Building the evidence base of PARC services in Victoria

Project details

Victoria’s Prevention and Recovery Care (PARC) services are residential services that aim to minimise time in hospital for people with severe mental disorder. This NHMRC Partnership Project aims to explore the appropriateness, effectiveness and efficiency of Victoria’s adult PARC services.  Findings from the project will provide important information for service improvement and to help shape future directions for PARC-type services in Australia.

The investigation is being conducted by a team of independent researchers from the University of Melbourne, Monash University, La Trobe University and Deakin University alongside partners from all the current Mental Health Community Support Services (MHCSS): breakthru, ermha, Life Without Barriers, cohealth, Wellways, Mind Australia and Neami National.

The project is a series of seven inter-related mixed methods studies which will use several different data sources.  A detailed typology and comprehensive mapping of adult PARC services has been carried out.  Mental health service data collected by the Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services is being used to fully understand PARC service delivery in the context of mental health service provision in Victoria.  The final study places a strong emphasis on consumer perspectives by following a large number of consumers over a one-year period starting from their admission to a PARC service.  A series of individual interviews, surveys and focus groups will also be conducted with a smaller group of consumers and carers.

Recruitment of consumers from each PARC service for individual interviews was completed in October 2017.  Between February and May 2018, a second group of consumers were recruited to participate in an individual interview, survey or focus group.  Findings are currently being written up for publication.
 

Research outcomes

Findings from the project will provide important information for service improvement and to help shape future directions for PARC-type services in Australia.

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Lead

Prof Jane Pirkis

Researchers

This investigation is being conducted by a team of independent researchers from the University of Melbourne, Monash University, La Trobe University and Deakin University alongside partners from all the current Mental Health Community Support Services (MHCSS):

• breakthru
• ermha
• Life Without Barriers
• cohealth
• Wellways (formerly MIF)
• Mind Australia
• Neami National

Funding

• NHMRC partnership project grant. $747,148, 2016-2020

Location

Level 4, Room 436, 207-221 Bouverie St, Parkville