RDN Share
The Central West Aboriginal Mental Health and Wellbeing Program (CWAMH) was established in 2023 through a strong partnership between the NSW Ministry of Health’s Centre for Aboriginal Health, Western NSW Local Health District, and Central West Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), including Condobolin Aboriginal Health Service, Orange Aboriginal Medical Service, Weigelli Centre Aboriginal Corporation, and Yoorana Gunya Family Healing Centre Aboriginal Corporation.
The program was designed to support ACCHOs in delivering culturally safe, holistic, and community-led mental health and wellbeing services that respond to the unique needs of their communities. At its core, CWAMH represents a genuine co-designed and Aboriginal-led model of care for Central West NSW.
A key strength of the program is the ongoing collaboration between partners. Representatives from each organisation meet quarterly in person to share successes, discuss challenges, and work collectively to strengthen service delivery across the region. This collaborative approach allows flexibility in responding to the differing needs of each community while maintaining a shared commitment to cultural safety and quality care.
Since its commencement, each participating service has hosted visiting mental health clinicians through the program's partnership with Central West’s PsychSolutions. Initially operating monthly, clinic visits increased to fortnightly in 2025 in response to strong community engagement and growing demand. The program also works closely with existing Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) programs and Western NSW Local Health District mental health teams, ensuring coordinated and comprehensive care.
Recognising the need to strengthen access to specialist psychiatric support, the partnership approached RDN to assist with the recruitment and ongoing support of a visiting psychiatrist. Following a six-month recruitment campaign, RDN successfully recruited clinical psychiatrist Dr Michael Edwards, who expressed a strong interest in working across all partner locations.
Psychiatry clinics have now been operating for three months, with very positive feedback received from ACCHOs and community members. Through close collaboration, each service has worked alongside Dr Edwards to establish models of care that best suit their local context. These models range from traditional one-on-one consultations to case conferencing, group discussions focused on mental health and addiction, and upskilling opportunities for local staff.
Reflecting on his experience at Weigelli Centre Aboriginal Corporation, Dr Edwards shared:
“The opportunity to work together in depth over the three-month program, with the residents and staff, has allowed me to better understand the broad social and emotional wellbeing issues and the diversity of First Nations cultures of people who enter the program, and how these interact with substance use. Many people I have met at Weigelli have not previously had the opportunity to have a long yarn with a psychiatrist in a safe cultural space, and they seem to find it helpful.”
At Condobolin Aboriginal Health Service, Dr Edwards described a particularly meaningful early engagement:
“On my first visit, I was privileged to be invited to the Women’s Group, where we shared morning tea and a yarn about Condobolin real estate. Towards the end of the group, a couple of the women approached me to ask whether we could catch up later for an appointment to talk about their struggles. I felt very happy to meet them anywhere they felt safe—at the group room, at their place, or just sitting by the river. True First Nations healthcare. A wonderful experience for me.”
With several small adjustments planned for the new year to further strengthen service delivery, RDN looks forward to continuing its support of the program, including the ongoing upskilling of local staff. The partnership remains committed to building on the early success of the Central West Aboriginal Mental Health and Wellbeing Program and supporting positive outcomes for community members across the region.
RDN Health's Outreach activities were administered under the banner of Rural Doctors Network until FY 2025-2026.