who qualifies for PRA's services?

PRA has always maintained a particular concern for the needs of people with serious and persistent, or enduring mental illness. The word 'chronic' was often used in the past to describe this population. Discharged in the first wave of de-institutionalisation, many had spent years in public psychiatric hospitals. Later generations of people with mental health problems and disorders have not spent long years in hospitals but have still experienced the early onset of illness. Most have not had the opportunity to work, nor to form social networks in the community. They are highly dependent on the public health system.

Over many years PRA has adhered to a policy of not excluding people
with serious and persistent mental illness from its services,
regardless of their level of impairment. In some
rehabilitation programs there is a tendency to
favour people who are mildly symptomatic
and relatively high-functioning.

It leaves those people who do not fit
narrow selection criteria with few
alternatives for treatment. Unless
restricted by funding guidelines or
resources, PRA will not restrict
access to its services to anyone
with a mental health problem or
disorder.