Personal Helpers and Mentors Program (PHaMs)

The Personal Helpers and Mentors Program supports people whose lives are severely affected by a severe mental illness. It is a federally funded program which emphasises community support and social connection as an integral part of recovery.

Your Personal Helper and Mentor can support you in many different ways, including:

Working with you to learn how to better manage everyday tasks such as housekeeping, managing finances and learning how to use public transport.
Helping you get relationships with family and friends back on track.
Accessing appropriate clinical support.
Working with you to get you involved in a community activity that you would really like to do.
Connecting you with other services or programs that could also support you on your recovery journey, like drug and alcohol, housing or medical support.

Program Focus

The program focuses on strengths, what people with mental illness can do rather than what they can’t do.

It focuses on recovery, demonstrating that people with mental illness can lead a fulfilling life in the community with the same opportunities as other people.

What do Personal Helpers and Mentors do?

People who join the program will work with their own Personal Helper and Mentor who will support them on their recovery journey through developing goals and strategies to meet these goals. They will provide you with opportunities, support and services to help you reconnect with your community. They will be someone you can talk to when things aren’t going so well.

It’s a team approach where you and your Personal Helper and Mentor will work together with you to make things happen and get the outcomes that YOU want. It is about trust and respect.

Am I Eligible?

If you are 16 years of age or older you may be eligible for the Personal Helpers and Mentors Program.

You do not need to have a medical diagnosis of a mental illness to initially join the program. If you join, your Personal Helper and Mentor will help you get the medical and other health support you need.

Your Personal Helpers and Mentor can support you with many different things. The key is that it is up to YOU, what you want to achieve from the program and how you go about achieving it.

Contact information and appointments

Moree

48 Auburn Street
PO Box 1499
Moree NSW 2400
Ph: 02 6750 8500
Fax: 02 6751 1725
Email: Email Moree office

Narrabri

1/116 Barwan Street
PO Box 89
Narrabri NSW 2390
Ph: 02 6792 9300
Fax: 02 6792 3531
Email: Email Narrabri office