Personal Helpers And Mentors (PHAMS)

Click here to access the Personal Helpers and Mentors Information booklet

The Personal Helpers and Mentors Program (PHAMS) is new to the Mission and supports people aged 16 – 64 whose lives are severely affected by mental illness.

It is an outreach-based program and focuses on strengths - what people with mental illness can do as opposed to what they can't do. It also focuses on recovery, demonstrating that people with mental illness can lead a fulfilled life in the community.

The Mission was awarded the PHAMS tender in 2007 for the City of Monash, which includes the suburbs Oakleigh, Ashwood, Clayton, Mulgrave, Mount Waverley, Glen Waverley and Wheelers Hill. As such, an office in Hamilton Place, Mount Waverley, has been established and a five-person team has been recruited specifically to run the program.

How the program works

People join the program voluntarily. After an initial period of assessment to determine eligibility for the program, clients are then supported by their own Personal Helper and Mentor for 1-2 hours per session, generally on a weekly basis. Such support includes:

Direct involvement - including assessment of needs, developing Individual Recovery Plans and linking with clinical case management, advocacy, peer support, personal development, supporting family relationships, mediation, supporting people to manage their daily activities;

Referrals to relevant services - including to housing support, employment and education, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, independent living skills programs, clinical services, allied and other mental health services as required; and

Monitoring and reporting - (non face to face) including monitoring participant referrals, monitoring progress against Individual Recovery Plans and reporting.

How clients access the program

There are many possible pathways for people to access the program including through (but not limited to):

● Clinical pathways ie. GPs, psychologists, psychiatrists, hospitals

● Drug and alcohol services

● Housing and homelessness services

● Family Relationship Centres

● Carer support services

● Centrelink and other Australian Government services

● Self, family or carer referral

● Community mental health services

● Psychiatric disability rehabilitation services

● Disability employment network services

● Education services

● Personal support program

● Peer support programs

● Job Network

● Youth-related pathways

Overall aim

PHAMS addresses a significant gap between consumers and agencies. By providing ongoing and open-ended support with goal-setting in mind, PHAMS not only tackles issues such as isolation and exclusion, but also actively works towards linking consumers back into the community with meaningful plans for recovery.

For more information Contact Us.