ECCV is supporting the current reform of Victoria’s mental health system to ensure that people from migrant and refugee backgrounds can access and receive mental health support that is culturally safe, responsive and inclusive.
The Victorian Government has committed to implementing all of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, which found that the mental health system was “broken” and failing many people and recommended major reforms.
ECCV has been funded by the Victorian Government’s Diverse Mental Health & Wellbeing Grants Program, which aims to provide better health outcomes for migrant and refugee communities.
We have created this webpage as a resource for migrant and refugee communities to stay up to date with the reforms and the response to the Royal Commission.
If you would like to know more or if you have any feedback about this page, please contact us.
Multicultural Mental Health Network
ECCV has established a multicultural mental health network to inform the state’s reform process. The network promotes the needs and perspective of migrant and refugee communities through an evidence-informed, strategic approach to policy and design and provides a key platform for agencies, researchers, clinical experts, advocates and people with lived experience to share information and collaborate. The network is chaired by Dr Judy Tang, Senior Neuropsychologist at Invictus Health and Commissioner at the Victorian Multicultural Commission.
Funded by the Department of Health, the network is part of the Victorian Government’s commitment to implement all of the Royal Commission’s recommendations. Recommendation 34 of the Royal Commission’s report recognised the need for multicultural engagement to be an integral part of the Mental Health Reforms process to effectively address the gaps in the mainstream system, so they are culturally ‘safe, responsive and inclusive’.
The network ensures that the voices of people from migrant and refugee backgrounds are heard, respected, and addressed in the mental health reform process.
New paper on multicultural mental health
Victoria’s multicultural mental health workforce has an important role in supporting the mental wellbeing of our migrant and refugee communities.
However, while there have been a number of recent initiatives to support the mental health of multicultural communities, it is important that the needs of multicultural mental health workers themselves are not neglected.
ECCV’s new paper ‘Mental Health in Multicultural Communities – Issues and Solutions’ sheds light on the challenges confronting our multicultural mental health workforce, who are under pressure and at risk of burnout due to excessive workload and demands.
Mental Health Reform News & Events
Visit Mental Health Reform
Victoria for updates
Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy 2021-24
Mental Health Budget
Highlights 2021-22
Our policy work on mental health
Policy submission on the new
Mental Health and Wellbeing Act
Recommendations for a Culturally Responsive Mental Health System Paper
Analysis of the 2021-22
State Budget: Mental Health
Media Release on the Royal
Commission Recommendations
Submission to the Royal Commission
into Victoria’s mental health system
ISSUE BRIEF: Multicultural Mental
Health & Wellbeing Under COVID-19
ECCV’s Multicultural Mental Health Forums
Multicultural Mental Health: The Road Ahead
Keynote speaker: Steve Dimopoulos MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health
Panellists: Dr Francis Acquah, leading multicultural mental health clinician; Paris Aristotle AO, CEO of Foundation House; and Dr Judy Tang, Clinical Neuropsychologist at Jurmaine Health and a Victorian Multicultural Commissioner
Multicultural Mental Health: Voices from the Community
Speakers: Tigist Kebede, counsellor at Foundation House; Jaya Manchikanti, President of IndianCare; Hala Nur, youth worker at The Venny; and Shehani de Silva, Education & Service Development Consultant at Victorian Transcultural Mental Health
Special performance: Thabani Tshuma, performance poet
The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System
The Royal Commission delivered its final report in February 2021. It found that the mental health system was “broken,” and
was not providing the support people need.
The Royal Commission has made 65 recommendations to transform how
mental health issues are addressed.
Download the report
Final Report Summary
Final Recommendations
Fact Sheets
Where to get help
Where to Get Help
Mental Health Services in Victoria
Resources
Translated Mental Health Resources