ACT Labor Senator Kate Lundy has welcomed funding by the Australian Government to the Richmond Fellowship to establish a Personal Helper and Mentors Service in Belconnen/Gungahlin.
The funding will provide five full-time equivalent personal helpers and mentors for Belconnen/Gungahlin to work one-on-one with people with a severe mental illness.
“This will provide support to help people in the Belconnen/Gungahlin area who, because of severe mental illness, cannot manage their daily activities or live independently,” Senator Lundy said.
The Richmond Fellowship works with people in their environment, bringing support and assistance to them in the place where they live.
People can refer themselves to the program, their families and carers can encourage them to join or they can be referred to the program by a local health or community organisation.
This funding is part of the Council of Australian Governments’ National Action Plan on Mental Health which is implementing 17 measures over five years to improve services for people with a mental illness, their families and carers.
Media contact: Annika Hutchins 0407 458 882
