Making referrals easier and increasing client confidentiality

14 Nov 2022

The two mental health services, which operate across Australia, provide free support, counselling and therapy in community settings. 

Director Community Mental Health Services Anna Thompson says the change will provide benefits to referrers and to clients. 

“Referrals to both services from GPs and their practices are still largely received by fax. The new national numbers enable us to fully digitise our referral process, offering clients greater confidentiality protection and make the process of referring patients to one of our services free, easy and efficient for our GP community,” said Anna. 

“We’re always looking for ways to ensure client and service excellence, as well as sustainability, and this change works towards these goals.”

Access to St John of God Mental Wellbeing Services and St John of God Raphael Services is free with a GP referral and mental health care plan. 

Over the past year the two community mental health services have supported 4,278 clients and delivered more than 38,000 counselling sessions to individuals and families in communities across News South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. 

St John of God Raphael Services and St John of God Mental Wellbeing Services are community mental health services operated by St John of God Social Outreach. St John of God Social Outreach operates free and low-cost health, wellbeing, care and support services that empower individuals, families and communities across Australia and beyond.