About the program
This program is for people living with severe mental health challenges who need short-term help to function day to day. It helps them to:
- connect with the clinical care and other services they need
- build their capacity in managing day-to-day activities
- strengthen social skills, friendships and relationships with their family
- increase their educational, vocational and training skills.
This program is not available to people who receive similar support from either:
- the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
- a state or territory-funded service.
Further information on the program can be found in the program guidance.
Why it is important
This program supports around 25,000 people living with severe mental health challenges who are not in the NDIS. It will help them to live independently and safely in the community without adding to the strain on hospital beds or the NDIS.
Goals
This program aims to:
- help people living with severe mental health challenges get the support they need to live independently and safely in their communities
- reduce demand on more intense and acute health services
- use our health system effectively.
Meeting our goals
To meet these goals, community-based organisations run one-on-one and group services for people with severe mental health challenges. They tailor their services to meet the needs of the community and their clients.
Who we work with
We fund Primary Health Networks to organise services for this program. They:
- commission community-based organisations to run services
- work with state and territory governments to plan and commission services to meet the needs of each region.
We also fund the Flinders University Transition Support Project to help the networks and service providers deliver this program.
Status
The 2024-25 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) provided $272.1 million to extend this program for 2 years until 30 June 2027. This included:
- $267.9 million to extend funding arrangements with Primary Health Networks for a further two years
- $1.8 million to continue sector support and capacity building work to help service providers deliver the program
- $0.3 million to the Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia to continue to undertake advocacy activities for people living with severe and complex mental health challenges.
Funding will also be provided for an independent evaluation of the program.
This builds on previous investment of $253.9 million provided through the 2023-24 Budget.
Evaluation
The program will be independently evaluated from 2025 to 2027. The evaluation will help the Australian Government improve psychosocial supports and outcomes for people living with mental health challenges.
We will consult with experts, organisations and people with lived experience.
This builds on a 2020 independent review of previous psychosocial support programs:
- National Psychosocial Support Measure
- Continuity of Support Program for psychosocial support.
Responses about the support provided through the programs were positive. Read the Final Report and Appendix A.
Contact
To find out more, contact us or your local Primary Health Network.