The aim of the Shared Care with GPs program is to implement clinical programs that focus on the program target population group which are those people with low prevalence, severe, high complexity disorders including (but not limited to) schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, bipolar, severe depression and anxiety and personality disorders. In contrast Commonwealth services manage mostly people with mild to moderate severity.

The Shared Care model will be used to support specific population groups who currently only access existing mental health services in a limited way.

• ATSI populations – in urban, rural and remote locations;
• CALD populations - such as elderly people who attend a GP who speaks their native tongue, and new arrivals and refugees;
• older people in country areas in general;
• prisoners in regional prisons - who receive services from the local GP who visits the prison, who could be potentially supported by their shared care mental health worker; and
• new parents at risk of developing puerperal illness.

General Practice South Australia (GPSA) have been contracted by the SA Department of Health to administer the project. The EPDGP has been allocated 1.5 FTE workers in the first instance, increasing to 2.0 FTE by July 2009.

The Division currently has 1.0 FTE worker located in Whyalla and is in the process of employing a second clinician for Port Lincoln and surrounding areas in April 2009.