Achievements and impact – Leigh, Mental Health Clinician, Strong Minds

Achievements and impact – Leigh, Mental Health Clinician, Strong Minds

Leigh, Strong Minds Mental Health Clinician, Bathurst, has just completed a major milestone – he is now an Accredited Mental Health and Social Worker (AMHSW).  

Prior to joining Marathon Health, Leigh had over 10 years’ experience working in the mental health and alcohol and other drugs sector. While completing a Master of Social Work, we were lucky enough to have Leigh come on board for a student placement with our Commonwealth Psychological Support (CPS) Program. From there his career took off with a clear mission on in mind – becoming an AMHSW.  

“It means a lot because it has been a long-term personal development goal and a few years in the making. It was certainly a challenging process at times.” 

Professional growth was crucial to achieving goals 

Fast forward a little, with graduation now behind him, Leigh joined our Strong Minds team.  Working towards his goal he took a deep dive into Focused Psychological Strategies (FPS) building up the required clinical experience, backed by extensive training and support from his team – including operational support, clinical lead consultation, clinical governance oversight, individual and group supervision, and external FPS and suicide prevention workshops. 

“The support I received from the team was so important. It included clinical and operational support which is necessary, but the mentoring and encouragement from the team has also played a crucial role in making my goals possible.”   

Making an impact 

Achieving AMHSW status was just the beginning. Leigh’s FPS interventions in Bathurst and Cowra, both in-person and via telehealth, made a real difference – and continue to do so. Leigh also teamed up with his Marathon Health co-worker, Samantha, Clinical Supervisor – Social Work, and together they developed and continue to co-facilitate a social work group supervision model to support social workers across the fields of practice delivered by us.   

“Sam is so knowledgeable and passionate about the work we do, and she brings the best out in people. After working with Sam, I walk away thinking ‘I’ve got this’”, said Leigh.   

Paying it forward 

Leigh shares his passion with others at every opportunity – supporting our social work students. His guidance not only enhances the student’s learning but also highlights Leigh’s dedication to supporting the future of mental health care. Leigh’s journey shows how passion and perseverance can transform a career and have a lasting impact in our communities.