OATSIH Publications

Evaluation of the Bringing Them Home and Indigenous Mental Health Programs

The evaluation covers four programs: the Link Up program; the Bringing Them Home Counsellors' Program; Social and Emotional Well Being Regional Centres; and Mental Health Service Delivery Projects.

The Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health commissioned Urbis Keys Young to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the Bringing Them Home and Indigenous Mental Health Programs.

The evaluation covers four programs:

• the Link Up program, through which eleven Link Up services are funded to provide family tracing and reunion services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people wishing to trace and reunite with their families;
• the Bringing Them Home Counsellors' Program, through which Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services are funded to employ counsellors to provide counselling services to those removed from their families - and the children, grandchildren and relatives of all those affected by family separation practices;
• Social and Emotional Well Being Regional Centres, which provide training, support and planning assistance for Aboriginal Mental Health Workers and specialist social and emotional wellbeing counsellors, including BTH Counsellors and Link Up workers;
• Mental Health Service Delivery Projects, which are nineteen individual projects funded to provide mental health services through Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.

The evaluation commenced in March 2006, and consisted of an extensive consultation with service providers, relevant associated organisations and with clients of the funded services. This was the first time that a wide and diverse range of clients was consulted in an evaluation. The evaluation was advised by a Reference Group with membership from relevant Aboriginal and Torres Strait organisations.

The report of the evaluation was released on 9 May, 2007.

You may download the entire report in PDF format:
Urbis Keys Young Evaluation of the Bringing Them Home Program and Indigenous Mental Health Programs (PDF 605 KB)

If you would like more information about the program, or have any difficulties downloading the document, please contact OATSIH Enquiries or call 02 6289 5291