Mental Health Respite Program - frequently asked questions
1. What is the Mental Health Respite Program?
2. What type of respite will be provided?
3. How much funding has been allocated to the Mental Health Respite Program?
4. When will the respite services be available?
5. Where will the services be located?
6. How will you determine where they will be?
7. Who will benefit from this program?
8. What is the limit of respite that a carer is eligible to receive?
9. How will I get access to these respite service?
10. Who will deliver respite services?
11. When can I apply for funding to provide respite services under this program?
1. What is the Mental Health Respite Program?
The Mental Health Respite Program is an Australian Government initiative that forms part of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) National Action Plan on Mental Health. The Mental Health Respite Program is expected to provide a range of flexible respite options for carers of people with mental illness/psychiatric disability or intellectual disability.The Mental Health Respite Program will be delivered through two components:
- 1. Brokerage services are being provided across Australia in all Home and Community Care (HACC) regions using the existing network of Commonwealth Carer Respite Centres. This component of the program is being implemented using a brokerage model enabling carers, the care recipient and their families to have the maximum choice and flexibility tailored to their specific needs, including planned and unplanned respite.
2. The program also aims to increase the availability of appropriate respite options where these are not able to be procured through the usual brokerage system. This is being achieved by providing direct funding to respite services through National Respite Development Funds. This component of the program will provide the Australian Government with the flexibility to respond to respite supply issues that cannot be managed at the state/territory or regional level.
2. What type of respite will be provided?
The Mental Health Respite Program will provide additional, direct respite services for carers both in the home and outside the home. Flexible respite options will be tailored to meet the needs of care recipients and their carers and families. Respite options may include, but are not limited to: centre-based respite, recreational respite, cottage-style residential respite, in-home respite and one-on-one respite. Indirect respite may be considered where suitable direct respite support for carers is not available.3. How much funding has been allocated to the Mental Health Respite Program?
$224.7m has been allocated over from 2006-2007 to 2010-2011 to deliver these new respite services across the country.4. When will the respite services be available?
New respite services will be introduced progressively over five years with services commencing in April 2007.5. Where will the services be located?
Respite services will be available in all states and territories across Australia. Brokerage funding will specifically be available in all Home and Community Care (HACC) regions through the Commonwealth Carer Respite Centres. National Respite Development Funds will aim to address supply issues that cannot be managed at the state/territory or regional level and will be available in all states and territories.6. How will you determine where new services will be?
Where there is an adequate supply of respite services, the Commonwealth Carelink Centres will broker respite services. The Department is currently mapping respite service resources throughout Australia to identify the needs of particular regions. National Respite Development Funds will be used to provide additional respite options within states and territories where appropriate.7. Who will benefit from this program?
The Mental Health Respite Program has two target groups including carers of people with:- 1. mental illness/psychiatric disability, and
2. intellectual disability.
Priority of access will be based on an assessment of relative carer need. Particular attention will be paid to ensuring appropriate options for people with severe and profound conditions or challenging behaviours. Specific priority will be given to older carers who are caring for people with mental illness/psychiatric disability or intellectual disability at home.
8. What is the limit of respite that a carer is eligible to receive?
The amount of respite that a carer is able to access will be based on carer need. Carers will be assessed using a standard assessment tool to ensure that those in most need of respite receive it at the time they need it. However, the principle underpinning allocation of respite is that it is 'short term', providing the opportunity for carers to 'take time-out' from the direct carer role.9. How will I get access to these respite services?
Access to Mental Health Respite services will be available through contacting the Commonwealth Carelink Centre network on 1800 059 059.10. Who will deliver respite services?
Respite services will be delivered primarily through non-government organisations. The brokerage component of the program will be delivered through the Commonwealth Carelink Centres. This will enable carers, care recipients and their families to have the maximum choice and flexibility tailored to their specific needs, including planned and unplanned respite. Engagement of providers to deliver additional respite options through the National Respite Development Fund component of the program will be subject to appropriate selection processes.11. When can I apply for funding to provide respite services under this program?
Opportunities to apply for funding will be advertised on the FaHCSIA website and in the national media. Organisations wishing to apply for funding are encouraged to monitor these locations for details on funding opportunities.Back to top