Mental Health Support for Drought Affected Communities Initiative

The Mental Health Support for Drought Affected Communities Initiative (the Initiative) is providing $10.9 million over two years (2007-2009) to build the capacity of rural and remote drought affected communities to respond to the psychological impact of drought.

The key objectives of the Initiative are to: 

  • Provide community outreach and crisis counselling for distressed individuals and communities in drought affected rural and remote areas
  • Raise community awareness; and
  • Provide education and training to enable health workers and community leaders to recognise and respond to the early warnings of emotional stress.

The Initiative will be led by appropriate and experienced local health workers, referred to as Community Support Worker’s (CSWs).

The Mental Health Support for Drought-Affected Communities initiative will help families, health professionals and community leaders across a range of drought-affected communities.
The existing Mental Health Services in Rural and Remote Areas initiative will also be expanded. It will fund additional mental health services provided by allied health professionals including social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, mental health nurses, and Aboriginal health workers.

General Practice Networks – a role in Drought assistance
The majority of the $10.9 funding has been allocated to 45 eligible rural and remote Divisions of General Practice across Australia. Of the 45 eligible Divisions, 43 are participating in the initiative.

Divisions will be supported by a National Coordinator based at AGPN. The key role of the Coordinator is to support implementation of the initiative and promote its linkages and integration with other relevant primary mental heath initiatives, as well as provide some education and training activities. These key activities are 

Further support lead by the National Coordinator will also be provided via teleconference and state based review workshops.


Key Partners in the Initiative


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