North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) is excited to announce that cohealth and Neami National have succeeded in their application to receive $3.5 million to provide psychosocial support in northern and western Melbourne.
The funding will be used to establish new psychosocial support services for people with severe and complex mental illness who are not eligible for assistance through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
While the introduction of the NDIS will provide comprehensive and individualised support for people with severe and debilitating mental illness, there is a gap in services for those who need specialised but less intensive support.
New Commonwealth funding under the National Psychosocial Support (NPS) Measure has been targeted to address this gap, together with investment by the Victorian Government for people under the care of the clinical mental health services.
‘Psychosocial support’ can include receiving practical help with activities of daily living, support to better manage a persons’ mental and physical health and enhanced connections with their community.
Neami National will be providing services in the northern areas of the NWMPHN catchment (Melbourne, Yarra, Moreland Moonee Valley, Darebin, Hume and Macedon Ranges) and cohealth will cover the west (Wyndham, Melton, Brimbank, Hobson’s Bay, Maribyrnong and Moorabool.)
NWMPHN Deputy CEO Julie Borninkhof said NWMPHN is looking forward to working with both cohealth and Neami National to introduce these new services and to work collaboratively on this important activity.
“Psychosocial support is being increasingly recognised as a critical component of mental health care,” Ms Borninkhof said. “We’re confident both organisations will be able to deliver effective and practical psychosocial support services that will help people in our region get well, stay well and connect with their community.”
The new Psychosocial Support Services, funded under the NPS measure, are for people who:
- Have reduced psychosocial and functional capacity
- Are ineligible for the NDIS
- Are not current clients of Partners in Recovery, Day-to-Day Living, and Personal Helpers and Mentors programs
Information on service launches, service delivery start dates and referral pathways will be available in the near future.
