What is it?
The Mental Health Carer Support Fund (CSF) aims to support carers, families, kin and supporters who provide care to people experiencing mental health challenges. Funds can be accessed through Area Mental Health and Wellbeing services and Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect centres.
The CSF recognises the importance of mental health caring and the unique challenges experienced by mental health carers. It specifically aims to strengthen carer wellbeing, support carers in their caring role, and promote and sustain relationships in the context of caring.
Eligibility
Family, carers and supporters who are supporting a person experiencing mental health challenges are eligible to receive money through the CSF. All workers at Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services and Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect centres are encouraged to ensure that families and carers are aware of this avenue of support for them in their caring role.
What can the CSF be used for?
- Transport and/or costs associated with visiting the person with mental health challenges in hospital or accompanying them to medical appointments as appropriate in a supporting role.
- Carer education programs and conferences that promote knowledge and understanding of mental ill health and the mental health system; and to support carer resilience, self-care and wellbeing.
- Respite. Opportunities for the carer to have a break from the caring role.
- Educational expenses. Opportunities for the carer to pursue vocational opportunities through short-term educational activities.
- Counselling. Short term counselling, provided by a practitioner outside the mental health service, to address the emotional and relationship impacts of caring for someone with a mental illness.
- Reimbursement of costs (that cannot be claimed through other Department of Health concessions or other funding sources for carers) incurred by the carer on behalf of the person for whom they care.
- Wellbeing activities for carers, individually or in groups, to access opportunities such as yoga, meditation, sporting activities, art, music or other recreational activities to support their personal wellbeing.
Further information
Visit Tandem Carers
Apply
All applications are made through Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect centres or Area Mental Health Services.
Find a Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect centre
OR
Please contact your local AMHS to apply. If you are unsure of your local AMHS, please contact Tandem Carers.
