Regional Leadership Award - 2021

Working on the coalface of the mental health crisis, Dr Rickie Elliott is a leader in antenatal and postnatal mental health, attachment, developmental trauma and the field of addiction. Rickie is an experienced Clinical Psychologist who has worked tirelessly in health services and private practice to support the mental health needs of children, adolescents, adults and families. She is also gaining international recognition for her work in supporting other mental health professionals during the global mental health crisis precipitated by the pandemic.

In 2015 Rickie co-founded The Hummingbird Centre, a Hunter-based, multi-disciplinary team of mental health clinicians which has now grown into four separate clinics with 36 clinicians and support staff. The Centre services clients from a wide variety of backgrounds, with a range of mental health conditions, including well-being issues and psychosocial issues like domestic violence or drug abuse.

The Hummingbird Centre has developed a reputation for its dedication to its clients and high level of supervision, consultation and training. The centre is also emerging as a specialist training provider for mental health professionals around Australia and internationally; work that has been crucial in fighting the increasingly high rates of burnout among mental health clinicians.

“The problem that my colleagues and myself are trying to solve is complex. We are in a mental health crisis and I think we were in it before COVID-19 began. There's been a breakdown in community and people are worried about safety and neighbourhood-related issues. Adding a global pandemic to that has caused such a high demand in Newcastle.”

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2021 Alumni Excellence Awards

Rickie has also recently established not-for-profit organisation, Hummingbird Haven, to provide greater support for disadvantaged people within the local community.

“It is nearly impossible to have a child see a mental health professional without a three month wait. That's really a worry,” said Rickie. “The mission of Hummingbird Haven is to provide high quality support and well-being programs for those who are vulnerable in our community.”

When asked about her approach to leadership, Rickie says that she values strong relationships and teamwork. “My role as a leader is to support the people who work for me, and with me, in whatever way I can. We're equal colleagues and we work alongside each other,” said Rickie.

“We also have a lot of fun together. We view our relationships with the people who work at the Hummingbird Centre like a family. That's the thing I'm probably most proud of; the culture that myself and my co-director have created. It’s a beautiful, supportive, warm culture where people know it's a really lovely place to work.”

Rickie’s time at the University of Newcastle shaped her career, and her relationship with the university has continued to strengthen and evolve throughout her professional life.

“I still maintain relationships with some of my supervisors and peers from the university. They are involved in projects with our team, running with local charities and programs.”  The Hummingbird Centre’s connection with the University of Newcastle is “a beautiful two-way relationship where we can provide clinical expertise and they can help us with the more technical research.”

“This award means the world because it means that we are making a difference in the community. We are helping people overcome mental health and well-being difficulties, and we are reaching a wide amount of people.”

Dr Rickie Elliott
Clinical Psychologist and Director, The Hummingbird Centre

Doctor of Clinical Psychology 2013, Bachelor of Psychology 2005

The problem that my colleagues and myself are trying to solve is complex. We are in a mental health crisis and I think we were in it before COVID-19 began. There's been a breakdown in community and people are worried about safety and neighbourhood-related issues. Adding a global pandemic to that has caused such a high demand in Newcastle.

Alumni Excellence Awards

Regional Leadership Award

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