SCALE - Culturally Responsive Engagement and Responding to Distress (Phase 1)

Developed through Frankston Mental Health & Wellbeing Local, SCALE – Culturally Responsive Engagement and Responding to Distress is an interactive workforce capability and practice-improvement program designed to strengthen culturally responsive practice across mental health services. 

The program moves beyond learning facts about individual cultures and instead develops cultural humility, curiosity, reflective practice and practical communication skills that can be applied across diverse communities. Through facilitated discussion, reflection, case-based learning and practical tools, participants explore how culture, identity, family, language, migration, trauma, spirituality, community and lived experience may influence how distress is understood, expressed and responded to.

The program follows a three-phase learning journey: Understanding, Applying, and Leading. Phase 1 is an interactive half-day workshop; Phase 2 provides an online Community of Practice to reflect on applying the learning in real practice; and Phase 3 brings participants back together to examine what has changed and identify opportunities for sustainable service improvement.

The central principle of SCALE is: Culturally responsive practice is not about knowing every culture. It is about being curious enough to understand what matters to the person in front of you.

Workbooks will be provided.

Please note: it is an expectation that participants registering for phase 1 also participate in phase 2 (Community of Practice), and phase 3 (review session). Further information on phase 2 will be provided at the completion of phase 1.

Who is this program for:

Mental health and wellbeing workforce members across clinical, psychosocial, lived/living experience, intake, navigation, community and leadership roles. The program is suitable for psychologists, mental health nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, AOD clinicians, allied health professionals, peer/lived experience workers, psychosocial workers, intake clinicians, navigators, team leaders, managers and other multidisciplinary mental health workforce members. Participants do not require specialist cultural expertise. The program is designed for people who want to strengthen culturally responsive, person-centred and reflective practice.

Please note, if you do register for an event and it is not clear you are part of the intended audience, your registration will be confirmed two weeks prior to the event start date, or earlier.

Acknowledgement

SCALE – Culturally Responsive Engagement and Responding to Distress was developed through Frankston Mental Health & Wellbeing Local, with the support of Mentis Assist, and is being delivered with support from the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing. The Collaborative Centre is supporting statewide promotion, registration and the sharing of learning and practice improvement across Victoria's mental health and wellbeing sector.