The MDAP forms a critical piece of our Responder Assist strategy as we work to improve mental health outcomes for Victorian emergency services workers and uplift the capability of the clinicians treating them.
The MDAP are now available to provide their expertise to practitioners on individual cases relating to emergency workers. The panel consists of advisors in disciplines such as: Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, Social Work and General Practice – and can also facilitate links to other disciplines where required. The MDAP can be engaged for case consults on a 1:1 basis (with a specific panel member), or with the full multidisciplinary panel, and can advise practitioners on concerns such as: case formulation, diagnostic clarification and treatment planning, difficulties with engagement, complex risk issues, navigating health services, questions about pharmacotherapy, and more.
We are pleased to introduce our expert panel members, each of whom have a minimum of 10 years’ experience in treating Emergency Services Workers.
Psychiatry
Dr Geoff Thompson
Geoff has a wealth of experience in trauma and mental health, including 9 years leading a multidisciplinary team as Clinical Leader/Director of Inpatient services at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital. Geoff treats a wide range of trauma-related mental health presentations and general adult psychiatric conditions in his private practice and is experienced in treating complex presentations.
Dr Richard Bonwick
Richard is a psychiatrist who provides consultation to practitioners regarding specialist psychiatry issues, particularly those related to older veterans. Richard has worked as Consultant Psychiatrist to the Older Veterans’ Psychiatry Program at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital from 1995 until 2013, when he was appointed Medical Director of The Melbourne Clinic. Since 1995 Richard has consulted in private practice with a special interest in treating ageing veterans suffering PTSD and its comorbidities.
Clinical Psychology
Vicki Smith
Vicki is currently working with us here at Phoenix Australia overseeing the intake and clinician network for BlueHub, Phoenix’s service for Victorian Police and AFP members. She also manages Responder Assist’s Community of Practice, the MDAP and our Specialist Network of Clinicians. Prior to joining us, Vicki worked with Lifeline Tasmania as their Clinical Director and oversaw operations in their crisis call centre.
Clinical Neuropsychology
Jane Nursey
Jane is an experienced clinician and has spent 25 years in the field providing clinical treatment and secondary consultation to sufferers of trauma-related mental health disorders. She has a wealth of experience working with veterans, current serving members of the defence force, emergency services personnel, and disaster survivors. She is currently the Head of Clinical Services here at Phoenix Australia, providing expert oversight to all of our clinical treatment and support programs, including Responder Assist.
Social Work
Esther McCarthy
Esther is an accredited mental health social worker and has worked extensively within the public mental health system. Over her 17 years of experience, she has worked with complex clients presenting with serious mental illnesses and has developed a specialised skill set in working with complex family systems. She is currently working in a private clinical practice, where she works with a broad range of clients, including emergency service workers and those with PTSD.
General Practice
Dr Chris Hogan
Chris has several decades of experience working with both emergency service workers and veterans as a General Practitioner (GP). He is a GP supervisor for the Remote Vocational Training Service and has been an SES Victoria volunteer since 1980. He is the honorary Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of General Practice at Melbourne University, where he contributed to the establishment of a Practice based research network. He is also currently Deputy Chair of the RACGP History Committee & a member of Victoria Faculty Council.
Dr Maya Edgerton Bachman
Maya is a General Practitioner (GP) and is currently based at CoHealth Foostscray. Maya has previous experience working with the Psychological Trauma Recovery Service at Austin Health outpatient clinic for current and ex-ADF members receiving treatment for PTSD and comorbid conditions. Since that time she has since worked with a number of emergency services personnel in a general practice setting with a focus on mental health, the broader impacts on physical health, and barriers to service access.
Dr Hok Lim
Hok is a General Practitioner (GP) and a clinical supervisor at The Hills Medical Centre. He has experience treating emergency workers with post-traumatic stress disorder, having previously worked in the Psychological Trauma Recovery Service (PTRS) at Austin Health. He continues to treat emergency workers at the primary care level in his current practice and has a deep understanding of some of the challenges which face these patients on a day to day basis.
The Responder Assist Multidisciplinary advice panel is available to all Victorian medical and health practitioners, as well as support organisations working with Victoria-based emergency service workers with mental health concerns. To submit a case for enquiry and organise a consultation with us, call our MDA support line on 1800 324 879, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.