A new opportunity to be supported and equipped to deal with the challenges faced by those caring for someone with a mental illness..


“GROW-Better Together” is funded by the Australian Government Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. It is part of the Mental Health Community Based Program.

“GROW - Better Together” is about Carers of people with a mental illness meeting together weekly to share experiences, gain support, increase coping skills, knowledge and understanding through the use of the GROW Program.
This fosters a connecting link between the Carer, their family and those they care for.
An active knowledge and application of the GROW Program in the life of the Carer gives insight into how the Program could benefit those for whom they care.
If the Cared For are willing and able to attend a regular GROW meeting, then Carer and Cared For are dealing with their concerns from the same basis.


 The aims of “GROW-Better Together”
  • Empower and strengthen families through information, education and skills development;
  • Develop more effective parenting, relationships and communication strategies employed with families that are affected by mental illness;
  • Provide enhanced support for adult children of parents with a mental illness;
  • Improve the emotional health and wellbeing of family members and carers;
  • Increase community awareness and understanding of mental health issues and the impact of mental illness on families;
  • Improve family functioning and social support for families, carers, children and young people affected by mental illness;
  • Improve capacity for prevention and early intervention for mental illness;
  • Increase resilience and coping skills for program participants;
  • Increase awareness and understanding of mental health issues in the community;
  • Develop a sound evidence base and practical framework for broader mental health intervention in a community context.

“GROW - Better Together” presents the GROW Program through a structured meeting. This structure is quite different from that used in the traditional GROW groups.

“GROW - Better Together”seeks to recognise and to cater for Carers along different points of the caring spectrum. New Carers will have very different needs to those who have been in their caring role for a long time.
The first weekly group meeting established is at the Melbourne GROW Centre. Further weekly meetings will be established in other parts of the Melbourne metropolitan area.

These will be followed by groups in others areas including Ballarat, Geelong, Shepparton and Gippsland.
This is a new project and is a work in progress. Suggestions for project improvement are welcomed by the Focus Group.
If you would like to be part of the focus group, then please contact the Project Worker
on 03 9528 2977.