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Policy & Research

Policy Analysis and Development

Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria (VICSERV) Policy Officer is Ben Ilsley. Phone Ben on (03) 9519 7000, or to contact Ben by email, see our Contacts page.

On behalf of its constituent members, Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria (VICSERV) actively participates in policy development, at national, state and sectoral levels, all of which govern the planning, delivery and evaluation of psychiatric disability rehabilitation and support services in Victoria.

Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria (VICSERV) both initiates policy development and responds to pertinent issues affecting the sector and its operations.

Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria (VICSERV)'s annual strategic annual planning process identifies the key result areas and specific goals to be achieved over the twelve-month period. Key policy and research themes of the 2005/2006 Strategic Plan include:

  • Continuing commitment to workforce development
  • Development of a stronger evidence base for PDRS practice through research, to support advocacy for growth
  • Support for the development of a coordinated approach to increase Research and Evaluation projects in PDRS, particularly those which build the evidence base for the benefits of services
  • Support for the development of outcomes measures and the use of other evaluative tools for PDRS services
  • Engagement in policy initiatives which produce materials which define high quality practice. A chief current example of this is the Day Programs Review which is due to be published in April 2006
  • Continuation of work with Mental Health Branch to support and advocate for quality improvement activities
  • Continuation of review of the results of the new pricing model

Here are some examples of our recent reports on priority policy issues:

  1. Defining of the Role of the PDRS Sector
  2. PDRS Sector Financial Viability Report - February 2003     New document image
  3. PDRS Sector Financial Viability Report - December 2001
  4. PDRS Sector Financial Viability Report - October 2003

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