Mental Health Carers Australia grew out of the national movement of ARAFMI organisations across Australia. Originally ARAFMI was an acronym for Association of Relatives And Friends of the Mentally Ill.
The first ARAFMI group was formed in Sydney in 1975 by a concerned group of carers who identified the need for a service that would specifically address the concerns of carers, relatives and friends.
The movement quickly spread to other States and to the Territories and ARAFMI became the primary provider of services for carers of people with a mental illness in Australia.
Approximately 240,000 Australians care for someone with mental ill health.
The dollar value of the unpaid care provided by families and carers is 13.2 billion annually, which is 1.7 times the current national expenditure on all mental health services.
While people who support or care for a person with mental ill health share common issues and experiences with other carers they also experience a range of factors unique to caring for someone with mental ill health.
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How well does your organisation engage with carers and family members of people experiencing mental ill health?
Many organisations in Australia provide services to people experiencing mental ill health and their carers or family members. Improving service practice to better engage with families and carers will improve outcomes for both the family member or carer and the person they are caring for. We have designed the national Practical Guide for Working With Carers of People with a Mental Illness to help organisations improve their service practice.
Mental Health Carers Australia is committed to improving the experiences of families carers across Australia. We advocate at a national level to improve government policy and service provider practice.
Mental Health Carers Australia comprises state and national members who are experts in mental health carer practice.
Mental Health Carers Australia
Supporting and promoting the well-being of mental health carers and their families.
© 2019 Mental Health Carers Austalia.
Our Mission
To be the voice of mental health carers to enable the best life possible.
Get In Touch With Us
We're here to support and promote the well-being of mental health carers and their families
Mental Health Carers Australia is the only national advocacy group solely concerned with the well-being and promotion of the needs of mental health carers.
Supporting and promoting the well-being of mental health carers and their families.
© 2019 Mental Health Carers Austalia.
Our Mission
To be the voice of mental health carers to enable the best life possible.
Get In Touch With Us
We're here to support and promote the well-being of mental health carers and their families
Mental Health Carers Australia is the only national advocacy group solely concerned with the well-being and promotion of the needs of mental health carers.
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