Promoting recovery from trauma ANNUAL REPORT 2018 - 2019 Improving the wellbeing and quality of life for individuals and communities who experience trauma B ANNUAL REPORT 2015 - 2016 Chair’s Welcome 2 Director’s Welcome 4 National Centre of Excellence in Posttraumatic Mental Health 6 Strategic Framework 10 2018-19 Highlights 12 Board of Management 14 Centenary of Anzac Centre 16 Our Research and Evaluation Portfolio 20 Our Policy and Service Development Portfolio 26 Our Practice Improvement and Innovation Portfolio 32 Events in 2018-19 36 Publications, Presentations and Dissemination 40 Our Staff 44 Governance and Management 46 Financial Statement 48 Mrs Janine Kirk AM I am delighted to have joined Phoenix Australia and Chair’s heartily thank His Honour Michael Strong for his diligent and expert guidance of the Board for more than six years. welcome I thank the Board members - in particular Mr Greg Ridder who acted in the role before I took up the position - and the management team for ensuring a smooth transition from Michael to myself. I was honoured to take on the role of Chair of an organisation so well respected both nationally and internationally for its leadership, and for the quality and excellence of its work to support those suffering trauma. During the year the Board welcomed Mr John Fely, representative for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and Ms Lesley Podesta (CEO of the Alannah & Madeline Foundation). Major General Mark Kelly retired at the end of the financial year after serving on the Board for nine years. His contribution to the Board was significant and we thank him for his wise counsel. I am pleased to be able to report on a very successful year. Once again, we exceeded expectations and continued to develop our centre of excellence through leadership and collaboration, and our core areas of expertise: research excellence, policy and service 2 ANNUAL REPORT 2018 - 2019 development, and practice improvement and innovation, Our patron, Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston AK, AFC enabling us to move closer to our vision of improved (Ret’d) and ambassadors, Mr David Mann AM and Wing wellbeing and quality of life for individuals, families and Commander Sharon Bown (Ret’d), enthusiastically assist us communities who experience trauma. in ‘getting the word out’ about the important work we do, With an increasing focus in the community on mental health and raising the profile of posttraumatic mental health in the and traumatic stress recovery, Phoenix Australia has an community. We are most grateful for their support. important role to play in disseminating knowledge and skills We thank our national and international funders, partners in evidence-based, best practice treatments, to ensure the and collaborators for enabling us to conduct our vital work. best possible care is available for those affected by trauma. While we have received a record amount of funding during We continued to grow our research program, with the the year, we invest these funds wisely. increased number of publications reflecting the steady Financially, we continued to ensure the sustainability of our growth in our research capability and outputs. organisation and ensure the impact of our initiatives is far We have consulted for a wide variety of organisations reaching. to develop mental health and wellbeing frameworks, I am excited to advise that our new strategic plan will guidelines, programs, tools and resources, as well as to shortly be finalised - it has been the subject of much careful provide advice on management policy and regulations. consideration and consultation, and we are looking forward We expanded our training program by developing a range to implementing our goals of an expanded and even more of innovative digital initiatives and products, providing effective support for those suffering trauma. tools and resources for frontline workers across a variety of The growth of our work, and of our reputation for quality sectors to support people affected by trauma. and delivery, is the result of the skill and dedication of During this time, we promoted collaboration and our Director, Professor David Forbes, and his leadership knowledge sharing by holding events, information sessions team and all our staff. I thank them for their effort and and interest group meetings, leading international commitment. I also thank my fellow Board members for collaboration initiatives, producing recovery tools and their enthusiasm and support. resources, as well as speaking at conferences and collaborating on projects with a variety of experts and organisations. ANNUAL REPORT 2018 - 2019 3 Professor David Forbes The 2018-19 year has been very successful, with continued significant growth in our work and our Director’s achievements, and I would like to share some of the highlights with you. welcome In July 2018 we held a most successful educational and networking forum for clinicians working in veteran and military mental health. Conducted in partnership with the Departments of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs and Open Arms, the Military and Veteran Mental Health: Innovations in Treatment Practitioner Forum was attended by more than 400 people - testament to the fact that there is a real thirst for information sharing in this area (read more on page 38). In October 2018, Phoenix Australia and the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research established the 5-Eyes Mental Health Research and Innovation Collaboration (5-Eyes MHRIC). Bringing together leading centres in military and veteran research and innovation from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US, the inaugural meeting was held in Sydney in parallel with the International Veterans’ Ministers 5-Eyes Conference (read more on page 37). The group will meet annually and assure a focus, at the highest levels, on policy-relevant priorities and actionable outcomes. 4 ANNUAL REPORT 2018 - 2019 And in June this year, I attended and presented at the This flows from the significant work we have been doing Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing and Suicide in the area of disaster-related mental health, such as Prevention Summit organised by the Minister for Veterans establishing a mental health advice and consultation service and Defence Personnel. He described the meeting as a for practitioners supporting people affected by the 2019 “chance to help set the veterans’ mental health agenda”, Queensland floods. This rapid-response project was funded and it was an opportunity for an exploration of what is by the Commonwealth Government. working and not working, and what the gaps are – to guide We also continued research into our Skills fOr Life us to improve mental wellbeing. Adjustment and Resilience (SOLAR) intervention for There is a growing awareness in the community of the psychosocial recovery following disaster. This year we importance of workforce mental health, particularly in received funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs industries where there is an inherent risk for exposure and Trade to pilot a culturally adapted version of SOLAR in to potentially traumatic events, such as the emergency the Pacific Islands nation of Tuvalu. services. Our work in this sector continues to expand, with Phoenix Australia has undergone a number of changes this some important work undertaken this year with new clients year. We have a new Chair of the Board, with His Honour across states, including further police jurisdictions and an Michael Strong leaving the position in March, and Mrs office of the director of public prosecutions. We are able Janine Kirk AM commencing in May. While we were very to provide such organisations with expert review of current sorry to farewell Michael, who had been a most valuable policies and strategies, and guidance in implementing guiding hand, we were extremely pleased to welcome best practice systems and procedures to ensure the health, Janine with whom we had collaborated in the past. Janine safety and wellbeing of their workforces. brings her extensive leadership experience to the role, and In March this year, we presented a special event for the I very much look forward to continuing our work together. emergency services sector, Managing Workplace Trauma: Since our earliest days, the scope of Phoenix Australia’s Insights & Learnings. Held at the Melbourne Cricket work has been nation-wide. Now our national footprint is Ground, four excellent speakers discussed their experience growing, with offices open in Canberra, Adelaide, Sydney and insights and engaged in a dialogue with attendees. and Brisbane. This will bring benefits to local communities You can read more about the event on page 36. – increasing our understanding of local needs, improving We are also pleased to have worked with a number of new local relationships, as well as facilitating input from those federal clients this year, including the National Disability communities into our national agenda of work to improve Insurance Agency which engaged us to provide a best outcomes for people affected by trauma. practice approach to promoting and supporting the mental Finally, I would like to thank the members of the Board health and wellbeing of its workforce. for their guidance - in particular I’d like to acknowledge In May, the Victorian government generously committed to Mr Greg Ridder who was our acting Chair for the interval extending and improving our research clinic facilities at the between Michael Strong’s departure and Janine Kirk Royal Park Campus of the Royal Melbourne Hospital. This commencing, and continues to Chair our Finance & Risk will enable us to conduct more vitally important research Committee. I also thank our patron and ambassadors for into clinical treatments. their strong support of this organisation. In June 2019 we were gratified to receive a grant from the And to all our staff – thank you for your dedication to the Federal Department of Health to develop a digital platform mission of Phoenix Australia. I am constantly inspired by in disaster mental health that will provide training and you and grateful for your work.