People with lived and living experience from across mental health, alcohol and other drugs (AOD), harm reduction, gambling and suicide prevention recently came together for our Diversity within the Lived and Living Experience Workforce Forum.
The forum created an opportunity to connect, learn from one another and explore how lived and living experience can help build more inclusive mental health and wellbeing services. It also highlighted the importance of creating safe, welcoming spaces where people from diverse cultures, identities and backgrounds feel valued, heard and respected.
A panel of lived and living experience workers shared how their culture, identity and personal experiences shape the support they provide to people accessing mental health and wellbeing services, as well as their families, carers and supporters. Their stories highlighted how diverse perspectives help make services more inclusive, responsive and person-centred.
Building more inclusive mental health services
Participants also took part in an interactive workshop facilitated by Victorian Transcultural Mental Health (VTMH), exploring culturally responsive practice, cultural humility, belonging and practical ways to create more inclusive services and workplaces.
Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the day, and to our panel members and the VTMH team for generously sharing their knowledge and experiences.
The forum reinforced the importance of listening to diverse voices and working together to build inclusive mental health services where everyone feels welcome and supported. By strengthening and supporting a diverse lived and living experience workforce, we can help improve mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and wellbeing services so they better reflect and respond to the needs of our communities.
The forum was hosted by the Eastern and North East Mental Health Service Coordination Alliances, led by Holstep Health. The alliances bring together partner organisations to strengthen collaboration and improve access to responsive mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and wellbeing services across Melbourne’s East and North East.
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