Hope for a better life. And the help and support to get you there. Mind and the NDIS
2 Mind and the NDIS When you re really struggling, just having someone who believes in you makes a real difference.
Towards a better life. Being able to hold on to hope when you are struggling is the key to achieving better health and wellbeing. And a better life. After 40 years as one of Australia s leading and pioneering mental health services we know that there is always hope. And we ve seen the proof that with the right kind of help and support, life can be better and people do achieve a life with meaning and purpose. At Mind we ve also learnt that there is one kind of support that really matters. And that s unconditional support. Our approach is not based on what we think is best for you, but on the kind of support that you think you need and want. And that s up to you to choose. This has always been our approach and it s what we believe sets us apart. There s a good reason why our support workers have become so trusted and respected. You ll find they re not just professional, capable and knowledgeable, they re committed to your personal recovery and believe in your potential to have a better life. 3
What is the NDIS? And what does it mean for you? The NDIS stands for National Disability Insurance Scheme. It is the new funding scheme that has been created to help more people with a physical or mental disability get access to the kind of support they want and need. With the introduction of NDIS you will receive funding as a package through the scheme. With this package, you will be able to choose your support provider and choose the kind of services you want. If you need or want to find more about the NDIS and NDIS funding before you sit down with an NDIS planner, the NDIA has put together a fact sheet that explains the supports the NDIS will fund. Go to: http://www.ndis.gov.au And search: supports_ndis_fund_mental_health_2_0.pdf Mind can also help with preparing for the NDIS and offers free transition and advocacy support. 4 Mind and the NDIS
So where does Mind fit in with the NDIS? The NDIS doesn t effect clinical services that you may get from the health system like psychiatry services, medication or GP s. These will continue. But it does support the kind of services that can help you be more independent, be a part of the community and help you reach the life goals you set for yourself. This is where Mind comes in. We can help you to: live independently and improve your daily living skills find and maintain suitable housing build resilience and coping skills learn and explore new ideas for personal growth build skills to go back to work or study improve your relationships. We can also provide support coordination to help you find and manage other services you need. With Mind you ll have an extensive range of support services to pick and choose from. Because NDIS is all about you choosing the kind of support that s important to you. participate in, and build skills for social and community activities 5
So what kind of support can we offer you? We ve worked with our service users and their families, and looked all around the world for the best support models that will help people not just survive, but thrive. The result is a model of support that is both personalised and flexible enough to adjust to your needs at any time. It covers everything from supporting you at home and in your local community to help you build daily living skills, to recreation and social activities, to counselling, coaching and training for personal growth. We can also help you with other specialist advice, such as finding safe and secure housing or managing finances. There are three complementary streams of service that you can choose from, with lots of options for you to pick and mix. You don t have to use services from all of the streams, but we do think together they provide a comprehensive approach to mental health and wellbeing. It s up to you what mix of support services best suit your needs. You can choose what you think you need or want. Daily living support Core home and community assistance providing the day-to-day support to help you get on with your life. Thrive mental health and wellbeing centres providing specialist counselling, coaching and learning. Connect Up group recreation and leisure activities - helping you connect socially and follow your interests. In addition to these streams, Mind offers long-term supported independent living housing for people who want to be free to live as they choose but have access to someone onsite 24 hours a day to assist them if necessary. Outside of NDIS funded services, Mind also provides a range of more intensive supports, including sub-acute services. See page 10 for more details. If my everyday life goes well, I get things done and I go out and do the things I need. I can reach out and do great things. Active and connected Support to thrive I want to engage with others, to connect, to try myself out. I want to feel safe, understood and to be able to nurture and extend my life and my friendships. I feel the right kind of support would nourish the parts of me that make me, me. It is not about my illness, it s about where I want to go. 6 Mind and the NDIS
Core home and community assistance. The day-to-day support to help you get on with your life. Your Mind Core support worker comes to you to help you build skills and confidence in daily life activities the things you need sorted to maintain focus on your personal recovery and growth. You decide what you want help with, when you need it, and for how long you need this assistance*. Examples of the kinds of things you can ask for help with include: managing daily household tasks and taking care of yourself meal planning, shopping and cooking budgeting and managing day-to-day tasks managing and supporting you with appointments and activities (doctors, social workers, Centrelink, etc.). supporting you on social outings and recreation activities learning to use public transport and building confidence to get out on your own social support and encouragement To book a Core home and community assistance package, you can: - visit the Mind Thrive Centre nearest you, or - contact our dedicated customer service centre on 1300 286 463 Core home and community assistance can be purchased through an NDIS support package. If you are not an NDIS participant, you can still purchase Core services by paying directly. *Core service visits are a minimum of 2 hours for any one session. Additional travel, entry or purchase expenses involved in outings are charged at cost in addition to the hourly support rate. 8 7
Thrive mental health and wellbeing centres. Specialist counselling, coaching and learning. Our new Thrive centres provide a one stop shop where you can access a whole range of services and activities delivered by specialist practitioners. Learn the skills and get the advice to build the life you want all under one roof in an environment that is not just safe and secure, but one that we hope you ll find inspiring as well. Our team can help you with information, advice, counselling and learning opportunities. We can also link you with housing, education, and employment services. You choose what support you need, from people with specialist skills. This way you get the right support to get you closer to achieving your dreams. Our staff team includes people who have experienced recovery and who can share their learnings and insights with you and your family and friends. You might choose a little bit of support or a range of supports. We can help you explore and find the right mix for you. At a Mind Thrive Centre, our mix of available specialists can offer the following services: peer mentors and helpers to provide regular emotional and motivational support mental health coaches to help you achieve your life goals health and wellbeing education counselling individual and family skills training coordination of supports problem solving, tenancy advice and linkage with housing services employment and vocational support support for family, friends and carers NDIS advice and planning support Visit your nearest Mind Thrive Centre to find out the full range of services you can choose. While there, you can also book Core and Connect Up services. Thrive mental health and wellbeing services can be purchased through an NDIS support package. If you are not an NDIS participant, you can still purchase Thrive support by paying directly. Visit www.mindaustralia.org.au to find the Mind Thrive Centre nearest you. Or contact our dedicated customer service centre on 1300 286 463. 8 Mind and the NDIS
Connect Up group recreation and leisure activities. Helping you connect socially and follow your interests - an important step to building a better life. Mind s Connect Up group recreation and leisure activities are all about getting you back into the world and back into your community. Make new friends and start to enjoy getting active again. coffee afternoons at friendly cafes, or picnics in the park art and craft, or creative writing classes seeing movies, plays or sporting events going to the beach, fishing, or hiking going to the gym, or an exercise or swim class joining a walking or running group music and singing cooking classes Even if it s a coffee or a walk in the park, these sort of activities can help you rebuild your confidence. This helps put some real meaning and purpose back into your life. The Connect Up activities you purchase can be tailored to suit your pace and interests. You can also help us decide which Connect Up activities we ll run in your area. We will ask you about what you like to do or would like to try, and if enough people also want this activity, we ll organise it! Here are examples of the activities people have chosen: To book a Connect Up group recreation and leisure activity, you can: - visit the Mind Thrive Centre nearest you - contact our dedicated customer service centre on 1300 286 463, or - visit www.mindaustralia.org.au. Connect Up group recreation and leisure activities can be purchased through an NDIS support package. If you are not an NDIS participant, you can still purchase Connect Up activities by paying directly. 9
And there s more. At Mind, we recognise your family and friends play an important part in your wellbeing so we are able to include them in discussions about your support plan if you wish. Often they ll need support too, so it s important they know about the services available for them from Mind. We offer counselling, respite, support groups, one-to-one peer support and a carer helpline. We also believe in working closely with other health and welfare professionals who may be involved in your care. Mind also offers other services such as: - sub-acute short-stay residential recovery care - mental health nurse care coordination - alcohol and drug counselling - youth mental health services - Mind Recovery College - specialist psychological services, and more. There are different access pathways for these services. You can find out more by visiting www.mindaustralia.org.au or a Mind Thrive Centre. 10 Mind and the NDIS
Mind. Who we are and what we do. Mind Australia Limited is a leading community managed specialist mental health service provider. We have been supporting people dealing with the day-to-day impacts of mental illness, as well as their families, friends and carers for 40 years. We provide practical and motivational support that helps people develop the skills they need to move on, thrive and improve the quality of their lives. It s an approach to mental health and wellbeing that looks at the whole person in the context of their daily life. From our years of experience, we know that every individual s journey to a life of meaning and purpose is a very personal one. Many of our support workers who ll be working with you have been through their own recovery journey and faced similar challenges. They have a big input into the services we develop. Our services are also shaped by what service users and their families have said they wanted. We invest a lot in research about mental health recovery and psychosocial disability. Combined with the expertise of service users this enables us to make sure what we offer works and meets your needs. We also share this knowledge, providing training for peer workers and other mental health professionals. We advocate for basic human rights for everyone; constantly challenging the stigma and discrimination experienced by people with mental health issues. 11
For more information or to make an appointment to develop the best plan for your recovery, visit your nearest Mind Thrive Centre, or call our dedicated customer service centre, Mind Connect on 1300 286 463 www.mindaustralia.org.au Mind Connect 1300 286 463 Carer Helpline 1300 554 660 mindaustralia.org.au info@mindaustralia.org.au Mind Central Office 86-92 Mount Street PO Box 592 Heidelberg VIC 3084 Mind Australia Limited ABN 22 005 063 589 M282/0517