Sites: Armidale, Liverpool, Wingecarribee
Organisation: The Benevolent Society
The Benevolent Society (TBS) is Australia's oldest charity and has been supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged people since 1813. TBS's purpose is to create caring and inclusive communities and a just society through the belief that building stronger communities and building resilience and social connection is the best way to reduce social and economic disadvantage.
TBS works with people with complex, multifaceted problems, including functional impairment due to mental illness. This includes chronic depression and anxiety, postnatal depression, schizophrenia, post traumatic stress, personality disorders and people with dual diagnosis. TBS also works extensively with individuals and families directly affected by mental illness.
TBS works with people with psychiatric disabilities and their carers through the Options Programs, supports traumatised survivors of domestic violence through the Centre for Women's Health, works to promote positive, nurturing family and community experiences for children and helps to connect communities through support groups, volunteer visiting programs and community projects.
TBS partners with communities, businesses, other agencies and sectors to tackle social issues and achieve outcomes and uses their experiences of working directly with individuals and communities to conduct research, stimulate debate and advocate for change.
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Sites: Blacktown, Penrith
Organisation: Aftercare
Aftercare is a not-for-profit organisation governed by a Board comprised of professionals working in the field of mental health, and is an experienced provider of services to people with a severe mental illness.
Over a 100 year history they have developed service structures, policies and practices designed to deliver high quality recovery outcomes in partnerships with clients. At present, Aftercare supports over 600 people living across the Sydney metropolitan area as far west as Lithgow, offering a range of services using contemporary practice models in cooperation with other mental health providers, government and non government organisations and research bodies.
Aftercare seeks to provide high quality accessible rehabilitation, recovery and skills based learning services based on best practice standards and driven by the needs of clients.
Aftercare's services focus on: helping people to build on their independence in their chosen communities; strengthening family and friendship networks; creating new ways to enjoy social and recreational activities in the community; and supporting people in their educational and work experiences.
Specific services delivered by Aftercare and funded by the NSW government include: living skills training; disability support and psychosocial rehabilitation; residential services; high level long term support; rehabilitation services; and recreational leisure and training program.
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Sites: Croydon / Bankstown, Hornsby / Ku-ring-gai, Lower North Shore, Northern Beaches, Tweed / Byron
Organisation: New Horizons Enterprises Limited
New Horizons Enterprises Limited (New Horizons) commenced providing supported accommodation and supported employment for people with a mental illness in Northern Sydney in 1983. Since then the organisation has expanded to provide aged care services and community disability aged care services in partnership with the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care. New Horizons also delivers the Housing and Accommodation Initiative (HASI) for people with mental illness in Sydney, Central Coast, Mid North Coast and Far North Coast.
Other mental health services provided by New Horizons include: a service in Sydney for people with a mental illness being discharged from prison; mental health pre vocational services in Miller (Liverpool), Central Coast and Hunter; and Primary and Secondary Health Care to people with a mental illness living in boarding houses.
New Horizons currently employs over 350 staff and supports approximately 1000 people who have either a mental illness, intellectual disability or who are frail aged.
New Horizons delivers the Personal Helpers and Mentors Program in the Ryde and Central Coast demonstration sites in New South Wales. The Prime Minister launched the Personal Helpers and Mentors Program in April 2007 in the Round One Demonstration New Horizons, Ryde site.
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Sites: Dubbo, Ulladulla / Shoalhaven, Wagga Wagga
Organisation: Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW Inc
The Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW Inc (SFNSW) is a membership based specialist mental health NGO established in 1985 which provides a range of services to consumers and carers including social programs, prevocational/vocational programs, accommodation services and information and support. SFNSW also has research, education and community development arms.
SFNSW provides a voice for its members in speaking to all relevant stakeholders about the needs of those with mental illness and their families, advocating for better services, medications, community supports, accommodation and education etc. SFNSW aims to break down the stigma associated with mental illness by a range of local, state and national activities such as TV commercials, seminars, events and media. SFNSW provides trained volunteers to answer information and referral calls, a website, fact sheets and other resources. The volunteers also provide regular supportive outreach calls to consumers and carers.
SFNSW runs the Carer Assist program, funded by NSW Health, providing information, advocacy, education and support to carers and families across three of the eight Area Health Services. SFNSW runs recovery services at Balgowlah and Nowra as well as the Job Network and Personal Support Programs at Balgowlah and Ashfield in Sydney.
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Site: Moree
Organisation: Trustees for the Roman Catholic Church (Centacare New England North West)
Trustees for the Roman Catholic Church - Centacare New England North West (Centacare NENW) was formed in 2001 and is part of the national Centacare Network.
Counselling services and working with people with mental illness was part of the original intent of establishing services in the area. Services delivered by Centacare NENW reflect this, including The Schools Office program, which provides psychometric testing and counselling, encounters a high level of mental illness among students and their families. Centacare NENW also delivers the Personal Support Program, where more than 75% of clients have a diagnosed mental illness, the FaCSIA funded Regional Dispute Resolution Program for Separating Couples, which also encounters people with mental illness, and a drought program which supports farmers, including those with depression.
Centacare delivers the Personal Helpers and Mentors Program in the Sydney - Inner City demonstration site.
Site: West Wyalong
Organisation: Lambing Flat Enterprises
Lambing Flat Enterprises (LFE) is a community based not-for-profit organisation directed by a Board of Governance, which has been delivering services to the South West Slopes community in NSW for 35 years. Specific mental health services have been provided for the last 20 years.
LFE delivers a wide range of services that support people with intellectual disabilities and those who have a severe functional limitation as a result of mental illness, including: early intervention; respite care; peer support; accommodation; employment through three main business services; and community and vocational participation.
Over the years, the proportion of people with severe functional limitations (with mental health as the primary and sometimes only cause) who receive support from LFE has increased considerably.
Specific mental health support provided by LFE includes: rehabilitation and long term support for former residents of institutions; support and advocacy for people with dual diagnosis; and training in life-skills development focusing on empowerment.
LFE has strong links with clinical and non-clinical service providers in the region including Young and Wagga Wagga Community Health including their mental health units, Home and Community Care services, family support and accommodation services.