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government research grant, and in partnership with young people, local primary health networks, service commissioners and providers, we have co- designed While We Wait — a digital service designed to support adolescents and their doctors during this waiting period. Innovation and impact While We Wait is built on an “essential ingredients” model that provides key supports to young people waiting for mental health treatment: having a trusted and trained advisor in their doctor, access to brief psychological strategies and coping skills, personalised feedback on their treatment needs, and opportunities to connect with peers who have lived experience. Resources are delivered directly to young people through their mobile phones using automated digital technology. The service will be piloted across two regions in Australia, supporting up to 150 adolescents aged 14 to 17 years. Looking ahead At FIMHWell, our innovation is not just about creating new digital solutions. We are also focussed on ensuring these solutions reach the people who need them most. By working in true partnership with policy makers and service providers, we are transforming how mental health care is delivered, making it more accessible, scalable, and effective for all Australians. As we look to the future, our goal is simple but ambitious: to shape the next decade of mental health care through evidence, technology, and the power of collaboration.
Disorders Collaboration, Flinders University, and five Primary Health Networks across Australia, designed to promote important systems change for eating disorders. Innovation and impact The RCRP initiative embeds Eating Disorder Coordinators (EDCs) in local health networks, who map services, engage stakeholders, and support workforce development. Digital tools (surveys, newsletters, training, databases, HealthPathways, and clinical aids) enhance service navigation, data collection, and professional education across diverse regions. Our EDCs have engaged in over 1,600 contacts with consumers, health professionals, and other stakeholders, resulting in practical outcomes such as care coordination, referral support, and facilitating treatment re- engagement. Nearly half of registered health professionals had no prior experience treating eating disorders, yet over 350 completed introductory training and over 200 undertook training in a specific evidence-based treatment, demonstrating strong uptake and capacity building. Ongoing data collection is supporting iterative improvements to RCRP, with potential for the enhanced model to be rolled out in other regions. While We Wait: Supporting adolescents on waitlists for treatment Challenge and collaborators Our research shows that young people in Australia wait an average of 100 days to access child and adolescent mental health services, leaving many without support. With funding from an Australian
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