The Andrews Labor Government is ensuring thousands more Victorians living with a mental illness or a psychological distress are supported through the Early Intervention Psychological Support Response (EIPSR).
Designed for individuals who can’t yet access or aren’t eligible for the NDIS, the EIPSR program provides short-to-medium term psychosocial support for Victorians aged 16-64 years. It prevents many people from requiring further supports in the future – providing early intervention support as soon they need it.
The program delivers one-on-one and group-based wellbeing support tailored to the needs of the individual to help people better manage their mental illness and develop practical life skills for independent living and engagement in community life.
The extension will allow key partnerships between Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services and NGOs to continue delivering essential wellbeing supports to Victorians with mental ill-health.
In Victoria, there are ten NGOs delivering the EIPSR program: Mind Australia, Wellways Australia, EACH, Cohealth, Mallee Family Care, ERMHA, Star Health, Sacred Heart Mission, Mentis Assist and Uniting Vic Tas.
Over the next two years, the Labor Government will continue to work closely with these health services and NGOs to develop and deliver more partnerships – making sure every Victorian has easy access to critical mental health and wellbeing support.
The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System recommended service partnerships be established between a public health service or public hospital and NGOs in all Infant, Child and Youth, Adult and Older Adult Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services.
The Victorian Budget 2022/23 invested more than $1.3 billion to continue work on a compassionate and responsive mental health and wellbeing system that supports all Victorians when they need it and delivered by trusted and experienced providers, building on the previous year’s record investment of $3.8 billion.
Quote attributable to Minister for Mental Health Gabrielle Williams
“We continue to invest in organisations that support Victorians with psychosocial support needs helping them better manage their mental illness and develop practical life skills for independent living in the community.”
Quote attributable to Mind Australia CEO Gill Callister
“Mind Australia welcomes the Victorian Government's decision to extend EIPSR funding, which will have a positive impact on the lives of hundreds of Victorians with mental health and well-being challenges.”
Quote attributable to EACH CEO Natalie Sullivan
“We see extraordinary changes in the lives of the Victorians we support through EIPSR. These are highly vulnerable people who in many cases have been unable to socialise, work, play sport – sometimes even to leave the house.”
Reviewed 20 March 2023