Programs

The Schizophrenia Fellowhsip runs a number of programs designed to support both people living with a mental illness and their carers, as well as programs designed specifically for allied professionals (such as mental health professionals, police, teachers etc.).

A brief listing of our current programs is presented below. To learn about each of these in more depth, follow the links in the menu above to 'how we help' or click on a program that you are interested in.

Helpline: This is staffed by trained volunteers from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. If you are looking for information on mental illness, where to get help or simply want to talk, call 02 9879 2600.

Support Groups: There are currently thirty support groups across the state of NSW. Each are run on a monthly basis and cater for people with a mental illness and their carers. The format of each group is as unique as the community it serves: call your local group leader to find out more.

Carers: In 2002, the NSW Department of Health funded a one year project aimed specifically at supporting carers by way of providing information, training, advocacy and support. Currently, there are four regions in NSW which have a Carer Support Unit: Northern Sydney, Greater Murray, the Hunter region and Illawarra.

Clubhouse: This is a rehabilitation centre based on the principle of a 'work-ordered day'. Currently, the Fellowship auspices Pioneer Clubhouse in Balgowlah and is helping to establish several more throughout NSW.

Accommodation: The Fellowship, in conjunction with NOUS (Greek speaking support group) have established low support, medium term accommodation facility in Sydney for people who have a mental illness with preference to those from a non-English speaking background. This is run in partnership with the Cumberland Housing Centre.

Education: Good training and education programs are key factors in improving the quality of life for people living with a mental illness and their carers: education promotes awareness and good practice while reducing stigma and providing much-needed information. The Fellowship currently runs education programs with school-aged children, teachers, carers, people with a mental illness and other organisations.

Helping Hands: The Helping Hands Volunteer Program was established in Nowra by the Illawarra Area Health Service (IAHS), under the Mental Health Integration Project (MHIP), and run by the Service from The Junction from June 2001 to June 2003. In 2003 the IAHS called for expressions of interest from non-government organisations to take over the running of the Program. The Schizophrenia Fellowship was successful in this process and took over the Program on July 1st 2003. The Program is run from The Junction, Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre in Nowra; however it provides a service to all the Shoalhaven area, including Milton - Ulladulla.

Information: In order to make informed decisions, people need access to current and relevant information. The Fellowship publishes and distributes information on mental illness free to the public. It also recently opened its Simon Champ Library, which was launched by the Prime Minister John Howard.

Awareness: Each year during May, Schizophrenia Awareness Week is held. Events are held throughout NSW and the media is targetted to heighten the awareness among the community about mental illness.