Help Shape the Future of Mental Health Service Access
MHAccess — a Mental Health Service Locator App & Website — is recruiting Consumers, Carers, and Volunteers for pilot testing.
MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE
Help us test MHAccess — a Mental Health Service Locator App and Website
Your experience matters! We are looking for consumers and carers to test a new app and website that helps people find the right Area Mental Health Service in their local area. Your feedback will directly improve access to care for Victorians.
What You'll Do
Aged 18–70 years
Used public mental health services in Australia in the last 15 years (as a consumer or carer)
Smartphone (Android or Apple) with internet access, plus access to a desktop computer or laptop
Fluent in English
Who Can Participate?
Explore the MHAccess app and website — test simple tasks like searching for services
Complete a short questionnaire on REDCap about usability and your overall experience
Takes approximately 20 minutes
✔ Voluntary & confidential ✔ No personal health information required ✔ Ethics approved — Austin Health HREC
Interested? Contact the research team:
Partha Das (Lead Investigator) | partha.das@austin.org.au
CLINICIANS NEEDED
User Survey & Pilot Testing of MHAccess — Mental Health Service Locator App and Website
Your clinical expertise matters! We are recruiting mental health clinicians to evaluate MHAccess — a new digital tool that helps consumers, carers, and health professionals identify the correct Area Mental Health Service for any address in Victoria.
What You'll Do
User Survey: Freely explore the MHAccess app and website on your computer, complete a REDCap questionnaire (MARS & FASTER frameworks) — approximately 20 minutes
Geolocation Pilot Testing (separate cohort): Take calls from field volunteers on a rostered Saturday (2–3 pm) and confirm whether a given address falls within the Northeast catchment area — approximately 60 minutes
User Survey — Who Can Join?
Pilot Testing — Who Can Join?
Employed (part or full time) in a clinical or administrative mental health role in an Australian hospital
Aged 18 or over with access to an internet-connected computer or smartphone
Experience with mobile apps and willingness to review the MHAccess app and website
Has access to an Android or Apple device
Excluded: Clinicians participating in geolocation accuracy testing
Employed (part or full time) in a clinical mental health role in an Australian hospital
Rostered as a Triage clinician on the relevant Saturday
Willing to take calls from field volunteers on a Saturday rostered shift (2–3 pm)
Excluded: Clinicians participating in the user survey
✔ Voluntary & confidential ✔ No patient data required ✔ Ethics approved — Austin Health HREC
Interested? Contact the research team:
Partha Das (Lead Investigator) | partha.das@austin.org.au
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Pilot Testing of MHAccess — Mental Health Service Locator App and Website
Why This Matters
1 in 5 mental health calls is currently misdirected, causing delays in care. Your testing will help confirm that MHAccess correctly identifies the right mental health service for addresses within the Northeast catchment area.
What You'll Do
Visit 8 test location clusters across the Northeast Area Mental Health Service area
Enter each address into the MHAccess app and webpage
Call the clinician line to verify correct address routing
Complete a short report via REDCap
What You'll Need
Aged 18 or over
Smartphone with internet access and calling capability
Reliable insured transport to test sites
Available for a single field testing session on a Saturday afternoon (2–3 pm), departing from Repat Hospital after orientation
✔ Ethics approved — Austin Health HREC ✔ No personal health information required ✔ All data kept confidential
Interested? Contact the research team:
Partha Das (Lead Investigator) | partha.das@austin.org.au
$100 Remuneration Provided
$25 Remuneration Provided
$25 Remuneration Provided
✔ Voluntary & confidential
✔ No personal health information required
✔ Ethics approved — Austin Health HREC
👤 Partha Das (Lead Investigator)
✉️ partha.das@austin.org.au
✔ Voluntary & confidential
✔ No personal health information required
✔ Ethics approved — Austin Health HREC
👤 Partha Das (Lead Investigator)
✉️ partha.das@austin.org.au
✔ Ethics approved — Austin Health HREC
✔ No personal health information required
✔ All data kept confidential
👤 Partha Das (Lead Investigator)
✉️ partha.das@austin.org.au