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Departing CEO reflects on time with WRAD Health

Mark Powell’s time with WRAD Health has a profound impact on his outlook towards healthcare.

Mark will be finishing up at WRAD Health on Friday March 20 to take up a new role in dual diagnosis with Barwon Health. He joined in 2019 as Senior Alcohol and Other Drug Clinician before moving into the role of Operations Manager in 2020. He became interim CEO in July 2023 and was formally appointed to the role at the start of 2024.

Mark has worked in mental health and alcohol and other drug fields for more than 30 years and says that after a change in personal circumstances and a great deal of thought, he’s making  the right move.

But he leaves with positive thoughts about the future of the service and a firm belief in the benefits of a GP clinic being co-located with an alcohol and other drug service.

“Working in such an extensive multi-disciplinary approach to drug and alcohol needs has been profound experience for me,” he says. “My work has always crossed over between drugs and alcohol and mental health, but by sitting in the primary healthcare space I have learnt the challenges and opportunities that exist for people to access those co-located services. Because we’re co-located, it’s so much easier for a GP to say we’ve got someone here, would you like to talk to them today?

“We are catching them at the moment rather than giving them a referral number and that means you don’t lose momentum.

“This has been a positive and profound experience for me and really cemented my ongoing commitment to this model for the future, particularly for bulk billing primary healthcare settings.”

Mark believes that the multi-disciplinary approach – including AOD, mental health and allied health – is the way of the future for medical practices. “It means GPs get adequate support and people get timely care to have their needs met without having to navigate the referrals system.”

WRAD Health has embraced this vision and started to develop relationships and partnerships to further expand the connections.

“For example, I believe pharmacotherapy should sit in drug and alcohol setting because you get wrap-around support as opposed to putting pressure on GPs to take on another complex matter without having support systems around them,” Mark adds.

Mark is taking up a senior clinical dual diagnosis position in Geelong. “It will involve working at the coalface with people dealing with these challenges,” he said. “It’s something I’ve missed, though I have always stayed involved through our Family Support Group and being part of a small team, you get lots of exposure to what is going on around you.”

The move to Geelong will bring Mark closer to family but he remains committed to healthcare in the Warrnambool region, particularly The Lookout Residential Rehabilitation Centre.

“I remain passionate about the cause around co-occurring and integrated healthcare,” he says. “If anything, this experience at WRAD Health has further cemented the value of that.

“I remain firmly committed to seeing the south-west region getting a local residential rehabilitation facility. We’re not stepping away from that and moving away is not going to stop me from being an active participant and advocate for a facility.

“We need a service available close to home that will benefit the whole community as well as families and individuals. I firmly believe in the model of residential rehab. It’s not the be-all and end-all of treatment, but it is a necessary part of the treatment continuum. I know first-hand the value of people having time away from the stresses of their home environment to focus on their recovery.

“I still anticipate good news. I’d happily come back and volunteer to help on weekends if needed.”

Along with the integration of healthcare, Mark also advocates for inclusion of and support for families as people embark on their recovery journey.

“It has been a genuine privilege to work alongside such a committed, skilled and compassionate group of people,” Mark said. “Together we have built and continue to build a well-respected service that truly strives to meet the needs of our community. I’m proud of what has been achieved and even more confident about what you will continue to grow and deliver into the future.”

WRAD Health committee of management chair Helen Taylor said Mark had made a significant contribution to the organisation.

“Mark has been an outstanding member of our staff in all his roles,” she said. “He’s a wonderful people person who interacts beautifully with all our clients and staff and volunteer group.

“He has great vision and has helped WRAD Health to work within a very lean budget to provide the best possible programs for our community.”

Some of Mark’s highlights:

• Expanding bulk-billing GP services and allied health access
• Strengthening pharmacotherapy across the region and enhancing dual diagnosis capacity
• Introducing a stronger family-inclusive component to the practice
• Building strong partnerships across the region
• Advancing the vision and model for the Lookout Residential Rehabilitation Centre
• developing a concept called “One Roof for All” as an inclusive, integrated health care centre model and hope to see it progress into implementation.