Consulting the ‘oracle’

Using a Delphi process to facilitate change to a blended learning model for rural mental health professionals’ recruitment

Abstract

What happens when time, staffing pressures and a reduced funding base begin to impact on considerations for the future deployment of a successful university-based program promoting professional career options in rural mental health for completing students? This paper outlines the initial steps of shifting the Gippsland Mental Health Vacation School (GMHVS) from a successful week-long face-to-face program to a blended, collaborative and interactive model, distributed across space and time. Further, this blended learning approach encompassing social media opens the possibility to enable greater student numbers to participate in future GMHVS programs.