A service that is considered by the state, territory or Australian Government funding authorities as a service that:

• has the workforce capacity to provide specialised mental health services; and
• employs suitably trained mental health staff to provide rehabilitation, treatment or extended care on-site:
  • to consumers residing on an overnight basis;
  • in a domestic-like environment; and
• encourages the consumer to take responsibility for their daily living activities.

These services include those that employ mental health trained staff on-site 24 hours per day and other services with less intensive staffing (but the trained staff must be on site for a minimum of 6 hours a day and at least 50 hours per week).

Suitably trained residential mental health care staff may include:

• individuals with Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications in community services, mental health or disability sectors;
• individuals with tertiary qualifications in medicine, social work, psychology, occupational therapy, counselling, nursing or social sciences; and
• individuals with experience in mental health or disability relevant to providing mental health consumers with appropriate services.