ConnectED

ConnectED is a HARP ( Hospitals Admission Risk Program) project that aims to reduce the preventable use of hospital emergency services by improving the health and wellbeing of people with mental health and/or complex psychosocial needs. It seeks to do this by providing integrated multi-disciplinary care across acute, community and mental health services.

While many services work with the project, in addition to the City of Port Phillip which employs the full time Project Manager, nine agencies have received funding for either full or part time positions: RDNS Homeless Person Program 1.0 EFT, Inner South Community Health Service 1.0, Port Phillip Community Group 0.8, Prahran Mission 0.8, Alfred Emergency Department 0.6, Alfred Homeless Outreach Psychiatric Service 0.6, Sacred Heart Mission 0.6, The Windana Society 0.6 and Bentleigh Bayside Community Health 0.6.

Nirvana Saad is the Key Worker for the ConnectED Project at Bentleigh Bayside Community Health Service and you can contact her through the Service by phoning 9575 5333.

The target group is people who are

• aged 15 to 69 years
• have homelessness, social, alcohol and drug and/or mental health problems
• are located in Port Phillip, Glen Eira, Stonnington or Bayside, and likely to
• have had a number of unplanned readmissions/presentations over the past 12 months, and
• are at risk of unnecessary presentations to the Alfred Emergency Department.

Clients are also able to access short term hostel care at Sacred Heart Mission St Kilda as well as flexible response funds to meet immediate needs.

If you have any feedback or would like further information about this project, brochures etc, please contact Jackie Beckmann, ConnectED Project Manager, 9209 6485 / 0419 900 888 or email jbeckman@portphillip.vic.gov.au