What We Do

VTMH advocates strongly for cultural safety and supports the examination of societal structures, service systems, and institutional factors.

We aim to:

  • Centering diverse communities in conversations about their wellbeing
  • Create a more equitable and socially just service system
  • Build bridges between people, groups and systems
  • Develop a responsive, reflective mental health workforce
  • Share experiences, stories and evidence

VTMH’s services include:

  • Delivering capacity-building activities for mental health professionals, organisations and community
  • Supporting mental health organisations to implement a whole of organisation cultural responsiveness approach
  • Contributing to working groups, taskforce groups and networks
  • Providing information and advice
  • Designing cultural responsiveness initiatives
  • Creating freely available, evidence-informed resources
  • Facilitating Communities of Practice 
  • Undertaking specific commissioned projects

Our Strategies

  • Collaborate

    Collaborate — We prioritise inclusive participation and use design thinking

    What we do:

    JOIN WITH CONSUMERS, CARERS AND COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANISATIONS.

    TEAM UP WITH MENTAL HEALTH TEAMS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, EDUCATORS AND GOVERNMENT.

    • Cultivate relationships with mental health services, diversity agencies and community groups and organisations
    • Respond to education, service development requests by developing a shared understanding of issues and goals: recent examples include NorthWestern Primary Health Network and VAADA
    • Respond to requests from community groups and agencies
    • Join taskforce groups, working groups and networks
    • Undertake commissioned projects: recent examples include LGBTIntersect and an evaluation of a DHHS grants program

    Explore how VTMH works to Collaborate

    Learn more about the independent consultants, advocates, representatives, and organisations we’ve worked with, the impact of that work and the knowledge gained through our work together

    We communicate about who we are, what we do, and how we collaborate with organisations on cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion within the mental health landscape.

    Our commitment is to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion values – the notion that no one is left behind – are embedded in how mental healthcare is provided right across Victoria.

    Watch the Collaboration video by clicking on the play button below or HERE.

    The videos feature independent consultants, advocates, and representatives from some of the organisations we’ve worked with – including Goulburn Valley Health, Latrobe University, Micare, the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, Alfred Mental and Addiction Health, Orygen, and the Centre for Mental Health Learning.

  • Support

    Support — We build capacity by offering support over an extended time

    What we do:

    SUPPORT THE GROWTH AND SELF-DETERMINATION OF COMMUNITY-BASED ADVOCATES AND AGENCIES.

    BUILD THE CAPACITY OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND SERVICES TO IMPLEMENT PRACTICES AND STRATEGIES.


    Explore how VTMH works to Support

    Learn more about the independent consultants, advocates, representatives and organisations we’ve worked with, the impact of that work and the knowledge gained through our work together

    We communicate about who we are, what we do, and how we support organisations on cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion within the mental health landscape.

    Our commitment is to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion values – the notion that no one is left behind – are embedded in how mental healthcare is provided right across Victoria.

    Watch the Support video by clicking on the play button below or HERE.

    The videos feature independent consultants, advocates and representatives from some of the organisations we’ve worked with – including Goulburn Valley Health, Latrobe University, Micare, the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, Alfred Mental and Addiction Health, Orygen, and the Centre for Mental Health Learning.

  • Equip

    Equip — We create resources and spaces to learn about mental health and diversity

    What we do:

    REACH OUT TO MENTAL HEALTH, PRIMARY HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY SECTORS.

    CREATE EVIDENCE-INFORMED RESOURCES AND MAKE THEM FREELY AVAILABLE.


    Explore how VTMH works to Equip

    Learn more about the independent consultants, advocates, representatives and organisations we’ve worked with, the impact of that work and the knowledge gained through our work together

    We communicate about who we are, what we do, and how we Equip organisations on cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion within the mental health landscape.

    Our commitment is to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion values – the notion that no one is left behind – are embedded in how mental healthcare is provided right across Victoria.

    Watch the Equip video by clicking on the play button below or HERE.

    The videos feature independent consultants, advocates and representatives from some of the organisations we’ve worked with – including Goulburn Valley Health, Latrobe University, Micare, the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, Alfred Mental and Addiction Health, Orygen, and the Centre for Mental Health Learning.

  • Advocate

    Advocate — We promote cultural safety throughout all our work

    What we do:

    LISTEN TO LIVED EXPERIENCE, VALUE DIVERSE VOICES, ACKNOWLEDGE INTERSECTIONS, AND FORM COALITIONS.

    ADDRESS ENDURING PATTERNS OF SOCIAL INEQUALITY IN OUR WORK WITH GOVERNMENT, SERVICE PROVIDERS, NETWORKS, PEAK BODIES AND COMMUNITIES.


    Explore how VTMH works to Advocate

    Learn more about the independent consultants, advocates, representatives and organisations we’ve worked with, the impact of that work and the knowledge gained through our work together

    We communicate about who we are, what we do, and how we advocate with organisations on cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion within the mental health landscape.

    Our commitment is to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion values – the notion that no one is left behind – are embedded in how mental healthcare is provided right across Victoria.

    Watch the Advocate video by clicking on the play button below or HERE.

    The videos feature independent consultants, advocates and representatives from some of the organisations we’ve worked with – including Goulburn Valley Health, Latrobe University, Micare, the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, Alfred Mental and Addiction Health, Orygen, and the Centre for Mental Health Learning.