Mental Health Multidisciplinary Service (MHMS) Program in “Place” – General Practices

There is currently an identified gap in the availability, appropriateness, and accessibility of long term, whole-of-person, integrated multidisciplinary care for individuals experiencing complex mental health conditions within underserviced and hard-to-reach communities in the outer south of Adelaide. In response to this need, and to strengthen the capacity of the primary health sector to deliver accessible and integrated place-based mental health support, the Commonwealth Government has provided Adelaide PHN with grant funding to implement the Mental Health Multidisciplinary Service (MHMS) Program. 

The Mental Health Multidisciplinary Service (MHMS) Program aims to enhance a minimum of four General Practices located in identified priority areas. These practices will be supported to deliver holistic, long term, best practice multidisciplinary care for people of all ages experiencing suicide distress and/or complex mental health conditions. Under the Program design, “Place” encompasses residents across the Onkaparinga LGA.

The MHMS Program will build the capacity of participating general practices by integrating a Mental Health Multidisciplinary Service (encompassing co-location, office systems, electronic systems, clinical processes, and case management etc) to deliver coordinated, seamless, whole-of-person care for individuals experiencing suicide distress and/or complex mental health issues, including those in at risk cohorts.

Adelaide PHN is seeking to commission a minimum of four general practices to participate in the delivery of the MHMS Program. The participating general practices will be located within the Onkaparinga LGA and they will:

• be required to work together with the Multidisciplinary team for MHMS Program to implement an integrated Mental Health Multidisciplinary Service through the delivery of coordinated long-term care for people of all ages with complex mental health conditions and distress;

• provide a space for a Mental Health Worker to be located within the clinic to enable their availability to receive referrals from GPs immediately or as soon as reasonably practical;

• receive support from Adelaide PHN for the duration of the Program; and

• receive an incentive payment in recognition of their participation in the Program.

The Multidisciplinary team will consist of a Mental Health Worker, Peer Worker and Community Support Workers who will be commissioned separately by Adelaide PHN.

The successful applicants will be expected to engage in the MHMS Program for up to two years from the date of contract execution, with the funding period spanning the 2026–2028 financial years.

Adelaide PHN will host a virtual information session for the MHMS Program on 14 April 2026 at 12:00 noon(ACST). 

Interested applicants are required to register for the session via this link. 

The session will outline key program details and how general practices can apply for the Program.