The Australian College of Mental Health Nurses ACMHN engaged HMA to design a national framework to inform mental health education in pre-registration nursing programs. The objective of the framework is to ensure that all students graduating from Australian Schools of Nursing and Midwifery have the training to appropriately manage patients with mental health conditions in both mainstream and mental health specific clinical settings.
HMA designed a survey targeting university educators, nursing students, employers and consumer and carers seeking their views on the mental health education needs of pre-registration nursing programs. HMA used findings from the survey analysis to inform re-design of the previous national framework developed in 2008. HMA met with the Informants Reference Group to seek their feedback on the revised framework. This enabled finalisation of the national framework and submission to the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC). The project was completed within tight timelines.
The project commenced in late February 2018 and was submitted to ANMAC by 30 June 2018.