The Open Arms Outreach Program is designed to increase service accessibility for Open Arms clients. 
Our mission is to excel in delivering leading mental health and wellbeing services.
Our vision is to provide veterans and their families with the highest level of support.

This program includes a network of psychologists and mental health social workers working in private practice to support the delivery of services on behalf of Open Arms across Australia. 

Why become an Open Arms Outreach Provider?

Open Arms is an innovative, client-focused organisation providing multidisciplinary care, including care coordination, peer support, group treatment and mental health training to current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel, their partners, and children. 

Outreach Providers delivering services on behalf of Open Arms have access to:  

• Open Arms specific professional development opportunities, including webinars, provider resources and training that can attract CPD points.
• 24/7 support through Client Assist means that you won't need to be 'on call' for your Open Arms clients after hours or when you take leave.
• Efficient, timely and reliable invoicing process. 

Open Arms Outreach Provider Services

Outreach Providers are engaged to deliver one or more of the following services:

• Outreach Program Counsellors (OPC)– individual, couples and/or families
• Group Program Facilitators (GPF)
• Clinical Supervisors

How do I become an Open Arms Outreach Provider?

Engagement of this network is through a Request for Tender (RFT) via AusTender, which will establish a panel of Outreach Providers. The current RFT is open 27 November 2023 to [2pm ACT local time] 5 February 2024.

Suitably qualified organisations interested in becoming an Open Arms Outreach Provider can access the RFT via AusTender.

For queries related to this RFT process, please email the Contact Officer specified in the RFT. Interested organisations should also continue to monitor AusTender for updates in relation to the RFT process. 

It is intended that the panel will be refreshed at regular intervals in the future to provide opportunities for new Outreach Providers to apply to provide services for clients via Open Arms.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible, you must: 

• hold full, unconditional registration as a psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (i.e., no conditions on registration) or
• hold accreditation as a mental health social worker with the Australian Association of Social Workers; and 
• have a Medicare Australia Provider Number (MPN) registered to the address where you will be providing services, and 
• have an Australian Business Number (ABN); and 
• be registered to collect GST (mandatory for OPCs); and
• hold a valid Working with Children (WWC) or Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) check (AHPRA-registered providers in QLD are exempt).

Expectations

Interested providers must also: 

• confirm they have read the Outreach Program Provider Notes; and
• use the Open Arms client management system (CMS) as directed; and
• provide clinical notes and reports in accordance with Open Arms policy; and
• agree to accept the published Schedule of Fees as full payment for services (Open Arms clients are not to be charged gap or top-up fees); and
• complete mandatory training, including CMS technical training and Open Arms orientation, as requested; and
• agree to maintain a specialist knowledge and understanding of veteran and military culture that enables delivery of a specialised service to eligible Open Arms clients.Our mission is to excel in delivering leading mental health and wellbeing services.

Schedule of fees

Payment is based on the current Open Arms Schedule of Fees for the relevant service.

As of 1 November 2023:

• Supervisor Fee Schedule Clinical Psychologist 1 November 2023 (203 KB)
• Supervisor Fee Schedule Psychologist and MH Social Worker 1 November 2023 (264 KB)
• OPC Fee Schedule Clinical Psychologist 1 November 2023 (203 KB)
• OPC Fee Schedule Psychologist and MH Social Worker 1 November 2023 (275 KB)

This Fee Schedule is indexed in accordance with the indexation rate applied to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) of fees.

Before applying to become a provider, it is essential that you read the: 

• Outreach_Program_Counsellor_Provider_Notes_2019.pdf (934.59 KB)

The Notes contain detailed information on the provision of Open Arms Outreach Program services and outline the terms of agreement. Prospective providers must agree to the conditions set out in the Provider Notes as part of the application process.

Onboarding 

The onboarding process – which includes providing access to Open Arms systems – can take up to fifteen (15) business days.  

Once this is complete, the relevant Open Arms region coordinator will be advised of your availability and referral preferences, and they will be in touch to arrange a suitable time to conduct orientation and system training relevant to your nominated service/s.

Referrals

Open Arms takes care to ensure providers are matched to clients depending on the needs of the client, location, and expertise of the provider. 

Appointment to the Panel that will be established through the RFT that is accessible on AusTender does not guarantee that you will receive referrals from Open Arms.

Clients interested in being seen under Open Arms arrangements must contact Client Assist on 1800 011 046 to have an intake assessment completed and discuss referral options. Clients may request a particular provider however we cannot guarantee allocation.
 

See also