Today I am pleased to announce more than $32 million worth of grants for the first round of the Australian Government's Personal Helpers and Mentors Program.
The grants are for service providers in 28 demonstration sites selected for their experience in mental health service delivery and connections with local clinical health and community-based organisations. It is expected that 140 personal helpers and mentors will commence work at these demonstration sites by the end of May 2007.
This first round of funding forms part of the Government's $285 million commitment for this program, which I announced in April 2006 as part of the government's contribution to the Council of Australian Governments' National Action Plan on Mental Health.
The Australian Government is strongly committed to improving the lives of Australians with a mental illness. When I announced the Commonwealth's major new investment of $1.9 billion towards mental health reform last year, I expressed concern about the number of people with a mental illness in Australia who don't have anyone to help them get the assistance and services they need. People who are living with a mental illness often need help to find accommodation, organise payments, attend appointments and receive their entitlements under government programs.
The Government is funding around 900 new personal helpers and mentors over five years to assist those severely affected by a mental illness to manage their daily activities. Across Australia, personal helpers and mentors will help people reconnect to the wider community, and will support their recovery.
Importantly, the organisations selected to deliver this program have experience in working with people with a mental illness in a community setting. The funding grants announced today will allow these organisations to recruit personal helpers and mentors with a range of backgrounds, qualifications, skills and knowledge to ensure flexible care and support for those in most need.
As part of the Australian Government's commitment to mental health, we are investing in a range of programs to provide better access to primary health care, increase the mental health workforce, and provide more respite places and treatment.
I congratulate the organisations chosen to deliver this first phase of the Personal Helpers and Mentors Program, which will provide real benefits for people with a mental illness, their families and carers. A full list of the providers in the first 28 demonstration sites is set out in Attachment A.
5 April 2007
Attachment A
Service Provider Demonstration site State Anglicare Elizabeth SA Australian Red Cross Katherine - Katherine Urban NT - Top End NT NT Centacare Catholic Community Services Sydney - Inner City NSW Community First Inc Albany Peel and Rockingham/Kwinana WA WA Eastern Access Community Health Inc Eastern - Outer East VIC Macarthur Disability Services Ltd Campbelltown NSW Mental Health Foundation Canberra City ACT Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria (consortium) Gold Coast QLD Mission Australia Newcastle Orange Darwin Launceston North and Far West Country NSW NSW NT TAS SA Neami Limited Wollongong NSW New Horizons Central Coast Ryde NSW NSW Open Minds Inner Brisbane QLD Ozcare Sunshine Coast Townsville QLD QLD Parramatta Mission (Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust trading as Parramatta Mission Uniting Care Mental Health) Parramatta NSW Richmond Fellowship Victoria Melbourne - Inner South VIC Ruah Community Services Armadale WA Salvation Army (Kardinia Mental Health Service) Barwon VIC Salvation Army (Adult Services) Melbourne - Inner West VIC Woden Community Service Southside ACT Youth and Family Services Logan QLD