Mental Health Stepped Care

Our commissioned Mental Health Stepped Care services deliver tailored support to people of all ages, experiencing a range of mental health issues, from mild to severe.

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What is Stepped Care?

The Mental Health Stepped Care program delivers mental health support to people that is tailored to their needs. People may be “stepped up and down” through different levels of care within the service, guided by their needs.

The Mental health Stepped Care Model also aims to engage with under-represented communities, including children, young people, LGBTIQA+ people, culturally and linguistically diverse people, and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

What does Stepped Care offer?

• The Mental Health Stepped Care program provides short-medium term supports, assisting the person to develop a care plan, in order to ensure they are receiving the right services and supports according to their individual need.
• Services provided may include a combination of one-on-one support, group support and care co-ordination, delivered by multi-disciplinary teams including peer support workers, psychologists, mental health nurses, counsellors, social workers, welfare workers and occupational therapists.
• The program emphasises collaborative care working with the GPs, care teams and significant others when appropriate.
• The service also addresses other needs including physical health, education and employment, alcohol and other drug harm reduction, family and social functioning.

Who can access Stepped Care?

The Mental Health Stepped Care program supports people of all ages. To be eligible for this program, the person must:

• Require support to manage mental health concerns.
• Live, work or study in, or have strong links to the eastern and north-eastern Melbourne area (EMPHN’s catchment).
• Be unable to afford or access similar services.

People can self-refer or be referred by a healthcare professional such as their doctor.

Stepped Care North-East Melbourne (LIFT)

• Delivered by Banyule Community Health.
• For people who live, work or study in Whittlesea, Nillumbik, Banyule and parts of Mitchell and Murrindindi.

Stepped Care Inner-East Melbourne (STEPS)

• Delivered by Access Health and Community, and healthAbility.
• For people who live, work or study in Manningham, Boroondara, Whitehorse, and Monash.

Stepped Care Outer-East Melbourne (STEPS)

• Delivered by Access Health and Community, Health Ability and Inspiro Community Health.
• For people who live, work or study in Maroondah, Knox, and Yarra Ranges.

Learn more about our Mental Health Stepped Care Model

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Read our mental health stepped care FAQs for GPs

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Read about the STEPS (Inner-East & Outer-East Stepped Care) Program

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Visit the Inner-East & Outer-East Stepped Care (STEPS) website

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