"Not for" sector in community mental health care defines itself and strives for quality

Abstract

This paper briefly describes the history and service context of the Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation and Support sector (PDRSS) in Victoria, and, to a lesser extent, in New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia. In describing the sector we will call upon the experience of a particular PDRSS - Neami - in operating and developing services, and the challenges it faced in establishing a culture of quality that directly improves consumer outcomes. Elements of this experience may serve as a guide in the development of mental health service policy at state and federal level.