Why I Started the WA Adult ADHD Mental Health Professionals Network (and How You Can Be Part of It as a helping professional)
Are you a dedicated health professional working hard to support your clients with ADHD, yet yearn for more high-quality, relevant training against going bankrupt when facing the raising costs of CPD? Yep I get it!
Introducing the Mental Health Professionals' Network (MHPN) - a unique, Australian Government-funded national initiative connecting mental health practitioners to strengthen our collective impact. Think of it as Australia's official hub for collaborative mental health care, ensuring we, as practitioners, get access to vital, free professional development.
The MHPN offers multiple networks across various clinical interests and communities of practice. (I have put their link at the bottom if you want more information)
A mighty unmet need….
The truth is, when I launched the local WA State ADHD network back in 2023, it came from a place of deep professional frustration. As a Private practitioner consciously seeking to work with Neurodivergent adults back in 2020, I realized how few dedicated, high-quality training spaces existed for those of us supporting adults and young adults with ADHD in the mental health field. I simply couldn't find the resources I wanted for myself or my peers, and was annoyed at how the knowledge was focused for children. (Yes, adults are big kids, but adults have additional adult problems and “adulting” responsibilities)
So, I took the leap:
I did the paperwork. I applied for funding and founded the WA Young-Adult and Adult ADHD Network. A network focused on exploring the intersectionality between life, identity, mental and physical wellbeing, traditional mental health care delivery and new emerging fields of care, and adult ADHD.
My work is deeply informed by my passion and enriched by community experience: I am a Medicare Endorsed Mental Health Occupational Therapist, an ADDCA-Trained, ICF Accredited ADHD Coach, and a late-diagnosed ADHD individual, going through Perimenopause. This multiplicity certainly brings a truly holistic and eclectic perspective to my approach to practice (and life in general).
The Network is a brave yet safe space for all professionals to learn more about ADHD and its complexities.
Unified in a mission
Thankfully I certainly don't do this alone! I have two incredible co-convenors, Virginia Pulker (Occupational Therapist) and Carolyn Verhoef (Neurodivergency Coach) who are amazingly passionate professionals, creative powerhouses, idea generators, and instrumental in keeping our network vibrant and relevant.
Together, we host four quarterly sessions a year, focusing on neuroaffirming, evidence-based, and multidimensional practice. Our guests have been National and local, delivering current and evidence based knowledge to our network (all without cost to our registered network members):
Clinical Psychologist Dr. Ozgur Yalcin presenting on Trauma in ADHD.
Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Shanek Wick discussing TMS treatment and protocol for ADHD.
Dr. Emma Sciberras discussing the creation and implementation of the AADPA Clinical Guidelines for ADHD.
Clinical Psychologist and The Neurodivergent Woman Podcast co-host, Monique Mitchelson, discussing ADHD across the AFAB and women's lifespan.
Brett Weggelaar - faculty member of ADDCA, Professional Certified Coach of ADHD and Ontological coaching.
And don’t worry, our network is mainly online. Western Australia is a huge state to have to travel around for a meeting, even ours!
For more information about the MHPN Federal initiative and network management, click here.
To register for the WA State ADHD Network and get notifications about ongoing CPD opportunities from us, click here.
