Evaluating Outcomes and Impacts of Community Mental Health Services in Australia
Medical, Biological and other Sciences
PLEASE NOTE
- This internship is being funded by the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing and therefore an academic mentor will be assigned from the University of Melbourne.
- It is preferred that the project will be undertaken primarily onsite, however remote candidates will be considered.
ABOUT THE INDUSTRY PARTNER
Mind Australia invests a significant amount of money in research and evaluation; this work being important to the provision of high quality services and the generation of evidence supporting policy and system reform.
Our Research and Evaluation team is leading the work to embed outcome measures in our service system which will help us know the impact of our services. The team also leads research activities supporting policy advocacy and system reform.
We aim to work in partnership with consumers and carers, academics, peak bodies and other services so we can be sure our research addresses issues that make a difference to people’s experience of the service system and their lives.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
- Gain hands-on experience in applied mental health research, including both quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
- Conduct in-depth interviews with stakeholders and clients to enhance research findings.
- Contribute to real-world improvements in service design and delivery, influencing client outcomes.
- Develop skills in knowledge translation by sharing research insights with practitioners and policymakers.
- The project is modifiable depending on your interests. For instance, if you have strong quant skills, you wouldn’t necessarily need to do qual interviews as well, instead focussing on an in-depth quant analysis.
RESEARCH TO BE CONDUCTED
This project will evaluate client outcomes across different service streams at Mind Australia. Key research activities include:
- Selecting a specific service stream for in-depth analysis.
- Analysing existing outcome measurement data, which covers approximately 80% of clients.
- Conducting qualitative interviews with clients and stakeholders to enhance understanding of service impact.
- Exploring research questions related to service engagement, support levels, and client outcomes.
- Identifying opportunities to improve practice and incorporate client voices into service design.
SKILLS WISH LIST
If you’re a postgraduate research student and meet some or all the below we want to hear from you. We strongly encourage women, indigenous and disadvantaged candidates to apply:
- Strong data analysis skills (quantitative and/or qualitative).
- Experience or interest in mental health, social services, or program evaluation.
- Ability to conduct interviews and synthesize qualitative insights.
- Strong communication skills for presenting findings to diverse stakeholders.
While it is possible to complete the internship remotely, the candidate would have a richer experience and increased learning benefits from face to face supervision and meeting other staff and clients of Mind.
RESEARCH OUTCOMES
This project aims to:
- Assess and report on the effectiveness of selected Mind Australia services.
- Identify factors that influence client outcomes and service engagement.
- Provide actionable recommendations for service improvement and design.
- Amplify the client voice in shaping future mental health support services.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
The intern will receive $3,300 per month of the internship, usually in the form of scholarship payments.
It is expected that the intern will primarily undertake this research project during regular business hours and maintain contact with their academic mentor throughout the internship either through face-to-face or phone meetings as appropriate.
The intern and their academic mentor will have the opportunity to negotiate the project’s scope, milestones and timeline during the project planning stage.
Please note, applications are reviewed regularly and this internship may be filled prior to the advertised closing date if a suitable applicant is identified. Early submissions are encouraged.
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