Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA)
Target Group
The MHRP is for carers of people with a mental health issue/psychiatric disability and carers of people with an intellectual disability.
What is the aim of the program?
The aim of the MHRP is to provide support to carers by increasing access to flexible respite services to meet the individual needs of carers and care recipients.
What service does the program provide?
The MHRP provides social activity to the care recipients. The program provides recreational and physical activity to allow both social interaction and community participation. The MHRP allows care recipients to engage in community activity independent of their carer and enables the care recipient to participate in their community. The program provides a respite service to carers to enable them to continue to sustain their caring role. Respite prevents early hospitalization or institutionalization of the care recipient by supporting the carers in their role.
What is the program’s assessment and review process?
The MHRP involves screening, assessment and support planning with the carer and care recipient. Support plans and goal development plans are reviewed at least six monthly to assess the effectiveness, benefits and changes needed to the program for both the carer and care recipient.
What partnerships does the program have?
The MHRP involves creating partnerships to improve links with other service providers, including other respite services to benefit the carer and care recipient and increase support for them as needed. The program also involves a partnership between the service, carer and care recipient to plan and deliver appropriate services. The carer and care recipient are involved in the program design and activities. The program provides flexible service which meets the needs of the carer and care recipient.
Program Fees
Catholic Community Services charges a fee of $20 per day for the MHRP program. If a carer is experiencing financial hardship fees will be negotiated in line with Catholic Community Services Fee Policy. However no carer is to be refused the service or disadvantaged because of their inability to contribute and should not be caused financial hardship due to the charge.
Who can refer to the program?
Self Referral, other external agencies.
How do you refer to the program?
Referrals are made in a number of ways:
by contacting the service direct
by contacting Catholic Community Services via the central referral number 1800 225 474
by emailing or faxing a completed CIARR form either directly to the service or to the Catholic Community Services central fax number 1800 032 136.
Any other information
When referrals are received directly by the service, the information is forwarded to the Catholic Community Services Intake & Assessment team for processing.
Referral Criteria:
Who is eligible?
Carers of people with severe mental illness/psychiatric disability and carers of people with intellectual disability.
Who is not eligible?
Carers of people with a condition other than a mental illness/psychiatric disability or intellectual disability such as Acquired Brain Injury, neurological conditions and physical disability.
Dual diagnosis if one of the diagnoses does not include mental illness/psychiatric disability or intellectual disability.
An individual may be eligible if they have a dual diagnosis and one of the diagnoses includes a mental illness/psychiatric disability or intellectual disability.
Carers already receiving respite under an existing program for carers of people with severe mental illness/psychiatric disablity or intellectual disability.
Is priority access given?
Priority access is given to:
Elderly parent carers 65 years of age and over (Indigenous carers 50 years old and over) living with and caring for children or adult children with a severe mental illness/psychiatric disability or intellectual disability.
Other elderly parent carers 65 years of age and over (Indigenous carers 50 years old and over) not living with but are the primary carer of children or adult children with a severe mental illness/psychiatric disability or intellectual disability.
Carers of any age caring for people with a severe mental illness/psychiatric disability or intellectual disability.
Carers aged 55 to 65 years old (Indigenous carers 40 – 49 years old) who live with and care for children or adult children with a severe mental illness/psychiatric disability or intellectual disability.
