Neami Research & Evaluation Team

Neami is creating a Research & Evaluation Team to help improve the quality and consistency of our direct care services, and to trial new approaches to working with people experiencing a mental illness.

The newly formed Research & Evaluation Team will provide clear direction to all research and evaluation activities across Neami.  A Research Committee will be formed to ensure all research/evaluation is conducted in a consumer focused and ethically sensitive manner, and includes all relevant stakeholders in decision making.

Neami’s research and evaluation activities will provide a strong foundation for us in delivering evidence-based practices to our consumers within a recovery orientated framework. 

The first step for Neami’s newly formed Research & Evaluation Team is to document our theoretical foundations and model of service delivery.  Having completed this task we will then undertake some research to test our practice approach in collaboration with consumers, carers, staff and higher education institutions.

Key aims of the newly formed Research and Evaluation Team are to:

• Support our sites and staff in undertaking innovative research and evaluation activities;

• Foster collaboration, partnerships and information sharing between Neami staff, academic and research institutions, consumers and the wider mental health field; and,
• Act as a resource for Neami staff by supporting translation of proven research knowledge into practice.

Current Research

• We are currently undertaking research to further develop our Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) work.  The research will give Neami a snapshot of our consumer’s current substance use profile and also provide an overview of current staff knowledge, skills and attitudes to providing AOD services.

Recently Completed Research

• Quit Research which focussed on smoking behaviours of consumers and the influences on cessation rates.

Moeller-Saxone, K. (2008) Cigarette smoking and interest in quitting among consumers at a Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation and Support Service in Victoria. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 32(5):479-481.

Moeller-Saxone, K. Tobias, G. Helyer, K. (2005) Expanding Choices for Smokers with a Mental illness: Smoking Rates, Desire to Change and Program Implementation in a Day Program. New Paradigm June 2005, 45-52. New Paradigm Press, Melbourne, Australia.

• Outcomes and Needs Assessment research which identified the most important unmet needs of Neami consumers.

Helyer, K. Tobias, G. Trauer, T. (2008) Lessons Learned from using Routine Outcome Measurement in a Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation and Support Service. 2020 Vision: Looking Towards Excellence in Mental Health Care in 2020, Melbourne Conference Proceedings 2007, TheMHS Conference, Sydney, Australia.