Evaluation of Victoria's Mental Health Residential Services - PARCS

Professor Carol Harvey Head of the Department of Psychiatry’s Psychosocial Research group and others from the Department of Psychiatry, are part of a partnership project that has received funds from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC) totalling $747,148 to evaluate the appropriateness, effectiveness and efficiency of Victoria’s Prevention and Recovery Care Services (PARCS).

PARCS are residential services that integrate clinical mental health care with intensive recovery-focused psychosocial input and support people with severe mental disorders to either avoid hospital admission or leave hospital early after an admission.

This project represents a partnership between Melbourne, Monash, Deakin and LaTrobe Universities, PARCS providers, clinical services and the Victorian Government and will actively engage services users, their carers’ and other experts.  The project at the University of Melbourne is being led by Professor Jane Pirkis and Dr Lisa Brophy, School of Population and Global Health.