Media Release by Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion

$35 million respite for mental health carers

In a boost to carers of mental health sufferers, Minister for Community Services Senator Nigel Scullion today announced more than $35 million in funding to build and expand respite services for people with severe mental illness/psychiatric disability, people with intellectual disability and their carers.

Making the announcement during Mental Health Week, Senator Scullion said the funding will allow 52 organisations across Australia to provide a range of flexible respite options which include creating new respite centres, expanding existing centres, training and paying respite workers and funding 24 hour flexible in home assistance.

‘Every carer faces a different set of circumstances and we recognise that not all carers are seeking the same sort of support. Some may need time away from the person they care for or some may need extra in-home help for a period.

‘The challenge with caring for a mental health sufferer can be the episodic nature of the illness. Carers often can’t plan scheduled respite or won’t be able to predict when they will need extra help.

‘This funding injects extra resources into the non-government sector to help support carers, when and how they need it.

‘The Australian Government recognises the important and valuable role of family members or friends who care for dependent people at home and flexible respite options are not a privilege – they’re a necessity.

The successful organisations will be funded under the National Respite Development Fund component of the Mental Health Respite Program.

‘The Mental Health Respite Program has two components – brokerage funding to buy respite for carers and today’s announcement which addresses the actual supply of respite – the bricks and mortar and the human resources.

‘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 and to develop the capacity of the sector.

‘Existing mental health service providers who did not apply in the competitive process may be directly approached to fill identified areas of need,’ Senator Scullion said.

The Mental Health Respite Program
State Funded projects Location Funding
ACT
  Mental Health Foundation (ACT) Inc ACT $496,916
  Communities@Work Limited ACT $236,594
NSW
  The Ascent Group Australia Ltd New England $299,370
    New England $299,370
    Mid North Coast $307,170
  Moffat Falls Pty Ltd New England $106,387
    Mid North Coast $33,137
    Hunter $33,137
  Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW Inc Riverina / Murray $775,500
    Inner West $895,500
    Illawarra $775,500
    Orana / Far West $526,200
    Northern Sydney $728,000
  Central Coast Disability Network Central Coast $232,978
  Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association Nepean $843,198
  North Coast Children’s Home Incorporated Far North Coast $358,475
  The Benevolent Society South East Sydney $494,315
  The Trustees of the Society of St Vincent de Paul South East Sydney $313,977
  On Track Community Programs Incorporated Mid North Coast $291,000
    Far North Coast $291,000
  Illawarra Disability Trust South West Sydney $475,000
    Illawarra $475,000
  Catholic Healthcare Ltd Mid North Coast $127,218
    Orana / Far West $83,232
    Central West $224,347
  Interchange Shoalhaven Inc Illawarra $165,696
NT
  Top End Association for Mental Health Incorporated Top End $980,723
    Central Australia $631,118
  Mental Health Carers NT Incorporated Top End $63,985
  Carers NT Inc Top End $449,280
QLD
  ARAFMI Queensland Inc West Moreton / South Coast $686,262
    North Brisbane $686,462
  Mental Illness Fellowship of North Queensland Inc Northern (Qld) $495,776
  Kyabra Community Association Incorporated South Brisbane $493,493
  FSG Australia West Moreton / South Coast $499,500
    South Brisbane $499,500
    The Corporation of the Trustees of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane South Brisbane $488,000
  The Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane Darling Downs / South West $389,242
SA
  Mental Illness Fellowship of South Australia Inc North West Metro $458,000
    South East Metro $458,000
  The Richmond Fellowship of Victoria South East Metro $497,500
    South East Country $497,500
    North West Metro $497,500
  YMCA of South Australia Inc North West Metro $149,265
    South East Metro $149,265
  UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide Inc South East Country $500,000
  Carers’ Link Barossa and Districts Inc North West Country $287,000
  Anglicare SA Incorporated South East Metro $350,989
    North West Metro $350,989
  Country North Community Services Inc North West Country $137,986
TAS
  Anglicare Tasmania Inc Southern $313,828
    Northern $153,963
    North Western $182,478
VIC
  ARAFEMI Victoria Incorporated Eastern Metro $471,160
  The Richmond Fellowship of Victoria Southern Metro $499,500
    North West $497,500
  Centacare Catholic Diocese of Ballarat Inc Grampians $455,315
  Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria Southern Metro $229,350
    North West $229,350
    Hume $416,950
    Gippsland $229,350
    Eastern Metro $229,350
    Barwon / South West $229,350
  Eastern Regions Mental Health Association Inc Southern Metro $450,952
  Out Doors Inc North West $357,000
  Eastern Access Community Health Inc Eastern Metro $1,560,000
  Grampians Community Health Centre Incorporated Grampians $354,000
  Aspire A Pathway to Mental Health Inc Barwon / South West $202,319
  Interchange Northern Region Inc North West $89,474
  Care Connect Limited North West $641,200
  Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative Ltd Hume $465,250
  Karingal Inc Barwon / South West $357,555
  Best of Care Pty Ltd Barwon / South West $128,000
WA
  Share & Care Community Services Group Inc Wheatbelt $659,812
  Arafmi Mental Health Carers & Friends Association (WA) Inc North Metropolitan $394,867
  The Richmond Fellowship of Western Australia Inc South West Metropolitan $295,799
    South East Metropolitan $295,799
    North Metropolitan $295,799
    East Metropolitan $295,799
  Goldfields Individual & Family Support Association Inc Goldfields $328,346
  Perth Home Care Services, Inc Wheatbelt $315,221
    South West Metropolitan $343,710
    South East Metropolitan $343,710
    North Metropolitan $343,710
    East Metropolitan $343,710
  Interwork Incorporated South West $452,241
  Workpower Incorporated South West Metropolitan $500,000
    North Metropolitan $500,000