Personal Helpers And Mentors Program

PHaMs is an Australian Government initiative, funded by the Commonwealth Department of Families, Community Services & Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).

What is the Personal Helpers and Mentors Program?

The Personal Helpers and Mentors Program (PHaMs) supports people whose lives are severely affected by mental illness. PHaMs provides assistance to people aged 16 years and over whose ability to manage their daily activities and live independently in the community has been severely affected by mental illness.

What we do?

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. Within the framework of the Prahran Mission Outreach model and the Principles of Psycho-social rehabilitation, the PHaMs programs work from a holistic framework that involves an integrated approach with clinical services, various community agencies, families and significant others. The team is also committed to promoting awareness of mental health issues within the wider community.

How the program works

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

What sort of support do the PHaMs programs offer?

People who join the program will work with their own Personal Helper and Mentor who will support them through their recovery journey.

Such support includes: Support to develop goals and strategies to achieve these goals.

Direct involvement - including assessment of needs, developing Individual Recovery Plans. Accessing appropriate clinical support, 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.

Who can access the program?

People who are 16 years old and over, whose lives are severely affected by mental illness and reside in either the:

City of Monash, which includes the suburbs of Oakleigh (3166), Ashwood (3147), Clayton (3168), Mulgrave (3170), Mount Waverley (3149), Glen Waverley (3150) and Wheelers Hill (3150).

City of Bayside, which includes the suburbs Brighton (3186), East Brighton (3187), Hampton (3188), Moorabbin (3189), Sandringham (3191), Cheltenham (3192), Black Rock (3193) and Beaumaris (3193).

How can you access the program?

The referral process is usually initiated by telephone. Referrals can be made to the program by self referral, family or carer and any of the health professionals listed below (but not limited).

Clinical pathways i.e. GPs, psychologists, psychiatrists, hospitals
Drug and alcohol services
Housing and homelessness services
Family Relationship Centers
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

The program is a free service. However some of the activities you choose to participate in within another agency may incur a cost. Involvement in the program is voluntary.

PHaMs Bayside

8 Hemming Street

East Brighton VIC 3186

Telephone: (03) 9553 3856

Fax: (03) 9827 1044

Email: phamsbayside@prahranmission.org.au

PHaMs Monash

1/12 Hamilton Place

Mount Waverley VIC 3149

Telephone: (03) 9692 9400

Fax: (03) 9807 2101

Email: phamsmonash@prahranmission.org.au

Website: www.prahranmission.org.au