Barwon South West Personal Helpers & Mentors Program

A Personal Helpers & Mentors (PHaMs) Outreach Program for people recovering from mental illness

What Barwon South West PHaMs does

Barwon South West PHaMs offers an outreach service for people whose ability to manage their daily activities is impacted by mental illness and who have the skills to live in the community with outreach support.

The program consist of a Program Manager, Outreach Support workers and a Recovery Guide, working with clients to assist in areas of :

• Increased access to appropriate support services at the right time
• Improved coordination of care
• Increased personal capacity of self reliance
• Increased community participation

Barwon South West PHaMs Volunteer Program

Mind provides training for volunteers, who are linked with individual clients of the service for the provision of companionship and social support.

Homeless Outreach Mental Health Service (HOMHS)

Referrals to this service are ONLY taken from the Acute Ward at South West Health Care.  The HOMHS support worker provides assistance to people who would otherwise be homeless on discharge and to individuals whose housing options are at risk on discharge. This includes support to search for and obtain appropriate affordable housing within the local community.  There is a maximum of three months support that can be provided after discharge, which assists clients to readjust to independent living.  The support worker is based at Purro Gunya program and works 40 hours per fortnight.

Who can access Barwon South West PHaMs

Barwon South West PHaMs provides services to people aged 16 and over, who are recovering from a serious mental illness or have mental health issues without a formal diagnosis and reside in Barwon South West. The special needs target group includes; Indigenous Australians, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, young people aged 16 to 24 years, people who are at risk of homelessness or have previously been incarcerated and/or have drug and alcohol issues.

What the program aims to do

The strength based recovery focus of the service is to build on existing skills and attempt to foster activities that promote sustainable and meaningful participation within the community for people who are at risk of falling through the gaps.

How to access the program

The referral process is usually initiated by telephone. Referrals can be made to the program by a mental health service, other service providers, self-referral, a family member, friend or worker. Referral forms are provided for completion and applicants are required to attend an assessment interview before being offered a place at Barwon South West PHaMs.

Further Information

Please contact the Program, located in Warrnambool, from 9.00am – 5.00pm
Monday to Friday.
Phone:    03 5561 4483
Fax:        03 5561 7978
Email:  info@mindaustralia.org.au