What is the Personal Helpers and Mentors Initiative?
- The Personal Helpers and Mentors Initiative aims to provide increased opportunities for recovery for people who have a severe functional limitation resulting from a severe mental illness by helping them to overcome social isolation and increasing their connections to the community. It forms part of the Commonwealth's component of the Council of Australian Governments' (COAG) National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006 - 2011.
- Responsibility for the Personal Helpers and Mentors Initiative rests with the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Why is this program important?
Mental illness is one the nation's most serious health challenges and one that affects many Australians every day, either personally, or through a loved one. The Personal Helpers and Mentors Initiative takes a strengths-based, recovery approach to supporting people whose lives are affected by severe mental illness.
A strengths-based approach focuses on a person's strengths rather than deficits. A recovery approach recognises that a person can live a satisfying and contributing life within the limitations caused by the illness. Recovery does not mean cure.
Who will benefit?
The Personal Helpers and Mentors Initiative was developed to support those most in need. It assists people aged 16 years and over who are unable to manage their daily activities (such as self-care, household responsibilities, managing their finances) or live independently in the community (ie. have unstable accommodation, are unable to use public transport, or are unable to engage in social activities) because of the severe impact mental illness has on their lives.
A Personal Helpers and Mentors Remote Servicing model has been developed in recognition that many communities in remote areas are disadvantaged through a lack of infrastructure, community and clinic services. The remote servicing model does not have age eligibility requirement and is a community development approach that involved working with the individual and their community support networks.
What will the Personal Helpers and Mentors Program deliver?
The Personal Helpers and Mentors Initiative focuses on providing support to people who have a severe functional limitation resulting from a severe mental illness at various stages in their recovery.
The initiative supports people in different ways including:
- helping people to better manage their daily activities like housekeeping, shopping budgeting and using public transport;
- working with people to reconnect to their community;
- helping people get relationships with family and friends back on track;
- accessing appropriate clinical support;
- providing direct and personalised assistance through outreach services; and
- helping people connect with other services or programs that can help like drug and alcohol, housing or medical support.
How does it work?
The Personal Helpers and Mentors Initiative is delivered by non-government organisations that are experienced in achieving outcomes for people with mental illness, on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Each funded organisation employs, at minimum, the equivalent of five fulltime Personal Helpers and Mentors.
What funding is attached to this Initiative?
A total of $284.8 million in funding has been allocated over five years to 2011 for up to 900 Full-Time Equivalent Personal Helpers and Mentors to support people affected by severe mental illness.
The funding has been implemented in four stages:
- 2006-07 – 140 FTE Personal Helpers and Mentors;
- 2007-08 – 240 FTE Personal Helpers and Mentors;
- 2008-09 – 400 FTE Personal Helpers and Mentors;
- 2009-10 – 120 FTE Personal Helpers and Mentors.
When did the Personal Helpers and Mentors Initiative start?
Funding for design and implementation of the Personal Helpers and Mentors Initiative commenced from 1 July 2006. Delivery of services commenced from May 2007.
How is the Personal Helpers and Mentors Initiative progressing?
The first round of 28 Personal Helpers and Mentors sites commenced delivery of services from May 2007.
An additional 48 sites were announced in round two funding in September 2007.
The third round of funding occurred in February 2009 to fund an additional 79 sites and 3 remote servicing sites.
The fourth and final round of funding were announced in February to April 2010 with an additional 7 new remote servicing sites and 10 new sites focussing on vulnerable groups of homeless, humanitarian entrants and Indigenous. In addition, 17 current sites that are at near or at capacity and have high concentrations of people from the identified vulnerable groups received additional funding of 1.5 FTE to focus on vulnerable groups.
Further information
Further information can be obtained from the FaHCSIA website at
http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/mentalhealth/progserv/PersonalHelpersMentorsProgram/Pages/default.aspx.
Page currency, Latest update: 04 June, 2010