Arafmi QLD – who we are
Arafmi has provided free support for mental health carers in Queensland for over 45 years. Our services include a 24-hour Carer Support Line, individual and group support, workshops and respite accommodation.
As the peak body for unpaid mental health carers in Queensland, Arafmi advocates for systemic reforms to government and service providers. Arafmi also operates a community mental health and wellbeing service for people experiencing mental ill-health.
Arafmi quick links:
Carer Support Services
Arafmi offers a range of free support services for mental health carers in Queensland. These are specifically designed for anyone caring for a family member, friend or community member experiencing mental ill-health and include:
24-hr Carer Support Line
24-hr Regional Queensland
Arafmi understands the unique challenges faced by mental health carers. We are here for carers at any time of the day or night.
You can call Arafmi’s 24-hour Carer Support Line to receive support, discover new resources and learn helpful coping skills. It’s comforting to know that when you need to talk, someone who understands is there. Regardless of where you are in Queensland, support is available.
Please note this is a support line, not a crisis line.
The Arafmi Carer Support Team offers one-on-one sessions for mental health carers, providing personalised support and connecting them with relevant community supports. These solution-focused, short-term sessions can take place in-person, online or over the phone.
Contact us for more details or to book a session.
Support groups provide a safe place for carers to come together, share caring experiences, socialise, share helpful coping skills and find out about relevant services and resources.
Face-to-face and online support groups in Queensland are listed on the Arafmi website.
To see upcoming support groups click here.
Arafmi’s free workshops and information sessions assist mental health carers to expand their practical skills and knowledge. The sessions are informed by the latest research, the Lived Experience of facilitators, and insights shared by fellow carers.
For more information, click here
Arafmi supports mental health carers across regional Queensland. The Regional Engagement Coordinator partners with local community groups and government services to strengthen supports for carers in these areas.
Arafmi offers carer retreats, support groups, workshops, and one-on-one support to help regional carers stay connected and supported.
Culture Care is a free program providing individual and group support for mental health carers from multicultural backgrounds across Queensland. This is offered in partnership with World Wellness Group.
Arafmi offers mental health carers a chance to relax and recharge with free respite accommodation, available for 1 to 3 nights.
Nestled in the heart of Brisbane, this accommodation is designed with carers in mind. As an Australian-first, it provides a personalised experience, offering a supported environment for carers to focus on their wellbeing and reconnect with family members or friends.
Arafmi offers free workshops and events for mental health carers. See what’s on offer here.
Referrals
Carers can self-refer to any of the programs or be referred by a health professional, family member or friend when consent has been given.
Who is a mental health carer?
A mental health carer is someone who provides unpaid care to a family or community member living with mental ill-health.
NDIS Support Services
We’re passionate about understanding your needs and goals, your likes and dislikes, in order to customise support services that suit you to make sure you feel supported applying for the NDIS and get the most out of your NDIS plan once it is approved. Arafmi offers a range of NDIS services throughout South-East Queensland.
- Assistance with daily living
- Transport and travel support
- Consumables
- Assistance with social and community participation
Arafmi can provide support for:
- Support Coordination
- Specialist Support Coordination
- Improved Living Arrangements
- Increased Social and Community Participation
- Improved Relationships
- Improved Daily Living Skills
Having a choice of service providers is important in making sure that you get the support you need – as well as how and when you need it. But we know that the reality of managing multiple service providers and coordinating these supports effectively to fit with your lifestyle can be quite challenging, that’s where we can help.
Support Coordination is designed to reduce the complexities that come with negotiating formal (service providers etc.), informal (your family and friends) and government supports (NDIA). Support Coordination aims to assist to provide assistance to increase your ability to coordinate and choose the supports that you need to achieve your individual goals and to participate fully in life and in the community.
What can my Support Coordinator help me with?
- Your Support Coordinator can assist you with achieving your personal goals by:
- Assisting you to identify which services will meet your individual needs and goals as detailed in your NDIS plan
- Overseeing and coordinating service providers
- Assisting you with the skills to liaise with government, NDIA, and other agencies to get your needs met
- Liaising with government, NDIA, and other agencies on your behalf
- Facilitating information sharing between service providers
- Assisting you to negotiate the scheduling of your supports, including all service agreements
- Obtaining quotes for services
- Connecting you to your local community
- Working with you to develop skills, capacity, and resilience to overcome challenges
- Respond to challenges in a timely manner
Specialist Support Coordination is support that is delivered utilising an expert or specialist approach, necessitated by specific high complex needs or high -level risks in a participant’s situation.
Arafmi is a registered NDIS provider offer a range of accommodation options and support for people with a psychosocial disability, situated across South East Queensland.
We freshly prepare evening meals and lunches for guests staying at our houses. Guests absolutely love our dinner menus, which boast a wide variety of dishes that change from week to week and season to season.
Occasionally we offer a range of social, recreational and leisure activities which help to encourage inclusion in the community, and provide participants with an opportunity to engage in activities that may help them work towards their goals. Speak to our team to see what’s available or to discuss adding any extra activities or outings.
Click here to see more information on our respite accommodation.
NDIS Service Provider and the TTP A TTP is a Transition Payment which is an additional cost NDIS providers can charge as providers transition to working under the NDIS. Arafmi claims the additional TTP loading on top of the base rate price limit for attendant care and community and centre-based activities as per the NDIS Support Catalogue.
How does TTP affect the participant? If a participant had an NDIS plan in place before 1 July 2019, an extra amount was added to the participant’s plan to take into account price changes implemented on 1 July, including TTP.
To learn more about our NDIS services and the suitability for you or the person you care for, call 07 3254 1881 or email ndis@arafmi.com.au to discuss our services or book a free appointment.
Upcoming Events:
Get Involved
It’s an exciting time to get involved with Arafmi. As the peak body for Queensland’s mental health carers, there are now more opportunities than ever for carers to shape the future of mental health care.
There are many ways you can become involved:
- join a consultation
- participate in focus groups
- become a member
- share our posts on social media
- volunteer at events, on the 24-hour Carer Support Line or by facilitating support groups
- work with us.
Your involvement makes a real difference in the lives of carers and those experiencing mental ill-health.