Psychosocial Recovery Services
Psychosocial support is a term used to describe programs and activities which are designed to support people with severe mental illness and associated psychosocial disability to achieve their recovery goals.
In late 2020, the Commonwealth Department of Health changed the way Psychosocial Recovery Services were funded. From 17 January 2022, the National Psychosocial Support Measure (NPSM), Continuity of Supports (CoS) and National Psychosocial Support Measure Extended (NPSM-T) programs have been combined under one funding stream: Commonwealth Psychosocial Support.
Murray PHN funds psychosocial supports under the single banner of Psychosocial Recovery Services (PRS). All remaining clients of NPSM, CoS and NPSM-T will be supported to transition across to PRS or other supports such as the National Disability insurance Scheme (NDIS) as required.
What are psychosocial supports?
For Murray PHN funded services, psychosocial supports are services that work in partnership with individuals who are significantly affected by severe mental illness and which has an impact on their associated psychosocial functional capacity and who are not supported through the NDIS.
Our services, in partnership with families and carers (as appropriate), provide a range of non-clinical community-based support to individuals to achieve their recovery goals, including supporting people with:
- developing social skills and friendships
- building family relationships
- managing money
- finding and looking after a home
- developing work goals
- improving educational skills
- staying physically well, including with exercise
- support with drug, alcohol and smoking issues
- building broader life skills including confidence and resilience.
Psychosocial Recovery Services eligibility
People may be eligible for Murray PHN-funded psychosocial supports if they:
- Have a severe mental illness that has an impact on their psychosocial functional capacity
- Are aged 16 years or older
- Have needs that are responsive to low intensity support and can be appropriately met within 3-12 months.
Consumers who are eligible for the NDIS and state funded psychosocial supports should be supported to access these programs where appropriate.
How to access Psychosocial Recovery Services
Participants of NPSM, CoS and NSPM-T, should talk to their support worker or contact the services which are now providing support in their area. People not receiving support through these programs may contact the nearest PRS provider to them below (click on the map to enlarge):
Stride Mental Health
Region includes the following Local Government Areas:
- Campaspe
- Greater Bendigo
- Loddon
- Mount Alexander
- Macedon Ranges
Contact details:
- Belinda Pearson, Service Manager
- Phone: 0428 727 136
- Email: prs@stride.com.au
- Website: stride.com.au
Wellways Australia Limited
Region includes the following Local Government Areas:
- Albury
- Wodonga
- Indigo
- Towong
- Alpine
- Wangaratta
- Benalla
- Mansfield
- Moira
- Greater Shepparton
- Strathbogie
- Mitchell
- Murrindindi
- Buloke
- Gannawarra
- Swan Hill and
- Mildura (including Robinvale)
Contact details:
- Tegan Williams, Regional Manager
- Phone: 03 58228 610
- Email: prsmurray@wellways.org
- Website: wellways.org
Are there other psychosocial support programs available?
There are other programs available to support people with psychosocial support.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) supports people with a permanent and significant psychosocial disability that affects their ability to take part in everyday activities. More information on the NDIS can be found here or contact your nearest NDIS Local Area Coordination Service by calling 1800 522 679 in NSW or 1800 242 696 in Victoria.
The State and Territory Governments also offer services for psychosocial supports in partnership with clinical mental health services. In NSW this will be delivered through the Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI) and Community Living Supports (CLS). In Victoria, this will be delivered through the Early Intervention Psychosocial Support Response (EIPSR) program and the Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs.
Further information and resources regarding Psychosocial Recovery Services
- Guidelines | Murray PHN has developed guidelines to inform the delivery of Psychosocial Recovery Services - last updated January 2022
- Consumer transition guidelines - last updated June 2022
Murray PHN’s role in Psychosocial Recovery Services
Murray PHN has responsibility to ensure psychosocial services are available to those people who need support.
We have supported the establishment and implementation of new service arrangements, including the support of participants transitioning within and between providers.
We are also supporting providers to assist participants to test their eligibility for NDIS, including those who are hard to reach.
For more information
Contact Sharlene Green, Psychosocial Systems Coordinator e: sgreen@murrayphn.org.au or t: 03 4408 5607.
Page last updated 5 July 2022