Share This

Grayndler

Friday, 27th February 2009

Personal Help On The Road To Recovery


The Personal Helpers and Mentors program will now be available in Grayndler with extra funding of more than $3.5 million from the Australian Government.


Three organisations, Aftercare, Neami and New Horizons Enterprises, will be providing the service in different parts of the local area to help people with a severe mental illness. Each organisation will receive $1,210,800 to provide funding for five full-time equivalent positions.


The Member for Grayndler, Anthony Albanese, welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin.


“The program assists people who cannot manage their daily activities or live independently in the community because of the impact of having a severe mental illness,” Anthony Albanese said.


“It’s very important to provide as much support as we can for people who have a severe mental illness.”


Personal Helpers and Mentors work one-on-one with participants, focusing on their strengths and building trust and strong relationships to help them gain greater independence.


This can be achieved through home visits, social outings or meetings where the participant feels most comfortable.


“Mental illness can have a devastating effect, leaving people feeling isolated, vulnerable and at risk of increased drug and alcohol use,” Ms Macklin said.


“By building their confidence and increasing their connections within the community, Personal Helpers and Mentors help participants overcome social isolation that can be so crippling for people with mental illness.”


The Government has committed $284.8 million from 2006-2011 for the program, with 76 sites currently operating around the country, including 41 in metropolitan areas and 35 in rural and regional locations.


This extra funding will increase the number of sites by 79 to 155 across the country.


About Anthony
Media Centre
Grayndler NewsTranscriptsSpeechesOpinion Pieces

Electorate Office

334a Marrickville Rd
Marrickville NSW 2204

Phone: 02 9564 3588

Parliament House Office

Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: 02 6277 7700

DisclaimerPrivacyTerms

Electorate Office

334a Marrickville Rd
Marrickville NSW 2204

Phone: 02 9564 3588

Parliament House Office

Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: 02 6277 7700

Phone: (02) 9564 3588
Fax: (02) 9564 1734
Email: A.Albanese.MP@aph.gov.au

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which our offices stand and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the sorrow of the Stolen Generations and the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We also recognise the resilience, strength and pride of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Authorised by Anthony Albanese. 334a Marrickville Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204.

Sign up to hear directly from the Prime Minister

Loading...