PATHS – Psychosocial Approaches to Thriving Health Systems
Project Overview
QAMH was engaged by Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA) to deliver the Psychosocial Approaches to Thriving Health Systems (PATHS) Project from September 2024 to May 2025.
Building on insights from the Assisting Communities through Direct Connection (ACDC) Project which highlighted the diverse needs and inequities in accessing mental health support, particularly among groups facing systemic barriers, PATHS was designed to respond to the growing gap in psychosocial supports for people who are not eligible for the NDIS.
The project aimed to design a scalable, community-led service model to improve access to psychosocial support. Over eight months, QAMH worked closely with the Townsville community through a deep, place-based co-design process. More than 90 community members contributed through workshops, surveys, and a Town Hall event, bringing lived and living experience and local insight to the centre of the model’s development.
Targeted consultations were held with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, carers, older adults, industrial workers, and NDIS service providers who spoke on behalf of people living with disability. They described a fragmented system that is often only accessible in times of crisis and called for earlier, more informal support options delivered by people with cultural or lived experience.
What can you expect from the program?
The feedback gathered through consultations directly shaped the development of a practical, adaptable service model which offers:
- Soft entry points in community-led settings like Men’s Sheds, neighbourhood centres, and culturally significant spaces
- Flexible psychosocial support, from early engagement to more intensive care that responds to individual needs
- Integrated pathways connecting clinical, peer, and community supports
The model reflects what communities told us they need – culturally safe, flexible, and relationship-based support, embedded in trusted local spaces. It is designed to be transferable across regions, providing a clear roadmap for delivering community-based mental health and wellbeing supports for people who fall outside the NDIS.
Updated Community Resource
As part of the project, we also updated a local mental health and wellbeing resource originally developed through the ACDC Project. This flyer includes essential contact details for crisis support, counselling, and community services in Townsville.
We encourage you to download and share this resource with your networks to help raise awareness of the services available in the Townsville community.
Impact
The PATHS Project demonstrated that co-designed, community-led solutions can improve both service design and system responsiveness. Community engagement was central to the model’s development, reinforcing the importance of lived experience, cultural safety, and place-based care. By elevating community voices and producing a practical, adaptable model, PATHS has strengthened the case for a national approach to foundational psychosocial supports outside the NDIS.
The project also confirmed that this type of support is both socially impactful and economically viable. Cost modelling showed that the model could be delivered for $1,500 to $5,700 per person annually, significantly lower than the cost of acute or hospital-based care.
QAMH has published a comprehensive Project Summary and Infographic outlining the model’s design, key findings, and implementation considerations. These resources contribute to the growing evidence base for reform and provide a clear call to action for investment in low-barrier, community-based psychosocial supports. They will continue to inform local service planning, workforce development, and broader reform efforts across the sector.