The NZEIP Executive Committee
The National EIP Executive Committee was established to further the aims of early intervention for psychosis in New Zealand. the Executive Committee has recently developed a Constitution, helped establish an annual National Training Forum, supported the development of the Mind Your Head and Family Matters DVDs, set up the FERNZ National Data Set and, of course, established a nation website.
The purpose of the National Executive Committee is to provide leadership and expertise, with a strategic and national focus, to both early intervention services and other interested parties including government agencies, community and consumer groups.
The group is currently made up of early intervention for psychosis health professionals and is recruiting for both new members and family and client representatives.
Meetings are held 3-4 times a year, in Wellington and once a year the meeting is held on the day before Training forum at the forum venue. Expected time commitment of Executive Committee members are whole day meetings in Wellington, 3-4 times a year, some reading, emails and if you are able to commit time there are always projects within the group that committee members can assist with.
The constitution for the group allows for 8 elected members and the ability to co-opt up to a further 4 members, to try to cover all regions of NZ, service sizes, cultural representation and professional groupings. The elected group of 8 then elect, from within the group, a chairperson, treasurer and secretary.
Recent projects the group has been involved in include supporting and advising on the implementation of a nationwide data set, reviewing the Mental Health Commission 1999 Guidance Note, overseeing the ongoing development and finances relating to the National Training Forum and supporting the Mind Your Head Project and of this website.
Elections for new Executive Committee members are held at the annual training
forum. Any questions about the Executive Committee please contact one of the
current members.
2007-8 Executive Committee from Left:
Dr David Bathgate (Past Chair) – Consultant Psychiatrist;
Otago District Health Board
Lois Boyd – (Chair) Nurse Consultant; Nelson-Marlborough District Health Board
Cecilia Smith-Hamel - Consultant Psychiatrist; South Canterbury District Health
Board
John Zonnevylle – Senior Advisor; Ministry of Health
Alison Masters - (Treasurer) Consultant Psychiatrist; Capital & Coast
District Health Board
Aaron O'Connell - Psychologist; Counties-Manakau District Health Board
Janine Olasa - Social Worker; Capital & Coast District Health Board
Mike Ang - (Secretary) Consultant Psychiatrist; Waitemata District Health
Board
Jim Crowe - Family Advisor
Mark Turner – Researcher; Canterbury District Health Board
Alistair Eames - Consumer Advisor
Objectives of The New Zealand Early Intervention in Psychosis Society “NZEIPS” Incorporated
NZEIPS is committed to:
Ensuring the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi are incorporated into all
of NZEIPS's endeavours:
(i) Promoting the appropriate use of cultural treatments for persons with schizophrenia and other psychoses;
(ii) Promoting the integration of biopsychosocial and cultural treatments in treatment plans and comprehensive treatment of all persons with early psychosis;
(iii) Promoting the appropriate use of biopsychosocial and cultural understandings and approaches in all phases of the disorders especially early detection and treatment;
(iv) Promoting research into individual, group and family, biopsychosocial therapies, preventative measures and cultural understandings for those with psychotic disorders;
(v) Supporting treatments that include individual, family, group and cultural approaches and treatment methods that are consistent with the Early Intervention model/approach;
(vi) Advancing education, training and knowledge of mental health professionals in the bio psychosocial and cultural interventions in the treatment and prevention of psychotic mental health disorders for the public benefit regardless of race, religion, gender or socio-economic status;
(vii) Enhancing awareness amongst professionals, administrators and legislators in the public sector about early interventions in psychosis and to make available to the general public knowledge of such therapies and interventions and where so, to bring to the public's attention the scarce availability of such therapies and interventions;
(viii) Facilitating communication amongst mental health professionals, administrators and legislators, by means of publications, newsletters, journals, scientific conferences, meetings and e-mail discussion groups;
(ix) Creating a central institution for the collection, provision, maintenance
and spread of information and knowledge of early intervention relevant to
psychotic disorders. To establish, carry on, promote, organise, finance and
encourage the study, writing, production, publication and distribution of
books, periodicals, monographs, pamphlets, articles and other literature and
to arrange meetings and lectures and to arrange for the reading of papers
and holding of seminars or discussions and to circulate any periodicals and
literature that may be deemed advisable by the Executive Committee.
Report from Executive Committee of NZ Early Intervention in Psychosis Group