Goulburn Valley workshop, May 2024
We are pleased to provide a mid-year update on the Victorian Transcultural Mental Health (VTMH) Rural and Regional Initiative Project. Our efforts have been met with significant success, delivering three highly engaging and impactful Foundations of Culturally Responsive Practice (FOCR) workshops for Goulburn Valley, Bendigo and Ballarat mental health services in May, June and July respectively.
This workshop introduces participants to principles that inform culturally safe practice, while encouraging the exploration of practical skills to enhance diversity and responsive mental health practice. The feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the relevance and practicality of the content provided.
Additionally, our project staff presented at two Department of Health (Mental Health Division) led Local Implementation Team (LIT) forums in Warrnambool and Shepparton during May. These forums provided an excellent platform for showcasing VTMH’s work, sharing insights, and networking with other professionals committed to improving mental health services. Our presentations were well-received, sparking meaningful discussions and fostering collaborative relationships that will undoubtedly benefit our ongoing initiatives.
In a further testament to our project’s reach and impact, Barwon Health invited VTMH to present to 54 new mental health clinicians during its orientation day in February. This session was a valuable opportunity to introduce our work, share key resources, and emphasise the importance of culturally responsive mental health care. The engagement and enthusiasm from these new clinicians was encouraging, and we look forward to supporting them as they begin their careers in mental health services.
Thank you to everyone involved for your dedication and hard work in making these achievements possible.
Abie and Ben (VTMH R&R Approach Initiative Team)