The NDIS & Psychosocial Disability: Rebuilding community based support for people with serious mental illness

Speaker: Prof Jen Smith-Merry, Professor Health and Social Policy, University of Sydney.

Discussant: Dorothy Belperio, Managing Director, Health Connexion.

The establishment of the NDIS included people with serious mental illness however the research indicates that many people have not transitioned to effective support under the scheme and there is a need to develop a new approach through foundational supports.

Prof Jen Smith-Merry (University of Sydney) has been leading the work on foundational supports and psychosocial disability and will present an overview of her research (Australian Research Council Industry Laureate Project) and what a future service system could look like.

Dorothy Belperio (Health Connexion) will provide feedback and commentary from her industry experience as a consultant, health executive and former NDIA Director.

This presentation will assist NDIS psychosocial disability providers, mental health and rehabilitation clinicians, academics/researchers and people with lived experience develop an understanding of the challenges and opportunities in delivering an effective service model for people with psychosocial disabilities.