What is the Funding for Telephone Counselling, Self Help and Web-based Support Programmes Measure?
The Funding for Telephone Counselling, Self Help and Web-based Support Programmes measure, aims to:
- provide more funding to non-government organisations currently providing telephone or web counselling services to enable them to further enhance the services that they provide; and
- provide funding so that new web based and self-help services can be developed.
This initiative forms part of the Australian Government's $1.9 billion Mental Health Reform Package and contribution to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006 - 2011.
Responsibility for the measure rests with the Mental Health and Workforce Division within the Australian Government Department for Health and Ageing.
Why is this important?
Access to anonymous information, counselling and online self-help programmes plays an important role in suicide prevention, crisis advice and referral to mental health practitioners. There is a heavy demand for anonymous counselling services across Australia. The Funding for Telephone Counselling, Self Help and Web-based Support Programmes measure is important because it will provide increased funding to non-government organisations for telephone and web based services, and expanded and enhanced on-line interactive tools.
Who will benefit?
Individuals across Australia who experience mild to moderate mental health disorders who may not currently receive treatment will benefit from this measure.
What will the COAG Mental Health - Funding for Telephone Counselling, Self Help and Web-based Support Programmes measure deliver?
The Funding for Telephone Counselling, Self Help and Web-based Support Programmes measure will deliver increased telephone and web-based counselling services, expanded and enhanced on-line interactive tools and increased availability of these services to individuals with common mental health disorders who currently receive limited or no treatment.
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How does it work?
The Funding for Telephone Counselling, Self Help and Web-based Support Programmes measure is delivered by a number of non-government organisations nationally on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
The Budget measure specified funding for Lifeline and Kids Help Line and a direct approach has been taken with funding these organisations for telephone and web based counselling.
What funding is the Australian Government committing?
In the 2006/07 Budget, the Australian Government allocated $56.9 million over five years to boost the capacity of telephone and web-based counselling services. In addition to this outlay, an extra $2.4 million was provided to Lifeline for expansion of its telephone network to provide national coverage.
When did the Funding for Telephone Counselling, Self Help and Web-based Support Programmes measure start?
Implementation of the Funding for Telephone Counselling, Self Help and Web-based Support Programmes measure commenced in July 2006.
How is the Telephone Counselling, Self Help and Web-based Support Programmes Measure progressing?
Lifeline Australia has been funded for $26.2 million over five years to expand and enhance their telephone counselling services.
$7.7 million has been provided to Boystown (for Kids Help Line) over four years to support their telephone counselling and web-based counselling services
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What's been done in the past?
Lifeline Australia has been previously funded by the Australian Government to undertake various activities including an upgrade of the telephony system to increase call/answer rate; specific Lifeline centre activities under the National Suicide Prevention Strategy; and to build on the quality of Lifeline's counselling services in rural and remote areas.
Kids Help Line has previously been funded by the Australian Government to provide mental health services in the specific area of indigenous youth services.
Lifeline Australia is the peak body for the Lifeline Centres around Australia, half of which are in rural and remote areas. Lifeline Centres provide a 24-hour telephone counselling service in addition to providing information, referral and associated services in local areas.
Kids Help Line provides a free 24-hour national telephone and online counselling service for children and young people aged five to 25 years of age in Australia, and seeks to assist young people develop strategies and skills that enable them to more effectively manage their own lives.
Further information
Department of Health and Ageing - http://www.health.gov.au
Lifeline Australia - http://www.lifeline.org.au
Kids Help Line - http://www.kidshelp.com.au
Page currency, Latest update: 20 September, 2007