siloing of services to provide mutual support, co-reflection and professional development. These network should be rolled out nationally. They require a small amount of funding, good will from organisations and will provide the infrastructure for the implementation of the National Peer Workforce Development Guidelines. Already these networks have been directly responsible for the NW Ministry of Health providing funding to the PHN for the development of a Regional Peer Workforce Framework that will meet local need and will be able to be rolled out across other PHNs and LHDs. This work is being led by Dr Leanne Craze in partnership with the NSW Consumer peak BEING.

### Lost Opportunities

Historically the development of national structures for the peer workforce - frameworks or guidelines have been intended by policy, but not delivered in practice. The exception to this has been the development of the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work.

- • 2009 the Fourth National Mental Health Plan implemented a National Mental Health • 2009 the Fourth National Mental Health Plan implemented a National Mental Health Workforce Strategy that sought to define standardised workforce competencies and roles in 8 clinical, community and peer support area.
- • 2013 the National Mental Health Commission recommendedthe development of a National • 2013 the National Mental Health Commission recommendedthe development of a National Mental Health Peer Workforce Development Framework, with national targets for the employment and development of the peer workforce.
- • Workforce Australia, collapsed into the Department of Health in 2014 completed work • Workforce Australia, collapsed into the Department of Health in 2014 completed work on a peer work a Mental Health Peer Workforce Literature Scan and a Mental Health Peer Workforce Study . Work on a National Framework ceased at that time.

As Primary Health Networks move into commissioning services it has become apparent that there is a vital role for the peer workforce in Primary Mental Health and in the transitions between health services. The draft PHN guideline, Draft PHNPrimary Mental Health Care Flexible Funding Pool Implementation Guidance, Peer Workforce Role in Mental Health and Suicide Prevention is both welcome and overdue. However the guideline, as it currently stands, risks a continued failure to implement policy as articulated in the Mental Health Plans , the National Commission's Report Cards and Review. PHN's need to lead the development of national peer workforce framework and guidelines as set out in these policy documents. It is work that must occur at a national level, otherwise the workforce will continue to develop in an ad hoc manner, piece meal and risky fashion. In brief, this unrealised policy is to develop and implement:

- • National Mental Health Workforce Strategy that defines standardised workforce • National Mental Health Workforce Strategy that defines standardised workforce 9 competencies and roles in clinical, community and peer support areas. ,
- • National Mental Health Peer Workforce Development Framework created and implemented • National Mental Health Peer Workforce Development Framework created and implemented 10 in all treatment and support settings ,and
- • Workforce Development Guidelines, consistent with the recommendation made by the • Workforce Development Guidelines, consistent with the recommendation made by the National Mental Health Commission's 2014 National Review of Mental Health Programmes 11 and Services.

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