Mothers Support Program

What is the Mother's Support Program?

It is a Psychiatric Disability Support Program funded by the Mental Health Branch; Department of Human Services. The Mothers Support Program provides home based outreach support for women who are living with a mental illness, live in the inner, central southern and eastern regions of Melbourne and have children in their care. Participation in our program is on a voluntary basis only.

What we do?

We do this by identifying goals, developing skills and using resources within their community to enable women to parent as effectively as possible. Each person in the program develops an Individual Recovery Plan. The Individual Recovery plan identifies a plan of action, which outlines the goals a participant wants to achieve, what needs to be done, by whom and over what length of time. These will often include family and children's needs.

Program Aims:

• To maximise mental health opportunities
• To maximise parenting capacity
• To facilitate enduring change
• To reduce the effects of psychiatric disability
• To advocate on behalf of participants
• To provide a flexible, responsive and integrated service

Peer Support Group

We offer monthly Peer Support groups providing mothers with an opportunity to meet other women dealing with similar issues in a safe and informal environment. The group is activity based, and includes child friendly activities, particularly in school holiday times. Occasionally, specific topics of interest may be discussed, or a speaker invited. Our programs and activities are shaped by participants' needs and interests.

It is important to acknowledge where we have come from, where we are at and where we are heading ... together we are journeying toward wellness. (Compiled by members of our peer support group 2005).

Who can access the program?

Supports women who:

• have a psychiatric disability
• have children (under 18 years of age) in their care
• live in either the inner or central southern/eastern regions of Melbourne. Council regions Port Phillip, Bayside, Glen Eira, Stonnington, Kingston, Monash, Whitehorse and Monash.

How to acces the program?

The referral process is usually initiated by telephone. Referrals can be made to the program by health professional, self referrals and or family / carer.

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.