project Manager (Support Services) Livia’s role is to oversee and have an overarching understanding of the work plans of the various support streams and to ensure that we’re on track for our transition date of July 1st.

This includes establishing relationships with the key project leads from WH, RMH & MMH, reporting progress and risks back to the executive sponsors and holding a vision for how we transform mental health services into the future.

What are some of the challenges of this role?
Some of the challenges in the role include understanding the multiple elements and stakeholders of the project and how they all fit together.

Grace Crowe – Director, Integration Mental Health and Wellbeing

Grace has been with Western Health for 6 years, and was recently a part of the Bacchus Marsh and Melton Transition team.

Grace is currently undertaking a Master of Leadership and has experience in project management, strategy and service planning.

What do you look forward to in your role?
Day to day in the role, I look forward to getting the opportunity to work with such a broad range of people from Western Health and now also North West Mental Health and Mercy Mental Health. I really welcome the opportunity to learn from different people’s experiences and how we can incorporate these experiences and learnings into our approach.

More broadly, I look forward to Mental Health and Wellbeing becoming an established service at Western Health. High quality, accessible Mental Health and Wellbeing services are so important and I am excited about the opportunities the transition and integration project creates for the people of the West.

Jessica Leader – Communication and Engagement Lead

Jessica has a Master of Marketing Communications and brings experience from the City of Greater Geelong, where she spent 3.5 years in corporate communications, social media, publications, and Swim Sport and Leisure services.

As the Communications and Engagement lead, Jessica works on communication and engagement strategies, activities, and support for the project team, staff, and consumers to ensure everyone understands the project and what needs to be done come July 1 and beyond.

What’s your favourite part of being in this team?
Everyone within the team brings something different to the table, whether that’s expertise, or connections. We lean on each other’s strengths for support throughout the project.

Stacey Segond – Project Officer (Clinical Services)

Stacey has been with Western Health since 2010 and has recently been a part of the Bacchus Marsh and Melton Transition team.

Stacey’s skills in project coordination, clinical improvement, and policy, procedure, and guideline development and revision will be relevant for successful transition of services to WH.

What do you love about Western Health?
I love that Western Health has a patient-centered focus and a wonderful sense of camaraderie amongst each team that I have been a part of.

Mia Vaughn – Project Officer (Support Services)

Mia has a Master of Information Systems (Health) and brings 4 years of experience working in health administration roles across Melbourne. She has a strong interest in the implementation and usability of ICT systems within the health sector.

Her role within the project team includes project coordination, relationship management, communication oversight, and overall project organisation. Along with administrative support, Mia contributes to the design, implementation and monitoring of project activities for the support services workstreams to ensure project expectations and milestones are met.

What do you find rewarding about your role?
This role allows me give back to the Western community and play a part in providing comprehensive support not only to consumers but also families, friends, and carers within our community.

Dora Vaz De Carvalho – Project Officer (Transition and Integration)

Dora has postgraduate health qualifications and brings over 10 years extensive project and executive administration experience in private and public health organisations, education and the public sector.

As project officer within the Mental Health Transition and Integration team, Dora is responsible for providing comprehensive support to the General Manager and project team members as well as supporting the Steering Committee. Dora also contributes to the coordination of the project, including updating and monitoring project plans, coordinating resources, and communicating with key stakeholders and working groups, to ensure milestones are met.

What’s your favourite thing being a part of this project?
Having the opportunity to work with our project team members and key stakeholders. It’s inspiring seeing the knowledge and dedication each member brings to their role.

Kate Shakespeare – Manager Western APATT (Aged Psychiatry Assessment and Treatment Team)

Kate is an Occupational Therapist, working as the Manager of the Aged Psychiatry Assessment and Treatment Team (APATT), a community mental health team, focusing on the needs of older adults.  Kate joins Western Health after 20 years’ working NorthWestern Mental Health, the last 15 of which have been in a management role within the Western corridor.  

 Prior to working in health Kate worked in a variety of roles including recruitment, employment training, travel and journalism. She enjoys bringing these experiences into her current work. She worked in the UK for many years and returned to university to complete her second Bachelor’s Degree in OT as a mature-aged student, before moving to Melbourne in 2003. 

What do you look forward to in this role with Western Health? 

I’ve been working closely with Western Health for many years so it’s a natural transition for me. I’m lucky to work with an incredibly talented, dedicated group of clinicians who have chosen to transfer to Western Health as a team, primarily to ensure we can continue to meet the needs of the consumer and carer group with continuity of care and minimal disruption. We all love working together as well. I’m looking forward to forging new relationships while having the advantage of still working with a large number of my respected colleagues from NWMH. 

Jan Hocking – Manager BASICS (Behavioural Assessment & Specialist Intervention Consultation Service) 

Jan is the Manager of the Behavioural Assessment & Specialist Intervention Consultation Service (BASICS), providing support in Aged Care Homes to consumers, families, and health and aged care professionals who have, or are involved in the care of a person who is living with a mental health concern or a dementia. Jan has over four decades of experience working in Mental Health, with the main interest being within the Older Adults area, in particular those living with Dementia.  

Jan’s title will change to Manager BASICS/ICT/ SDCU after 1 July. 

What is one thing you love about your role?

Essentially, no other service like BASICS is available to Nursing Home residents experiencing acute or complex problems with significant mental health and behaviour impacts. So, working with like-minded clinicians whose goal is to improve quality of life in this vulnerable group gives great satisfaction in this role. 

Liam Burke – Program Manager – EMH (Emergency Mental Health) /PACER (Police, Ambulance & Clinician Early Response) /PARC (Prevention & Recovery Care) /CL (Consultation Liaison) /HOPE (Hospital Outreach Post-Suicidal Engagement) 

Liam has worked as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse since 2013 and has been in his current role Since early 2021. 

Prior to nursing, Liam worked in facilities management for a large-scale electricity transmission company. Looking for a career change, nursing ticked all the boxes. 

What do you find rewarding about your role? 

With such a wide-ranging role, my focus is on ensuring the teams are provided with everything they need to deliver optimal outcomes for the mental health consumers in their care. I embrace challenges and I very much enjoy the variety this role provides. 

Madeline Thyer – Program Manager – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Perinatal Mental Health Service and Yanna Yanna (Women’s) Prevention and Recovery Centre. 

Madeline provides operational leadership, oversight and guidance to the team members across the 3 programs while also engaging and liaising with internal and external stakeholders.  

  Prior to joining Mid-West Area Mental Health Service, Madeline worked at The Royal Children’s Hospital for 5 years holding a number of roles including Mental Health Nurse, Care Coordinator and Admissions and Discharge Coordinator. Prior to this, she worked in South Australia in general nursing and mental health.  

What do you find rewarding about your role?

As all 3 programs are some of the newest in Mid-West Area, I have really enjoyed being a part of their development and continued expansion. It is rewarding to see the ideas and hard work come to fruition. It is also rewarding to see our consumers be able to access mental health care where previously it may have been more difficult for them. I am also very lucky to work with the team members that I do. They are hardworking and passionate about providing mental health care in the West, which makes my role very rewarding. 

Debra Matorere – Program Manager – St Albans CCU 

Debra has over 15 years of experience in Mental Health nursing and is currently the Program Manager at St Albans Community Care Unit. CCUs provide 24-hour recovery-focused rehabilitation in a community residential setting. 

What do you find rewarding about your role?  Giving back. Knowing that I have managed to make a difference to staff; through mentoring and coaching, enabling them to become sound skilled clinicians and achieve their career goals, and to consumers; supporting them to achieve their recovery goals and live a meaningful life after discharge from CCU. 

Carol Erichsen – Nurse Unit Manager (Program Manager) – Sunshine Adult Acute Inpatient Unit

Carol Erichsen provides leadership and management of ECT and the Adult Acute Impatient Unite (SAAPU).  

 Carol started her nursing career as a graduate at Western Health but quickly realised that general nursing was not her calling. She went on to complete the NorthWestern Mental Health Program and continued to specialise in the mental health field. Her roles have mostly been in acute adult inpatients units as a RPN2, ANUM, Team Leader with the exception of her role as a Clinical Nurse Consultant in Aged Psychiatry. 

What are some of the challenges in your role? One of the current challenges in my role is meeting the ever-increasing demands for inpatient mental health services.  As we transition to opening the new mental health beds at Sunshine, we are hopeful that we will be able to meet the demand. 

Lindsay Vernon – Manager Community Mental Health, Melton 

Lindsay Vernon is an Occupational Therapist, having graduated in England in 1998. She has been in her current role of Manager Community Mental Health for just over 2 years. Previously Lindsay worked in public mental health services.  

The team consists of nursing, allied health (OT, SW and psychology), lived experience, medical and administrative staff who provide a service seven days a week with their assertive outreach team. They also provide a weekday case management service to approximately 300 people living in the Brimbank, Melton and Hume areas.  

 What is one thing you love about your role?  

I have always been passionate about supporting people with mental illness. I feel it is important to assist people to maintain a quality of life in the community, where they are safe and enabled to live a meaningful life.