MACN Panel
Central Eligibility and Review Group (CERG)
CERG Membership
Membership of the CERG comprises of senior program and clinical representatives from the Department of Human Services program areas including the Mental Health and Drugs Division; Housing Division; Disability Division and Child, Youth and Family Services Division as well as program and clinical representatives from the Department of Justice.
The group is chaired by the Executive Director, Operations Division.
The group also has access to independent expert advisers for additional advice and to provide a non departmental perspective.
The MACNI Central Team provide program and executive support to the CERG - Anne Leonard, Marilyn Kraner and Verna Fisher
The role and function of the CERG
The CERG has several functions which it undertakes including:
- Determine client eligibility for MACNI on the advice of the DHS regions
- Review and approve requests for brokerage for individual MACNI clients, and monitor overall MACNI spending
- Review care plans
- on request of the region or other stakeholders for practice advice or support
- as a quality assurance mechanism
- Contribute to program review
- Provide advice on systemic and specific issues concerning complex clients.
Independent Expert Advisers
Independent Expert Advisers are individuals with relevant and specific knowledge, expertise or experience in an area relevant to the work of MACNI. This may include expertise in mental health, drug and alcohol abuse, acquired brain injury, forensic issues or disability. Their independence stems from having little or no affiliation with current services that may result in them having a potential conflict of interest.
The following are independent expert advisers that are available to MACNI
Professor Graeme Smith - a psychiatrist with a long career as a specialist clinician, researcher and academic in the field of consultation liaison psychiatry where patients have multiple and complex needs.
Janet Farrow - brings with her considerable depth and breadth of expertise across a range of areas including forensic psychiatry services.
Lisa Brophy - a social worker and academic with long-standing experience in a range of mental health services.
Helen Harrington - has over 20 years of experience in the area of acquired brain injury (ABI). She has specialized in providing innovative community based rehabilitation for clients with acquired brain injury, and their families as an occupational therapist, case manager and family therapist.
Lynne Coulson Barr - has extensive experience as member on a number of Federal and State tribunals including the Mental Health Review Board and the Intellectual Disability Review Panel. She has worked as a consultant and researcher in the fields of family and child welfare, disability, health, education and law.