The Mental Health Respite Program (MHRP) provides a range of flexible respite options for carers of people with severe mental illness/psychiatric disability and carers of people with intellectual disability.
There are two components to the Program:
- Part A - a brokerage service model provided across Australia in all Home and Community Care (HACC) regions using the existing network of Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres (Centres). This component of the Program was implemented in April 2007 using a brokerage model enabling carers, the care recipient and their families to have the maximum choice and flexibility tailored to their specific respite needs.
- Part B - a direct funding model using the National Respite Development Fund (NRDF) to increase the availability (supply) of appropriate respite services through the MHRP where limited service supply needs to be addressed.
Locating a Respite Service Provider
To access mental health respite services, contact either the Commonwealth Respite Carelink Centre network on: 1800 152 222 or a service provider directly.
For more information, see mental health respite care - frequently asked questions.