$3m to help mental health providers transition to the NDIS

Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services, the Hon Jane Prentice MP, announced the Federal Government is providing a $3 million assistance package to support mental health providers transition to the NDIS.

Mental health service providers will be offered additional one-off funding of $15,000 through the Sector Development Fund to improve their NDIS-readiness to help people engage with the NDIS.

Mrs Prentice said providers of programs such as PHaMS (Personal Helpers and Mentors Program) and MHRCS (Mental Health Respite Carer Support Program) will be able to use these funds to identify opportunities to expand their current services.

“The NDIS will bring increased demand to the region,” she said.

“Organisations will need to grow existing services while also identifying opportunities to expand the types of service they provide.

“Improved marketing will also help broaden their target group.”

The additional funding will enable providers to undertake further activity to ensure they, and their clients are best placed to transition to the NDIS when it is available in their regions and be in a position to continue to effectively support new and existing participants who are receiving their services.

Organisations will be contacted shortly to ascertain their interest in this new grant offer.