Community organisations across Australia can apply for Australian Government funding to employ new workers to support people with mental illness, including helping those on income support find and keep a job.
This round of funding will add more than 230 extra personal helpers and mentors in more than 50 locations across the nation.
The 2011–12 Budget allocated an additional $154 million over the five years from 2011–12 to 2015–16 for new and/or expanded PHaMs services to assist around 3,400 people with severe mental illness, through the engagement of 425 new personal helpers and mentors.
Of this funding, $50 million is allocated to assist up to 1,200 people with a mental illness who receive the Disability Support Pension or other Government income support payments and are participating in, or willing to engage with employment services. PHaMs support will help these people address personal, non‑vocational barriers to their participation in work or training.