Commonwealth Psychosocial Support Program Expanded

As your Primary Health Network, mental health care support is one of our core priorities. With 12% of NSW’s population living in Western Sydney[1], it’s one of the largest, most diverse regions in Australia with many challenges both socio-economically and psychosocially.

The pandemic only increased pressure on the community, and the demand for mental health support has grown exponentially over the past year – especially in the severe and complex category of mental health needs. Last year, 16,989 people in Western Sydney were diagnosed with a mental health condition.[2]

In response to this increase, we have now commissioned two providers to deliver the Commonwealth Psychosocial Support (CPS) program. By expanding providers, we’re increasing access to the community when and where it’s needed most.

 

Commonwealth Psychosocial Support Program

The CPS program is a psychosocial support program assisting people with severe and complex mental health concerns to live and participate in the community, attend social outings, receive support to reach education, employment and financial goals, improve their physical and mental health, and be connected to other services and health professionals. The CPS program includes a service navigation component, which provides information, advice and referral assistance to consumers, their families and carers, and also supports clients to apply for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) where appropriate.

CPS provides psychosocial support for adults with severe mental illness and associated psychosocial functional impairment who are not accessing services through the NDIS.

What Services are Available?

Psychosocial providers are commissioned to work in partnership with people experiencing severe and complex mental health concerns, alongside their families and carers, to achieve their recovery goals. This includes:

  • Building social skills, friendships and family connections
  • Financial management and budgeting skills
  • Finding and maintaining a home
  • Vocational skills and goals
  • Maintaining physical wellbeing, including exercise
  • Managing substance use issues
  • Day-to-day living skills and confidence-building
  • Service navigation
  • NDIS testing
  • Building the capacity to live independently 
Who Does CPS Support?

The CPS program is designed to support people with severe, often episodic, mental illness who:

  • Have needs that, through short-term, low-intensity support, can live independently in the community, as determined through a capacity and strengths-based assessment tool
  • Are not restricted in their ability to fully and actively, participate in the community because of their residential setting (for example, prison or a psychiatric facility)
  • Are not receiving similar psychosocial supports through a state or territory government program or the NDIS, where there is potential for duplication of services
  • Are aged 16 years and over, noting exceptions can be made for people aged less than 16 years subject to approval by the Western Sydney Primary Health Network

Eligible people are those affected by mental illness, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and trauma-related disorders. A clinical diagnosis is not required for people to access services; however, relevant eligibility criteria must be met.

Client story

Lindsay* is a 41-year-old Aboriginal woman who has a long history of trauma, depression, anxiety and personality disorders. Her only ways of coping with her trauma and mental health challenges were through alcohol and drug abuse by means of self-medicating. Working with her CPS psychologist, Lindsay learned to focus on her triggers and discover ways to better control her stress, mood and emotions. Lindsay’s CPS support worker shared, “Lindsay is currently exploring indigenous-appropriate community service courses so she can support others. It’s been a real turnaround for her. She makes this privileged job I do so rewarding.” Read Lindsay’s full story.

*Name has been changed to protect the identity of this client.  

Referral Pathways

In Western Sydney, our two Commonwealth Psychosocial Support (CPS) Program providers are:

One Door Mental Health:

Uniting:

More information is available in the CPS brochure.

To refer one of your patients, please use our CPS referral form.

[1] Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016, Census of Population and Housing, TableBuilder. Findings based on the use of ABS TableBuilder data.

[2] WentWest Health Intelligence Unit (2022), GP Diagnostics Data

25 January 2023

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