Commencing in July 2016, Community Living Supports delivers support to people with severe mental illness so they can live successfully in the community. Support is coordinated between clinical mental health care delivered by Local Health Districts and psychosocial supports delivered by non-government communitybased organisations that specialise in mental health.
Community Living Supports fulfils the NSW Government's commitment to expand psychosocial supports in the community as part of its ten year reform of the mental health system. An additional $20 million per year has been made available to fund non-government organisations to provide supports.
Priority is given to people with severe mental illness and complex conditions. Key populations include people living social housing who may not be accessing the supports they need, community based offenders people exiting correctional facilities, Aboriginal people, people living in boarding houses and refugees.
Under the NSW Government’s response to Living Well: A Strategic Plan for Mental Health in NSW 2014-2024, a further $4.8 million from 2017/18, will expand Community Living Supports focusing on regions of NSW identified for the state’s anticipated resettlement of 6000 additional refugees from Syria and Iraq. This enhancement will also include training for Community Living Supports non-government providers to work with adult survivors of complex trauma in refugee resettlement areas.
There will also be training made available to nongovernment organisations to improve their skills in providing culturally relevant mental health assessment and support for Aboriginal people. This initiative recognises the unique issues of Aboriginal communities and the need for Community Living Supports providers to employ culturally appropriate strategies to engage with and better support Aboriginal clients.
Scholarships for Community Living Supports providers' staff to undergo a Certificate IV or Diploma in Mental Health will be made available. These scholarships will be targeted at areas of NSW where recruiting and retaining a skilled mental health workforce is challenging, such as rural and remote areas.
Learn more about mental health care reform in NSW.
