Eight Family and Carer-led Centres will open across Victoria in 2023. Tandem has led work to co-design the model for the Centres in partnership with family, carers and supporters of people with mental health challenges.

 

About the Family and Carer-led Centres

 

Victoria’s Family and Carer-led Centres will provide support for family, carers and supporters of people with mental health challenges.
 
The Centres were a recommendation by the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.  (You can read about them in chapter 19 of Volume 3 of the Royal Commission's final report).

The Centres will be led by staff who have lived experience supporting someone with mental health challenges. 
 
 The Department of Health is creating eight regions for the delivery of mental health services. There will be one Family and Carer-led Centre in each region.
 
The State Government announced the providers for seven of the Centres in January 2023. The successful providers are: 

  • Gippsland: Wellways Australia (lead) with Satellite Foundation
  • Hume: Gateway Health 
  • Loddon Mallee: Mind Australia (lead) with Mallee Family Care 
  • South Western: Wellways Australia (lead) with Satellite Foundation and Bethany Community Support
  • South East (metro): Star Health (lead) with Connect Health and Community, and Central Bayside Community Health (partners)
  • North East (metro): Access Health and Community (lead) with with Self Help Addiction Recovery Centre (SHARC), healthAbility, and Inspiro (partners)
  • Western (metro): Jesuit Social Services

 

An announcement is yet to be made on a provider for the Grampians region Centre. 

Read Tandem's media release announcing the providers on our Media page.

As with all state government services the budget for the Centres is set by the government.

 

What will the Family and Carer-led Centres do?

 

The Centres will provide a warm and welcoming space for families, carers and supporters. They will provide information, support and access to funding.

The Centres will be co-designed by families, carers and supporters, in partnership with Tandem. 

The Royal Commission recommended that the Centres:

  • Each have a physical location and an online presence
  • Provide information about supports and services available in each region
  • Connect families, carers and supporters with the right support as available 
  • Offer after-hours access in some form 
  • Provide families, carers, friends, and supporters with access to funds to help with immediate practical needs
  • Support older carers with transition planning 
  • Help families and carers to navigate the Mental Health and Wellbeing system and other supports 
  • Support volunteer-based family and carer peer support groups in each region
 

 

How can I stay informed about the Family and Carer-led Centres?

 

We will publish updates about the Family and Carer-led Centres on this webpage.

To receive updates by email, join Tandem to receive our monthly eNews.

The best way to have input into mental health reform is to join the Tandem Participation Register.