The program aims to improve the wellbeing and health outcomes of families and carers and the people they support.

This ensures that:

• Families and carers are included, where possible and appropriate, in the mental health care and recovery goals of the people they support.
• Families and carers have options for support and receive the support they need at the time they need it.
• Families and carers and have access to appropriate information in a medium that they can understand.
• Information and support are provided in an evidence-based, trauma-informed, culturally relevant, and responsive, and cost-effective manner.
• Families and carers are included as partners in the planning, development, and evaluation of services.

The program also supports clinicians and health professionals to:

• Consider the family and carer network or system throughout the consumer journey.
• Support consumers to involve their families and carers in the most appropriate way for both the consumer and the family and carer.
• Provide general information to families and carers, such as how the mental health system works, and fact sheets about different mental illnesses and treatments.
• Recognise family and carer needs, and provide information and/or referrals to help them access support, information, education, and advocacy.
• Recognise that the needs of families and carers change over time, and to respond to these changes.
• Recognise their own personal and organisational values and ensure that they operate to the benefit and not to the detriment of families, carers, and consumers.