Listening beyond the system: Bicultural voices on mental health
Led by: cohealth and the Victorian Bicultural Workers Network
Status: Available now
This podcast centres the voices and expertise of bicultural workers. Across 10 monthly episodes, contributors share their communities' experiences of mental health, wellbeing and accessing support. The series can help mental health workers better understand the strengths, needs and perspectives of refugee and migrant communities and consider how services can work more effectively and safely alongside them.
Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (Project ECHO) for the Lived and Living Experience workforce
Led by: Goulburn Valley Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services
Status: Registrations open
This online Community of Practice connects people working in designated Lived and Living Experience roles across consumer, carer, alcohol and other drugs, and harm reduction settings. Using Project ECHO's 'all teach, all learn' approach, each session combines a short presentation with participant-led practice examples, discussion and shared learning. Ten online sessions run from 2 September 2026 to July 2027.
Cultural intelligence in mental health care
Led by: Centre for Muslim Wellbeing
Status: Launching in October and November 2026
This two-day workshop supports mental health, health and community service workers to strengthen culturally safe, trauma-informed and faith-attuned practice with Muslim and multicultural communities. Cultural Intelligence Levels 1 and 2 explore communication, bias, assessment and the impacts of racism, Islamophobia, migration, trauma and systemic barriers through practical scenarios and reflective learning. SCALE funding will extend the program to up to 100 participants through online and in-person delivery.
Online delivery: 7 and 8 October 2026. In-person delivery at the Collaborative Centre: 16 and 17 November 2026.
Strengthening bicultural practice in mental health settings
Led by: Alfred Mental and Addiction Health, with cohealth, Better Health Network and Federation University
Status: Launching in November 2026
This program supports bicultural clinicians and Lived and Living Experience workers to strengthen their practice, while helping services create safer and more supportive workplaces where bicultural knowledge and expertise are recognised and used. SCALE funding supports five face-to-face sessions for up to 100 participants, accompanied by practical resources and an evaluation led by Federation University.
The first session will be held in person at the Collaborative Centre on 5 November 2026.
Carer aware
Led by: Eastern Health
Status: Coming soon
A train-the-trainer initiative for carer Lived and Living Experience workers, designed to strengthen workforce capability in working with families, carers, supporters and kin.
Culturally responsive risk assessment and crisis engagement in mental health services
Led by: Frankston Mental Health and Wellbeing Local
Status: Coming soon
A workforce development initiative focused on strengthening culturally responsive approaches to risk assessment and engagement with people experiencing a mental health crisis.
Expanding workforce capacity to support advance statements of preferences
Led by: Goulburn Valley Health
Status: Coming soon
A project to strengthen workforce knowledge and practice in supporting people to develop and use advance statements of preferences, contributing to more collaborative and person-led care and decision making.
Embedding spirituality in clinical mental health models of care
Led by: Alfred Mental and Addiction Health
Status: Coming soon
A workforce development project exploring how spirituality can be understood and incorporated within clinical mental health models of care as part of a whole-person approach to mental health and wellbeing.
Working at the intersections of family violence and mental health
Led by: Bendigo Health and the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health, Forensicare
Status: Coming soon
A three-session learning series supporting the workforce to better understand and respond to the intersections between family violence and mental health.
Living well: integrating physical health care into mental health services
Led by: Eastern Health
Status: Coming soon
A facilitator development workshop supporting the integration of physical health care into mental health services and strengthening a whole-person approach to care, support and treatment.
Suicide risk assessment and management in emergency departments
Led by: Mildura Base Public Hospital
Status: Coming soon
A workforce development initiative focused on strengthening suicide risk assessment and management practice in emergency department settings.
Staff wellbeing in practice
Led by: Latrobe Regional Health
Status: Coming soon
A project focused on reflective and supportive ways of working that strengthen staff wellbeing and contribute to meaningful change for consumers, families, carers, supporters and kin.
Core skills program for new community mental health clinicians
Led by: Bayside Health and Alfred Mental and Addiction Health
Status: Coming soon
A workforce development program designed to build core skills, knowledge and confidence among clinicians who are new to community mental health practice.
Stay informed
This page will be updated as SCALE-funded projects and resources become available. To ask a question about SCALE, contact the Collaborative Centre's Workforce Development team.
