When the Werry Centre was initially established in 2003, one of the main aims was to improve the mental healthcare of children and adolescents in New Zealand by ensuring that the workforce had access to training of a high standard. The Werry Centre has a national focus. Although it is part of the University of Auckland, it has a strong role in supporting educational institutions across New Zealand in their provision of training in child and adolescent mental health. In addition to this, it has been a trial site for the delivery of postgraduate training using distance and flexible teaching methods.
Under the workforce development contract the Werry Centre has developed an active continuing education programme with regular workshops and training days
Introducing training in evidence based therapies has been an important initiative and training in cognitive behavioural therapy has been introduced. A core group of therapists has been trained by the Beck Institute in cognitive therapy for children and adolescents. Workshops in basic CBT skills are being run in 2006. The University of Auckland will run in depth postgraduate training in CBT in 2007.
Lack of training in child and adolescent development and mental health has been identified in undergraduate courses; a lack of staff with the skills required to undertake the teaching was a key reason for this lack. To help address this difficulty an undergraduate training resource has been developed by Mathijs Lucassen and Dr Sally Merry.
Teaching staff at the Werry Centre were approached by staff at the Department of Community Health and asked to develop a module for the new post graduate certificate of mental health for primary care health professionals. Child and adolescent mental health makes up half of one of the courses.
1998 The Clinical Training Agency, Ministry of Health (CTA) requested a proposal for the development of courses to support professional developmental and to up-skill the workforce in child and adolescent mental health. As a result, the Postgraduate Certificate in Child and Adolescent Mental Health was established.
1999 Postgraduate Diploma in Child and Adolescent Mental Health was established.
1999 onwards ongoing annual consultation with stakeholders, including District Health Boards, CAMHS, NGOs, and consumers.
2001 The structure of the courses was changed to one of a block design, with attendance on 6 half-days per year per course to facilitate increased access.
2003 Development of distance learning on two courses: Psychopathology and Therapy in Child & Adolescent Mental Health Theory.
Numbers of students enrolling each year onto the Certificate and Diploma
2004 Development of Video conference teaching sessions for Assessment paper and linking to distance centers so that distance students need not travel to Auckland.
2005 Replacing Videos with CDs for Psychopathology and Development courses, and also reducing the number of face to face sessions with a view to reach out to more distance students.
2005 Establishment of Distance Tutors for Centres with 3 or more students
2006 Reduction of block teaching days from 6 to 4. Video Conferencing discounted in favour of student attendance after student feedback.
2007 Likely introduction of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy teaching
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Evidence - Based Age Appropriate Interventions - A Guide for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Download Guidelines for Enabling Effective Family Whanau Participation in CAMH and AOD Services in NZ Download Stocktake of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services 2006 Download |
