Call for Contributions: newparadigm's "Partnerships" edition

‘Partnerships’ is the topic for the upcoming Spring edition of newparadigm. Contributions from organisations and individuals on this multi-faceted issue are welcome. Opinion Pieces, Letters to the Editor, Case Studies, articles and book reviews are being sought.
Partnerships come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. They can form between individuals, organisations, parts of the service system and with governments. They exist on a continuum from loose networks to collaborations where there is extensive sharing of ‘turf’ and resources. The dominant ethos seems to be ‘together we can do better’. It should never be underestimated, however, just how much hard work partnerships are and the ramifications when they go wrong.

The State Government’s Because Mental Health Matter: Victorian Mental Health Reform Strategy 2009-2019 has eight reform areas. One of these is Reform Area 8: Partnerships and accountability – strengthening planning, governance and shared responsibility for outcomes. References to partnerships are found throughout the rest of the document. The document acknowledges that there are many successful partnerships in the mental health sector and that these will be built on to achieve the reform area’s stated goals. Some of the goals around local area planning and coordination will require new partnerships that cross traditional boundaries. They may also involve existing partners working in radically different ways. While we await details of the implementation plan it is timely to consider partnerships and what the concept means to our sector.

We are interested in hearing about:

· Great partnerships that have achieved real outcomes for mental health consumers
· Innovative models that have brought a diverse range of partners to the table around a common goal
· Theories and research about what works and what doesn’t

We encourage you to contribute to these and any related issues. If you are interested in contributing and for our Contributor Guidelines, please contact Kristie Lennon, Editorial Assistant fornewparadigm newparadigm@vicserv.org.au or 03 9519 7000.