Mental Health Innovation Challenge

This event was held on Friday 15 March 2024

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The Mental Health Innovation Challenge will bring together multidisciplinary minds to explore new and innovative early intervention solutions that empower individuals to identify a decline in mental fitness. Meet new people, be exposed to fresh ideas, learn new skills, build creative, original work, and create awareness of the potential of your idea.

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.

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.

Prizes

Most Innovative: $2,000

Highly Commended: $1,000

Rising Star: $500

This will distributed to the Team Leader who will then distribute the prize on behalf of the team to how the team best sees fit.

Order of proceedings

FRIDAY 15 MARCH

5:00pm - Registration: Check in and get comfortable.

5:30pm - Mental Health Innovation Challenge Advice: We've invited a handful of domain experts in to share their biggest challenge in supporting the mental health of our communities and technical experts to share their tips for making the most of the time you have.

6:30pm - Event Info: We’ll go over the event schedule, logistics, resources and rules.

7:15pm - Dinner break

8:00pm - Team pitches and formation: Registered without a team? First time to an innovation challenge? Never fear! This is the opportunity for people with ideas to pitch (2mins) to secure teammates that fill skill gaps.

9:00pm - What is DevPost and Slack workshop: unfamiliar with the tools you'll need to use in the Innovation Challenge? We've got your back with this informative workshop that demystifies these user-friendly platforms.

10:00pm - Registration closes: Innovation Challenge teams must register their team name and individual team members via DevPost.

SATURDAY 16 OF MARCH

7:00am Venue reopens: Idea development and execution commences

8:00am Breakfast break. Mentors on hand to answer questions.

1:00pm Lunch break. Mentors depart.

4:00pm Challenge closes: All final projects must be submitted. Then it’s time to prepare your pitch.

5:00pm Pitches: Teams have 5 minutes to pitch their solution to the judging panel.

6:00pm Dinner: Time to relax after a long day of innovation.

7:00pm Winners announced: Prizes for the top three teams are announced.

8:00pm Event close: Get some well-deserved rest knowing you’ve expanded your network and skillset.

Judging criteria

Desirability: Is there a real problem? Is your solution going to solve it? How is it distinct from current solutions/status quo?

Feasibility: How easily can the solution be developed, deployed, and adopted by end users/beneficiaries and/or the HNECC PHN?

Viability: Is the solution adaptable, accessible, and scalable?

Prototype: What progress has the Team achieved during the Innovation Challenge and how functional is the project?

Pitch: How well can the Team communicate the value of the solution?

More info and FAQs

The registration fee will be donated to 1 of 4 organisations, which you will have the oppurtunity to select on the evening.

www.thephn-innovationchallenge.com.au

Event partners

The Innovation Challenge for Mental Health is an initiative of the Hunter New England & Central Coast Primary Health Network in partnership with the University of Newcastle's Integrated Innovation Network (I2N). With thanks to venue hosts, the Hunter New England Local Health District's Health Living Lab at John Hunter Hospital.

You will be photographed or videoed while attending this event: please approach the organiser if you have questions, concerns, or do not wish this to happen.

The event organisers may add you to a mailing list so they can follow up, and you can receive updates about their activities: this mailing list will have an easy-to-find unsubscribe button.

Event Information

  • Date:  This event was held on Friday 15 March 2024
  • Location: Health Innovation Living Lab, John Hunter Hospital