From east to west Dylan found his passion at country health

WA Country Health Service (WACHS) Senior Child and Adolescent Mental Health Professional Dylan Oliver always had a passion for supporting young people and their mental health. That only grew when he relocated to Bunbury to work at the Infant Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (ICAMHS).

Dylan said he grew up in a small country town in New South Wales (NSW) without a dedicated mental health service.

“It made me extremely passionate about advocating for support for young people and I even helped raise money to get a Headspace service,” he said.

From there, Dylan completed a Bachelor of Social Work at university and went on to work in family and domestic violence and lead a Headspace service.

When his friend suggested country WA he applied for a contract at the community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.

“My friend suggested Bunbury to me and said I would absolutely love it, so I applied for a contract,” he said.

“I moved to Bunbury in November and spent seven months here on contract – I loved the job and team,” he said.

When he was offered permanency in Bunbury at ICAMHS - that’s when he planted his roots and said he couldn’t see himself doing anything else.

The ICAMHS uses an innovative model of care that provides a central point of contact for all children and young people needing mental health support in the region.

Dylan also said he’s seen direct benefits for the community since moving to the new ICAMHS model and processes.

“We’re able to see more young people and we’re able to provide ongoing care that incorporates more specialist services,” he said.

“For me, I like to build a relationship with patients and their family. I’m able to see the outcomes, and for patients, the model is more patient-centred.”

As well as the job and the team, Dylan said it’s the lifestyle in country WA that sold him.

“It’s just a nice part of the world. You finish work and it’s a two-minute drive to the beach, or you can go for a run on the foreshore,” he said.

“There’s also plenty to do and always events on. People in country WA are nice too, so it’s easier to make friends.”