Mental Health Respite Program
The Mental Health Respite Program forms a part of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) National Action Plan on Mental Health and operates within the Commonwealth Respite and Carelink service Southern Highlands. The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs is responsible for the development and implementation of the program.
The Mental Health Respite Program provides a range of flexible respite options for carers of people with severe mental illness/psychiatric disability and carers of people with intellectual disability.
The aim of the program is to primarily provide direct respite services:
-
In-home care - where a worker comes into your home
-
Out-of-home care - integrated respite into community activities
-
Support to access other services including residential, supervised holidays and camps
-
Respond to unplanned or emergency respite
-
Provide access to after hours respite care
"Everyone needs time to take care of their personal wellbeing.
There are also times when a carer is unwell or unable to provide care for a period of time.
Being a carer for someone who needs on-going support is a huge responsibility.
Often this is in addition to other family, work or community commitments.
For some carers this can be exhausting or overwhelming at times.
Assistance can be provided in either a planned or emergency situation."
Contact us on Freecall™ 1800 052 222