North Ryde Listing

Family and Carer Mental Health Program Background

NSW government has set out funding for the next three years to provide support to families and carers of people with a mental illness.  The valuable role that carers play and the particular needs of carers, have been increasingly recognized.

All eight Area Health Services have received additional funding to assist their mental health services to become more “family friendly”.  Specialist workers have been employed in each area heath service to implement this.

A tender process held in 2007 selected four non-government organizations to deliver direct service provision for families and carers through Education and Training and Individual support and Advocacy and Information and referral services. This also involved working closely with Mental Health Service to assist service to become more ‘family friendly’

ARAFMI NSW has been funded until 2010 to provide this service to Families and Carers living in the Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service.

The program is operating in the broader context of both the NSW Mental Health Plan and the NSW Action Plan for Carers.   Out of this the government has recognized the importance of caring for carers in general and also specifically for Carers of people with a mental illness. 

The Program Objectives

1. To provide a program for mental health carers in the Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service which ensures carers receive individual support and advocacy, education and training and access to peer support to assist them in their caring role
2. To effectively engage families and carers in the Northern Sydney/Central Coast AMHS
3. To effectively engage appropriate stakeholders and existing carer groups in the Northern Sydney/Central Coast AMHS
4. To provide a service that addresses the diverse needs of carers across the whole of the lifespan of their caring role
5. To provide a program that is sustainable and promotes systemic change

A major component of the program involves working in partnership with Area Mental Health Services to improve access and services for families and carers.

Program Structure

The FCMHP operates from two sites: North Ryde servicing North Shore/Ryde, Northern Beaches, and Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai: and Kincumber co-ordinating services on the Central Coast .

The program has four main components

1.  Individual Support and Advocacy. This will include both short term and ongoing emotional and practical support (such as at a Magistrate Hearings, liaising with Mental Health Services and other services).

2.  Information and referral. Accessible and local Information and referral for families and carers on: mental illness, local resources and services, legal and health processes.

3.  Education and Training. Education and Training programs that build knowledge and resilience in the caring role. Topics include Stress Management, Mental Illness, Medication, Coping Skills, Grief and Loss etc.

4. Peer Support development. Working with and supporting existing Peer Support groups and identifying the need for additional groups in the area.

Referral Procedure

Does the person,

• Provide care to someone with a mental illness
• Live in the Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service
• Agree to receiving some assistance from ARAFMI in relation to their caring role 

The carer can make contact with ARAFMI directly OR you as a professional can contact ARAFMI on their behalf. You can contact us by phone, email or fax. We can provide you with a REFERRAL FORM upon request.

ARAFMI NSW Family and Carer Mental Health Program contact details

North Ryde Office   Ph: 9888 1819  Fax: 9887 5766
Kincumber Office    Ph: 4369 4233  Fax: 4363 1069
Email:  fcmhp@arafmi.org

Macquarie Hospital Support Group - Meets first Wednesday of each month at 10am at Possum Pantry, First Avenue, Macquarie Hospital.

Hornsby Support Group - Meets last Wednesday of each month at 6.00pm for 6.30pm at the Cottage in the Park, corner of Iloura and Stuart Sts, Wahroonga.

Avalon Carers Support Group -  Meets fourth Tuesday of each month at 7pm in the Avalon Recreation Centre, 59A Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon.

Manly Interest Group - Meets first Tuesday of each month, daytime group.  Contact Ryde office for details.

Contact ARAFMI on 9888 1819 for information and details about these and other Support Groups in the region.