MHN Incentive Program

The Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program (MHNIP) provides mental health nurses who are Credentialed under the ACMHN's Credential for Practice Program with an opportunity to embark on a new career path into primary practice.

Under MHNIP, general practitioners, divisions of general practice, psychiatrists and Aboriginal health services can engage mental health nurses to provide coordinated clinical care for people with severe mental disorders. 

In 2010, the Australian Government announced an additional $13.0 million would be allocated to the MNHIP nationally, to engage 136 extra mental health nurses under the program. This brings the total funding for the MHNIP to $79.777million over six years (2006/07 – 2011/12).  At the end of April 2010, a total of 42,696 patients had been treated since the program’s inception.  

Download Mental Health Nurse Incentive Brochure

This program provides non-MBS incentive payments to eligible community based general practices, private psychiatry services and other appropriate organisations (such as Divisions of General Practice or Aboriginal Medical Services) who engage mental health nurses to coordinate treatment and care for people with serious mental illness and complex needs.

There are a range of ways mental health nurses choose to work under the program (ranging from employee status, to working in private practice under self-funded arrangements) and a number of practice and funding models exist. Please contact the ACMHN for further information.