Strengthening Child and Adolescent Mental Health Care in Western Sydney

WentWest, in partnership with the Mental Health Professionals’ Network (MHPN), Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (SCHN), and UNSW, is inviting community clinicians to apply to participate in an innovative pilot program aimed at improving community-based paediatric mental health care across Western Sydney.

This trial is designed to strengthen community-based paediatric mental health care.

COMPASS offers a collaborative paediatric mental health model, offering virtual access to:

• Expert-led Community of Practice (CoP) education sessions (monthly)
• Secondary consultations for clinical guidance and support
• A multidisciplinary network of peers and specialists

Guided by a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and a Mental Health Clinical Nurse Consultant, COMPASS aims to enhance your confidence in assessing and managing common mental health, developmental and behavioural concerns in children and young people, while supporting those awaiting specialist services.

The program introduces a collaborative paediatric mental health model, offering participants virtual access to specialist guidance, practical education, and case-based learning led by experienced child and adolescent mental health experts.

Learn from Leading Specialists

The program will be facilitated by Dr Lisa Newling, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at WSLHD, and Earle Durheim, Mental Health Clinical Nurse Consultant at the CHW Emergency Department. Together, they will deliver expert clinical guidance, practical insights, and case consultation across the five-month program.

Who Is Eligible?

The program is open to community clinicians who meet the following criteria:

• GPs, psychologists, paediatricians, mental health nurses, and allied health professionals
• Based in and providing services within the Western Sydney PHN region
• Conducting at least two clinical sessions per week with patients under 18 years of age
• Commit to the 5-month program (August–December 2026), including one-hour online Community of Practice sessions (one session per month) and when/if needed weekly secondary consultations.

What to Expect

Sessions will be delivered virtually, combining interactive education with real-world case discussions. Topics will cover a range of common and complex presentations in child and adolescent mental health, including:

• Anxiety
• Depression, self-harm, and suicidality
• Aggression and challenging behaviours
• Autism spectrum and other complex presentations
• Eating disorders

The trial will run August 2026-December 2026. Participants may self-report up to 18 CPD hours upon completion.

How to Apply

Expressions of Interest (EOI) close at 5:00pm AEST on Friday 31 July 2026.

To submit an EOI or learn more, contact Karen Wheeler, Research Assistant at UNSW, COMPASS_project@unsw.edu.au