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Psychiatrist makes space for conversation with colleagues 

3 min read•September 24th, 2026

Good mental health care is collaborative, says psychiatrist Dr Steven Chau. 

For Dr Chau, that means creating opportunities for clinicians from different professions to come together, ask questions and learn from each other. 

The Mental Health Forum with Psychiatrist Network was established with this in mind, providing a space where professionals from outside the psychiatry discipline can bring clinical questions and challenging cases to a psychiatrist in an informal, practical setting. 

The concept was launched after Dr Chau visited a large GP and allied health clinic, Healthcare on Collins, where an existing multidisciplinary team of more than 20 practitioners participated in psychiatrist-led learning sessions and Q&A on targeted mental health topics. The success of those sessions demonstrated to Dr Chau the potential of MHPN’s collaborative approach; he’s now the Volunteer Coordinator for this broader Psychiatrist Network.

“In private psychiatry, I regularly work alongside GPs, psychologists, social workers and other health professionals, and I have seen how valuable it is when clinicians have an opportunity to communicate openly and learn from each other.”

The Network meetings are designed to be accessible, and rather than having a set lecture or presentation, the conversations are driven by the practitioners who attend.

“We might discuss things such as diagnostic dilemmas, medication and treatment options, when to refer to a psychiatrist, managing patients with more complex presentations or the systemic issues that patients with mental health issues face,” he says.

“Sometimes the questions are very specific and sometimes they lead to a broader discussion about how different professions approach a particular problem.”

Dr Chau says this is one of the strengths of the Network: the opportunity to ask questions of a group of practitioners, who each bring their own perspective, experience and expertise.

Bringing different perspectives together

“Good communication between professionals can help us understand the whole person rather than just one aspect of their mental health presentation,” Dr Chau says.

He also sees value in the relationships that develop between practitioners through the Network.

“I also think there is enormous value in simply knowing other professionals and having established relationships. It makes it much easier to pick up the phone, ask a question or seek another opinion when you need to.”

“Building those professional relationships and knowing who is working in the local community can make a real difference when clinicians need to collaborate around a patient.”

“That is exactly what the network is about. It is not about having one profession provide all the answers. It is about creating a space where clinicians can share their perspectives, ask questions and work out together how we can provide better care for the people we are looking after.”

The next Mental Health Forum with Psychiatrist Network meeting is on Tue 29 September at 6:00pm AEST, and will be held online.  

Learn more and join this network:

Mental Health Forum with Psychiatrist Network

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The Mental Health Professionals’ Network (MHPN) respectfully acknowledges the Wurundjeri and the Boonwurrung people of the Kulin nation, the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which our office is situated. We also acknowledge Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. Find out more.