Carer and Consumer Respite - Kambah

The Mental Health Foundation Respite Houses provide residential respite care for people with mental health concerns.

Respite service is designed to be a ‘safe place’ for people to have a break from their usual living environment. It allows the participant to rest and recharge, while focussing on short-term recovery goals. Our Respite Houses are located in Kambah and O’Connor.

The Respite House aims to provide:

• support to residents in their day to day living.
• a safe environment for people with mental health concerns to participate in planning and decision-making processes that will enhance opportunities for individual development.
• social activities, which will enable residents to enhance their quality of life and participate more fully in the community.
• Support carers who are transiting people they are caring for into NDIS. The people they are caring for experience mental health concerns.

Target Groups

The Respite service is designed for people with NDIS plan who are experiencing mental health concerns and need a break from their daily routines.

The Respite Houses are staffed by workers who can assist with day-to-day living skills and recovery goals.

The Respite house is not a crisis service. Staff are not able to provide 24-hour supervision or clinical support. It is not a crisis accommodation service, and participants must be discharged to their homes after their stay. However, the service does provide 24/7 on-call services.

The Respite House is intended to complement other services for people with mental illness in the ACT, and aims to work in co-operation with other services wherever possible. It is expected that residents will maintain regular contact with their mental health service clinical manager or other clinical supports.

Admission Criteria

In order to admitted into the Respite House, clients must:

• be 18 years of age or over;
• have an NDIS plan approved;
• be willing to work towards obtaining an NDIS funding;
• have a mental health concern;
• have their own accommodation to return to;
• be able to live co-operatively with others;
• and, be willing to sign and abide by the Respite Rights and Responsibilities of the services.

How to access Respite services: 

Referral

Participants can be referred to the service by a health professional such as a GP, psychologist or other health worker.

They can also self-refer or be referred by their NDIS Support Coordinator or Plan Manager.

Assessment

After a referral form is received, staff will arrange an assessment interview to meet the participant to determine their suitability to enter the house. This interview can take place at Respite, or at another agreed location. 

Admission

On arrival participants are asked to complete admission paperwork, including the signing of a Rights and Responsibilities document that outlines the rules of their stay.

Participants will be provided with a key to the house and their room, which must be returned upon discharge. Clients are asked to provide a $15 contribution, and a $15 key deposit, which is refunded upon return of the keys. 

New clients to Respite will be invited to stay for one week, Monday-Friday. Repeat clients can stay up to two weeks.