Eastern Mental Health Service Coordination Alliance

Originally funded by the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS), EMHSCA has been funded in partnership by various members since 2012. For the period 2018 to 2021, EMHSCA is co-funded by DHHS, the Eastern Melbourne PHN and Eastern Health. Member organisations provide their time and resources in-kind to the functioning of EMHSCA.

The Eastern Mental Health Service Coordination Alliance (EMHSCA) was formed more than a decade ago with the aim of supporting the delivery of more accessible, appropriate and coordinated services to improve the experience of mental health consumers, carers and practitioners. This Mental Health focused Alliance has expanded to include a wide range of regional health and community service partners, to support a broader focus on mental health service coordination and integration across the service system.

The Alliance commenced strategic planning in 2013 following the “Collective Impact” workshop conducted by Dawn O’Neil. Since this time members have been surveyed to identify the common and shared agenda items that become the focus of EMHSCA’s strategic direction. The EMHSCA partnership is supported by a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) signed in 3 year cycles. The current MOU is due for renewal by the end of June 2022

Twenty-six (26) organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding and have agreed to collaborate in order to provide a more seamless and integrated response to people with co occurring mental health and other issues. They provide governance and expert strategic direction for Mental Health service coordination across Inner- and Outer- Eastern Melbourne, ensuring consumers and their carers are central to the process.

The Eastern Mental Health Service Coordination Alliance (EMHSCA) includes representatives from the following service providers: