The Personal Helpers and Mentors Program (PHaMPs) engenders wellness and focuses on providing a strengths-based, recovery approach to supporting people who have a degree of difficulty coping with daily activities and accessing the community. The approach we use recognises that a person can live a satisfying and contributing life within the limitations caused by their illness.

Personal Helpers and Mentors assist people on their journery to recovery, which may encompass better managing their daily activities and access to the range of supports and services they need. Our PHaMPs team follow a participant-focused, holistic approach and aim to foster each individual's sense of hope and dignity and capacity for resilience through all stage of recovery, through different stages of life and experiences.

This program will service the City of Brimbank with particular focus on CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) and Refugees and the Shire of Melton where youth is our primary focus. Norwood has located staff within this community, with a new office in Caroline Springs, alongside the Djerriwarrah Health Service. The City of Brimbank service will operate from our 1 Andrea Street, St Albans office.

PHaMPs is one of the key Australian Government initiatives included in the Council of Australian Government (COAG) National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006-2011 (the National Action Plan). This plan represents a historic step towards governments working together to achieve better outcomes for people who are severely impacted by a mental illness.

The reforms that make up the National Action Plan will significantly contribute to the wellbeing of people with mental illness and their families and communities. The Australian Government recognises the importantce of the role of non-government organisations in the facilitation of recovery-based services for people who are severely impacted by a mental illness. A focus on recovery acknowledges that having a mental illness does not mean life-long disability.

This program is voluntary for program participants.