The Australia-Nepal Mental Health Network was founded in 2013 by a volunteer group of clinicians with extensive experience in the provision of mental health services. Members come from a range of mental health backgrounds in Australia and in Nepal, including medical, nursing, social work, occupational therapy, drug and alcohol counselling and pharmacology. The Network also includes people from other sectors such as education.
We work throughout the year to develop or support programs with our colleagues in Nepal and then travel with a team each year around November. The team members pay for their airfares and accommodation. Since 2013 over 30 of our colleagues have been part of these annual teams. The current 'core' visiting and support team is: Dr Nick Burns, Robyn Murray, Prabhat Kiran Pradhan, Dr Scott Hedley, Peter Warren, Nanette Fogarty, Naidene Atherton, Lynette Bullen and Julie Fleming. Meredith Sims is in charge of the Winter Beanie Distribution.
We are currently working with colleagues at The University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Chhahari, and KOSHISH, and with colleagues in the villages of Maidi and Dhola in the Dhading region as well as colleagues involved in the Second International 2020 Nepal Mental Health Conference and we are starting to work with people in the older age mental health field. Our Projects page talks to this work in more detail.
Much credit is due to many other members of the Network and to family, friends and colleagues as well as clubs such as the Rotary Club of Orange Daybreak and the Rotary Club of Blayney and Rotary District 9700 who continue to support the Network’s endeavours. Our home base is the Mental Health Campus in Orange, NSW.
Australia-Nepal Mental Health Network Committee Executive Members
Clinical Director:
Dr Nicolas Burns FRANZCP MBBS
Nick is a senior psychiatrist and the clinical director of the Forensic Mental Health Service on Bloomfield MH Campus. He also works in the inner city of Sydney with people who are homeless and have mental illness and for many years worked at the Redfern Aboriginal Medical Service.
Director:
Ms Robyn Murray B. Soc.Studies
Robyn is a clinical social worker, a graduate of the University of Sydney. Robyn has worked in operational and management capacity in NSW Health Services. She is currently manager of a state-wide program at the NSW Ministry of Health.
Secretary:
Mrs Julie Fleming
Julie lives in Orange and is a longtime Rotary member and has a background in regional TAFE education. Julie has excellent administrative skills, has travelled to Nepal with Rotary and is committed to the work of ANMHN.
Patron:
Mr Prabhat Kiran Pradhan (PK)
PK lives and works in Nepal. He is well respected for his support of non-government mental health services in Nepal and for developing local initiatives such as Nepal Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). He is an accredited trainer through Australian MHFA.
