Connect with people who understand what you are going through, seek advice and surround yourself with support. We're free, anonymous, and professionally moderated 24/7.
Bobby2015Contributor
Good Evening,
I need some advice, l had a assesment appointment set up with a phams service provider but found out they do not cover my are and had to cqancel the appoinment. The other phams service provider will not help me because they say l am suitable or there service till further notice.I am wondering if anyone knows of any other services like these out in the community?
In response to: phams worker
AppleblossomSenior Contributor
Glad to hear that something is happening. Still it is worth loooking out for whatever you are entitled to. Slowly the stigma re BPD may change.
Good Luck @Bobby2015
In response to: phams worker
Bobby2015Contributor
In response to: phams worker
Peter_Pan78Senior Contributor
In response to: Re: phams worker
MazaritaSenior Contributor
Hi @Peter_Pan78,
Personal Helpers and Mentors Scheme (PHaMs). I highly recommend it from having had a support worker for about the past four months. It's run by various community organisations around Australia. Here's some more information:
In response to: phams worker
Peter_Pan78Senior Contributor
In response to: Re: phams worker
MazaritaSenior Contributor
@Peter_Pan78,
The agency I am receiving help from seemed to place more emphasis on how long the MI had been in existence. In my case I've been receiving psychiatric treatment for 25 years. The only real crisis I was in when they approved me for the scheme was a very strong tendency to stay inside my flat and not engage with the outside world. Since being approved for the scheme, I've had weekly visits with a support worker, often involving doing activities outside the flat together. The aim here is to build up social engagement with support until I reach the point where I am able to do these things in an ongoing way without the support. It's perhaps approached somewhat differently by each agency that operates the scheme. Whether we are approved or not may also depend on locality and how much demand on resources there is at the time. I even kept saying in the assessment interview that I knew there were people in a much worse position than me and that I understood if they turned me down. Luckily, they approved me anyway. Hope this brief account of my experience might be of some use to you in your circumstances.
In response to: phams worker
Peter_Pan78Senior Contributor
In response to: Re: phams worker
GothMumSenior Contributor
As NDIS is rolled out across Australia, the support you experience @Mazarita with outings and social interactions should see many more people who have self isolated starting to enjoy supported outings of all kinds of types - I have a worker who drives me to dance clubs on alternate Saturday evenings, with another worker caring for my high needs kids - who I previously had never been able to leave with ordinary "baby sitters" to have any time out. The endorphins from an evening of dancing mean i can cope with the difficulties I have and I have something constantly to look forward to.
i encourage everyone who qualifies for ndis to push for this kind of flexible support. Being able to go out and just cut loose, knowing that I have a trained support person if I have a sudden meltdown, and not having to worry about how I can go out/get home has been the single biggest therapy in many many years! And it's a good idea to get a companion card, so that your worker can access the things to support your enjoyment at little or no cost?
In response to: Re: phams worker
MazaritaSenior Contributor
Hi @GothMum,
It's great to hear about your support workers and the assistance they provide to you and your children. I used to love dancing but have lost engagement with it as I've got a bit older (I'm 53). The most fun activity I just started with my support worker last week is a group to learn/play ukelele. I wonder are you already receiving the support you mention through the NDIS? Wonderful to think that many more people may receive the benefit of the kind of support that you and I are currently receiving. I am planning to attend an information session about the NDIS in March.
Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
SANE values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.
Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
SANE values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.
You’ll soon be able to use one secure login to access all SANE services.
For added security, members are now required to log in with their email address and password - member names are no longer supported for logging in.
If you had a Forums account before 19 May 2026 and haven’t set up your new login yet, you'll be prompted to set up your new secure login when you sign-in.
Fields marked * are required
