Commonwealth Psychosocial Support Program

Your CPSP Journey

Downloads & Resources

Commonwealth Psychosocial Support Program

Supporting people living with mental health challenges to lead meaningful and independent lives.

Available in the Darling Downs region in southern Queensland

Rural & Remote Mental Health’s CPSP team understands the unique challenges faced by people who live and work in regional and rural areas. We recognise that everyone’s mental health recovery journey is unique.

We pride ourselves on assisting people living with severe mental health challenges to improve their understanding and confidence to care for their mental health. Our skilled Peer Workers work alongside clients to help them to set and achieve goals within their recovery plan.

Our service provides outreach meaning we meet you where you are at.
We provide personalised community-based support to:
  • Identify clients strengths
  • Build healthy coping strategies
  • Connect clients to service providers who can help them improve their mental and physical health
  • Build on and increase social skills, family and community connections and support networks
  • Access support for financial management and budgeting
  • Connecting clients to housing and employment supports
  • Increasing clients confidence to live well independently
  • Manage daily living by building confidence in life skills
  • Eligibility testing for the NDIS and My Aged Care
Download the PDF for complete information.

FAQs

The CPSP provides free community based, short-term (between 3-6 months), low intensity individual or group support to people experiencing severe mental health challenges which are impacting their capacity to engage in day-to-day activities.

We assist clients with connections to help them achieve their recovery goals. We listen and, through respectful conversations, support them to lead a meaningful and independent life in their community.

  • Aged 16 years or above
  • Not currently eligible for or receiving support from the NDIS
  • Experiencing severe mental health challenges which is affecting their day-to-day living
  • They do not require a clinical diagnosis or a mental health plan
  • Not currently receiving similar psychosocial support through another State or Territory Government funded program
  • Living in South Burnett, Goondiwindi or Western Downs regional council area

RRMH prides itself with assisting people to have the understanding and confidence to care for their mental health.

We recognise that everyone’s mental health recovery journey is unique, so each recovery outcome is based entirely on what you want to achieve, and at the pace that works for you.

Our skilled, Peer Workers will work alongside a client to help them to set and achieve goals within their support plan.

We encourage people to seek help when they need it, therefore, we offer a number of ways a client can access the CPSP:

  • SELF REFERRAL Download the referral form from here or visit rrmh.com.au/referralform. Complete and return the form by email to referrals@rrmh.com.au. A referral form can be completed on behalf of a loved one.
  • PHONE the Peer Worker in their region:
    • South Burnett – 0439 345 327
    • Goondiwindi – 0455 468 836
    • Western Downs – 0437 110 216
  • VISIT our Peer Workers in person. Find out where and when our workers are co-located in the section below.
  • ASK a GP, mental health nurse or any other health professional to complete the referral form. RRMH also receives referrals directly from Medicare Mental Health Centres.
  • EMAIL us with general enquiries about the program at referrals@rrmh.com.au

Once a referral is received, the client will be contacted by their local Peer Worker.

Visit us

Visit our peer support workers in person at the following locations:
South Burnett

Rural and Remote Mental Health
152 Haly Street, Kingaroy
Monday – Friday
Google Maps

Western Downs

Chinchilla Family Support Centre
67-71 Middle Street, Chinchilla
Monday – Friday
Google Maps

Murilla Community Centre
73A Murilla Street, Miles
Wednesdays, weekly
Google Maps

Tara CWA Building
Lot 1, Day Street, Tara
Thursdays, weekly
Google Maps

Goondiwindi

Goondiwindi Medical Centre
49 Bowen Street, Goondiwindi
Monday – Friday
Google Maps

Inglewood Medical Centre
57 Albert Street, Inglewood
Mondays, fortnightly
Google Maps

Texas Family Medical Centre
31 St John Street, Texas
Fridays, fortnightly
Google Maps

CPSP Contact Info

Peer Workers
  • South Burnett – 0439 345 327
  • Goondiwindi – 0455 468 836
  • Western Downs – 0427 807 997
RRMH Referrals

CPSP InfoSheet
A4 PDF – View

Service Providers request complimentary brochures for your clients at referrals@rrmh.com.au

Your Journey with CPSP

As a Client, or a Peer Worker, your journey is well supported. Find out more below.

Meet John

John, aged 50, resides in the Western Downs region and has been experiencing significant mental health challenges following a recent separation from his wife and two teenage children.

The separation has resulted in feelings of loss and grief associated with major life changes, including moving out of the family home, feelings of isolation, and experiencing thoughts of suicide after losing his employment and the means to support himself and his family.

Currently, John is living in a shed on a rural property with limited amenities, which has further impacted his wellbeing and sense of stability. He has sought practical support through the local neighbourhood house, accessing food relief and welfare assistance.

John is overwhelmed and reports symptoms of anxiety and depression. After re-engaging with his GP – whom he had not seen for nearly two years – John was referred to both our service and a Psychologist under a Mental Health Treatment Plan.

Peer Worker’s Role

The Peer Worker’s role is to meet with John to understand his needs, identify priorities for improving his wellbeing, and explore options that align with what he feels ready to work on.

The Peer Worker walks alongside John throughout his recovery journey, supporting him to take the lead in setting goals and building confidence in managing life’s challenges.

Drawing on their own lived experience, skills, and knowledge of local services, the Peer Worker assists John to navigate community supports and make appropriate connections and referrals, with his consent.

Collaboration will occur with John’s chosen services and care providers, and the Peer Worker will advocate on John’s behalf until he feels confident to advocate for himself.

As a non-clinical worker, the Peer Worker has emphasised the importance of working in partnership with John’s broader support network, including his GP, Psychologist, allied health providers, housing services, and the neighbourhood centre. With John’s consent, this collaborative approach aims to ensure holistic and coordinated care.

John has been informed that he may withdraw consent for collaboration at any time, and his decisions will be fully respected.

Active Support

1. Initial Contact

John received a telephone call confirming that his referral had been received.

During the call, the Peer Worker listened and engaged respectfully with John, asking a series of questions to better understand his current situation, including screening questions for suicidal ideation, and confirmed his personal details.

The Peer Worker informed John that he meets the program’s eligibility criteria and has been accepted for support. Together, they discussed John’s preferences regarding the time, day, and location of their first meeting, and an appointment was scheduled to take place within the community.

2. Transition In

The Peer Worker met with John to explain how the psychosocial support program operates.

They emphasised that John is the expert in his own life, with a clear understanding of what strategies work well for him and what challenges remain.

The program aims to complement John’s knowledge with the Peer Worker’s sector and community insights, helping to identify the most appropriate supports and providing guidance throughout the process.

An active episode of care is between 3–6 months and is structured to be purposeful and tailored to John’s individual goals. Additional support via phone or email is available during this period, according to John’s preferences. Together, they will discuss a proposed transition plan and exit date from the program.

The Peer Worker clarified that the focus is not on activities John can already manage independently, but on building his capacity in areas where he faces challenges, to enhance his independence and quality of life within his community.

3. Assessment

John completes brief assessments at both the commencement and near the conclusion of the active episode of care.

These assessments evaluate his current level of psychological distress and the degree of functional impairment affecting his daily life.

The results help the Peer Worker gain a clearer understanding of John’s physical and mental wellbeing at each stage of his engagement with the program.

4. Planning

John identifies the goals he wishes to achieve, and together with his Peer Worker, these goals are broken down into manageable, achievable steps.

Each step outlines what will be supported, who is responsible, the timeline and method for completion, and the rationale behind it.

This forms John’s Support Plan, which provides structure and guidance to help both John and his Peer Worker stay on track throughout the program.

5. Review Support

Throughout the active episode of care, John and his Peer Worker can review and adjust his supports, particularly if his circumstances change.

The Peer Worker remains flexible and responsive to John’s evolving needs.

A formal review of John’s progress is scheduled nearing the conclusion of his active episode of care, providing an opportunity to reflect on achievements, reassess goals, and make any necessary adjustments to his Support Plan.

6. Goals Achieved,
Feedback & Evaluation

Nearing the conclusion of John’s active episode of care, he is well connected to the supports and services identified with his Peer Worker.

John is invited to complete a feedback and evaluation survey to help the program continuously improve service delivery – all feedback is valued and appreciated.

John also has access to an additional two weeks of phone support and can check in with his Peer Worker as needed during this period.

John’s Outcomes

Through engagement with the Peer Worker and psychosocial program, John experienced improved mental health and reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression and distress.

He developed skills and confidence to navigate services, build functional capacity, and achieve personal goals through a structured Recovery Plan.

John has strengthened his social and community connections while being empowered to make choices about his care and advocate for his own needs. Ongoing and flexible support ensured a sustainable transition and continued access to resources as his circumstances evolve.

John understands the value of ongoing engagement with his GP and has established a strengthened, collaborative relationship to support his health and wellbeing.

John reports that consistent engagement with his Psychologist has positively impacted his mental health, enabling him to process difficulties and develop strategies to sustain his psychological wellbeing.

John understands that if he experiences mental health challenges that negatively affect his daily life, he can self-refer back to the program and is encouraged to share information about the program with others in the community who may benefit from support.

John has secured affordable housing through the guidance and advocacy provided by his Peer Worker.

John has secured employment, which has significantly enhanced his sense of self-worth and confidence.

John has accessed financial counselling, as well as food and welfare support, to facilitate his transition into new accommodation.

John has developed meaningful social connections at the Men’s Shed, where he actively participates in community interactions and peer engagement.

Through joint counselling sessions, John and his ex-wife have developed the ability to express and respond to each other’s needs in a respectful and constructive manner.

John is now maintaining regular contact with his teenage children, which has strengthened his relationships with both his children and his ex-wife.

John has established a connection with the MMH phone service and understands how the centre can provide support for him in the future, as well as how it may benefit others he knows who require assistance.

Get In Touch

referrals@rrmh.com.au

This service is funded by the Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN through the Australian Government’s PHN program.

Downloads & Resources

Digital resources are available here. For print-ready documents, contact us.

CPSP InfoSheet
A4 PDF – View

CPSP Referral Form
A4 PDF – View