What is the Mental Health Respite Initiative?
- The Mental Health Respite Initiative provides a range of flexible respite options for carers of people with mental illness and carers of people with intellectual disability (including autism). The Initiative forms part of the Commonwealth's component of the Council of Australian Governments' (COAG) National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006 - 2011.
The Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs is responsible for the Mental Health Respite Initiative.
Why is this program important?
Carers provide on-going unpaid care and support for people living with a mental illness or disability. There are currently high levels of demand and unmet need for carer respite and support services in Australia for all carer groups.
The Mental Health Respite Initiative provides a range of flexible respite and support options that are appropriate to the specific needs of the carer and the care recipient.
Who will benefit?
The Mental Health Respite Initiative has two target groups:
carers of people with mental illness; and
carers of people with intellectual disability (including autism).
What will the Mental Health Respite Initiative deliver?
The aim of the Mental Health Respite Initiative is to provide support to carers by increasing the number of carers who have access to flexible and responsive respite services. The Initiative endeavours to meet the individual needs of carers and the care recipient and to identify and fund a range of flexible respite and support options that respond to the particular needs of the different regions across Australia.
The Initiative is designed to provide flexibility for the carer and their care recipient through a brokerage service delivery model, as well as direct funding to expand existing services and establish new services to increase the supply of respite options.
How does it work?
There are two components to the Mental Health Respite Initiative:
Part A - a brokerage service model provided across Australia in all Home and Community Care regions using the existing network of Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres (Centres). The brokerage component of the Initiative was implemented in April 2007 enabling carers, the care recipient and their families to have the maximum choice and flexibility tailored to their specific respite needs; and
Part B - a direct funding model using the National Respite Development Fund to increase the availability (supply) of appropriate respite services through the Mental Health Respite Initiative where limited service supply needs to be addressed.
What funding is attached to this initiative?
A total of $224.7 million has been allocated over five years to 2011 to support carers of people with mental illness and carers of people with intellectual disability (including autism).
When did the Mental Health Respite Initiative start?
Funding for the design and implementation of the Mental Health Respite Initiative commenced from 1 July 2006.
How is the Mental Health Respite Initiative progressing?
Fifty four Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres commenced brokerage services in Home and Community Care regions in April 2007. For the period 1 July 2009 to 31 December 2009 the Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres has assisted over 7,500 carers.
One hundred and thirty four services have been funded to provide a range of respite and carer support services from the National Respite Development Fund. For the period 1 July 2009 to 31 December 2009 these services assisted over 14,300 carers.
Further information
Further information, including a list of successful service providers is available on the FaHCSIA website at http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/mentalhealth/progserv/MentalHealthRespite/Pages/default.aspx
Page currency, Latest update: 14 February, 2011