Pat McKinnon

I am a Tasmanian-based Clinical Psychologist with a strong commitment to early intervention. Throughout my career, I’ve worked across community, hospital, and forensic mental health settings in New South Wales, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania.

Early in my career, I saw my role primarily as providing individual psychological treatment within the therapy room. However, the people I worked alongside taught me that many factors driving their recovery occurred beyond the therapy room. I witnessed individuals make remarkable progress through reconnecting with education, employment, sport, culture, family, and community. These experiences challenged me to think differently about mental healthcare and recognise that recovery is always strengthened by meaningful participation in everyday life.

In my current role leading a multidisciplinary early psychosis service in Tasmania, I work alongside clinicians, young people, families, and community partners to support recovery-oriented care. This work has reinforced my belief that mental health services must attempt to address the determinants of health that influence recovery outcomes.

My interest in social prescribing reflects this commitment. I believe it represents a powerful yet underutilised opportunity to bridge the gap between clinical care and community participation, enabling people to access resources and activities that support wellbeing, connection, and recovery.

Through a Churchill Fellowship, I hope to learn from leaders in social prescribing across the United Kingdom and Ireland, where innovative approaches are embedded within health systems. By examining models that effectively connect people with their communities, I aim to identify practical strategies that can be adapted to the Australian context. Ultimately, I hope to contribute to a future where mental healthcare extends beyond clinical treatment to foster connection, participation, and thriving communities.