VTMH is working on a new co-designed project that seeks to identify the range of factors that lead to the “invisiblising” of experiences of cultural and racial marginalisation within the Victorian lived and living experience workforce.
Both lived and living experience, and diverse communities, have been highlighted as priorities in the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health Systems (2021). However, the Our workforce, our future capability framework acknowledges challenges for services in both engaging and supporting diverse lived experience workforce members:
“Some workforce groups face additional challenges. These include those working in rural and isolated services, lived experience workforces and workforces with diverse identities such as Aboriginal practitioners, LGBTIQ+ practitioners and culturally diverse practitioners. We know we will need tailored approaches to create safe and supportive working environments for these workforce cohorts.” (Department of Health, 2023, p.16)
We have identified that there is no clear articulation of what these additional challenges may include, how these additional challenges might be identified, or guidance for services or the broader mental health system on how to address them.
The first stage of the project has brought together an Advisory Group, comprised of individuals with diverse intersectional professional and personal experiences and involvement with mental health care systems in Victoria.
In later months, we will be consulting widely across the sector to identify recommendations which will inform resources that address system-level barriers and enablers in this space.