Peer supported transfer of care (Peer-STOC) evaluation report

This is the Final Report for an independent 18-month, co-designed and co-delivered evaluation of the Peer Supported Transfer of Care (Peer-STOC) initiative, which is:

a NSW wide initiative funded by the NSW Ministry of Health
designed to provide peer-led and recovery focused supports by peer workers to individuals with complex mental health needs during a 6-week period of transition to home or community after an inpatient admission.

The University of Sydney, in partnership with the Australian National University, was engaged by the NSW Ministry of Health to conduct the independent evaluation. The research team comprised of mental health academics with expertise in program evaluation and research, including lived experience researchers, clinicians, and health economists.

The evaluation found the Peer-STOC program:

reduced 28-day readmission rates
improved community contacts
improved consumer experiences of service and recovery outcomes
and had a net budget impact (saving) of $1.85 million over the first 3 years of the program.