Neami  prides itself on its history of working with partners.  Neami  recognises that the complex needs of people with psychiatric disabilities cannot and should not be addressed by a single agency alone.  Additionally, the service development and innovation evidenced by Neami  is directly related to its preparedness to share knowledge, skills and experience with other organisations in ways that create benefits for all.

Neami  engages in formal and informal partnership arrangements with the Victorian Department of Human Services, New South Wales Health, South  Australian Department of Health,  Area Mental Health and Health Services, local government, community housing providers and a range of community organisations.  Neami  actively pursues a role in local community activities as a means to forge access and connection opportunities for its consumers.  Examples of partnerships follow:

Consumers and Carers

Neami's strength has traditionally laid in its relationships with consumers.  Neami adopts a partnership stance with consumers at all levels of the organisation.  Consumers are central to decision-making in respect of having their needs met; they are central to monitoring and evaluating the services; through the Neami-wide Consumer Participation Group and the Board of Directors they influence both governance, management  and service development decisions.

Specifically, Neami  will work alongside consumers of its services and their nominated carers in their direct participation in needs assessment and service provision at the individual level; seek to establish a consumer forum to guide and assist service development; and, as appropriate, link service development activities to other consumer and carer based activities in the local area.