IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR GENERAL PRACTITIONERS REFERRING TO THE GP DOWN SOUTH ATAPS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN GREAT SOUTHERN WA REGION

7th January 2016

Dear General Practitioners,

As you may be aware, there was limited funding for ATAPS for the 15/16 financial year. As a result, GP down south has been monitoring the situation closely in collaboration with WAPrimary Health Alliance (WAPHA)

Unfortunately, due to the success and the high demand of the program, if we continue the program in its current format, we would have to cease referrals totally before the end of January.

Strategies are now necessary to ensure the funding is targeting those who may benefit most from short term intervention for which the program is designed.

WAPHA has been able to provide GP down south with a further small bucket of funding. With close monitoring and some changes to the criteria for referral, this extra funding will enable us to extend the availability for new referrals up to the end of March 2016.

GP down south and WAPHA has reviewed the program and set new and very strict criteria for referral in to ATAPS.No exceptions will be made.

The following criteria are effective as of 8th January 2016:

  • People that have already accessed ATAPS services in 2015 will not be able to obtain a new referral for 2016.
  • People will only receive up to a maximum of up to 6 sessions
  • General Practitioners or people referred to the program will not be able to nominate a preferred Allied Health Professional
  • People will need to hold a current Health Care Card to be legible for the ATAPS program. This includes :
  • ATSI clients,
  • homeless or at risk of homelessness,
  • those who are affected by perinatal depression and
  • children under 12 who either have or are at risk of developing a mental illness whose parents are health care card holders.

Clients that are not able to be seen within this allocation will have the option of accessing Better Access but the sessions in total must NOT exceed 10 for the calendar year.

Please note that Albany Headspace will receive direct referrals for 12 to 25 year olds. There is no cost incurred to the client at Headspace Albany.

Further information and referral forms are available on the GP down south website at

Please contact the GP down south Mental Health Team on 97543662 if you have any queries.