Mental Health

Innovation Challenge

An interactive problem-solving event to improve the mental fitness of our community.

15-16 March 2024, Health Innovation Living Lab John Hunter Hospital

The Mental Health Innovation Challenge is an event dedicated to creating solutions in a fast-paced, interactive, team-based environment.

Whether you’re a mental health practitioner, allied health professional, student or simply want to play a part in making a positive change for our community, everyone is welcome to bring their ideas and take part in the Mental Health Innovation Challenge.

Why an Innovation Challenge?

When it comes to generating out-of-the-box ideas and forging meaningful partnerships, there's nothing quite like an Innovation Challenge.

By tackling a problem head-on and coming up with fresh solutions, participants can create new or improved products, processes, services, or experiences. What's more, bringing together a diverse range of voices and perspectives can be incredibly invigorating, leading to new and exciting ways of approaching even the most stubborn challenges.

Why Mental Health?

Mental health is a key component of overall health and wellbeing.

However, health data from the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (HNECC PHN) Local Government Areas indicate a significant need for intervention and an uplift in targeted services to address the psychological distress embedded within our communities.

Mental fitness within the community is trending downward, adding pressure to stretched mental health services and staff. The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ National Study of Mental and Wellbeing indicates that in Australia 42.9% of people aged 16–85 years had experienced a mental disorder at some time in their life. Looking closer to home, more adults in our region experience high or very high psychological distress compared to New South Wales and Australia-wide averages.

 

Meet new people, be exposed to fresh ideas, learn new skills, and build creative, original work.

CHALLENGE STATEMENT

The HNECC PHN is seeking new and innovative early intervention solutions that empower individuals to:

  • Identify a decline in mental fitness and therefore a need for intervention; and

  • Ensure the early adoption of the proposed solution to achieve or maintain mental fitness; and

  • The solution is adaptable, accessible, and scalable.

A solution is not intended to replace traditional therapy. It would be ideal to support the general population who need direction to maintain or get mental fitness back on track, those looking for support while waiting for appointments, or to support patients undergoing sessions if deemed suitable by a mental health professional. 

Some of the data presented and the topics discussed as part of this challenge may cause distress. Services you can contact are listed on the ABS Mental Health Resources page.

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HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Participate in one or all of the pre-Challenge opportunities to build new connections and knowledge around mental health.

Improve your knowledge

Take part in the upcoming Information Session to experience what it takes to compete in the Innovation Challenge. Learn from industry and clinical experts at Expert Panel Sessions across the Hunter, New England and Central Coast regions.

Connect and learn

Get a taste of the Innovation Challenge by taking part in an Ideas Collider. Practice ideation and working in diverse teams, build communication, problem-solving, and presentation skills in a fun and judgement-free environment.

Develop something great

With the support of mentors and experts, participate in the Innovation Challenge. Rapidly ideate, build, and pitch your solution to a panel of judges for the chance to win cash prizes and potential post-challenge support.

Mental Health Innovation Challenge 2024

Key Events:

  • Learn more about the problem statement and what the Mental Health Innovation Challenge is all about.

    Where: Online via Zoom

    Register here.

  • Come along and hear from industry experts and deepen your understanding of the problem statement to help craft a response to the challenge.

    Where: Sonny’s Cafe

    Register here.

  • Get a taste for the innovation challenge with an evening of rapid ideation, pitch practice and build your confidence ahead of the full-scale innovation challenge.

    Where: UNE Tamworth

    Register here.

  • Join a team and build a meaningful solution as you compete for glory.

    Where: Health Innovation Living Lab, John Hunter Hospital

    Registrations Available Soon

 

The Mental Health Innovation Challenge, and all associated events, are delivered in partnership with the Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network (HNECC PHN) and the University of Newcastle’s Integrated Innovation Network (I2N).