2026 Statewide Mental Health AH Entry Level Training Series - Day 5
Description
Note regarding eligibility: All allied health clinicians in the first two years of employment in a clinical mental health role (Area Mental Health Service or Mental Health & Wellbeing Local) – dietitians, social workers, speech pathologists, aboriginal mental health trainees, occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, exercise physiologists. Students are not eligible to attend. Manager approval must be obtained.
Topic:
An introduction to culturally responsive practice in mental health settings
Overview:
This introductory workshop explores core frameworks and practices for cultural responsiveness in specialist mental health services. It is designed to stimulate the interest of participants in the broad range of issues related to transcultural mental health. Grounded in a reflective practice approach, the workshop provides learners with the opportunity to consider core concepts and frameworks including human rights, culture, identity, intersectionality, and cultural safety.
The workshop also invites curiosity in, and promotes strategies for adapting practice, through engaging practices of cultural humility and reflexivity, anti-oppressive practice, social and cultural models of health, cultural assessment and recovery, engaging with communities and working with interpreters. The workshop also encourages future participation in cultural responsiveness education opportunities, as well as informs participants about Victorian Transcultural Mental Health and its services.
Learning Objectives:
o Understand the relevance of culturally responsive practice within the broader context of the Victorian mental health services reform
o Reflect on the role that cultural plays in shaping how we understand mental health, as well as how culture shapes mental health service delivery.
o Identify a range of concepts and frameworks that contribute to culturally responsive mental health care, including human rights, culture, identity, intersectionality, cultural safety.
o Identify a range of practices that support culturally responsive mental health care, including cultural humility and reflexivity, anti-oppressive practice, social and cultural models of health, cultural assessment and supporting personal recovery, working with interpreters, and partnering with communities.
o Understand the role of Victorian Transcultural Mental Health and resources available to support the sector.
Facilitators:
Stephanie Shavin, Olivia Fletcher & Nadya Kouzma – Victorian Transcultural Mental Health
Presenters
Stephanie Shavin
Hello, I’m Stephanie. I am a Social Worker with a background in Narrative Therapy and a strong interest in working with diverse communities in Australia and overseas. Before joining VTMH, I worked as a Counsellor Advocate and Senior Practitioner with Foundation House alongside adults, children and families of refugee background and those seeking asylum who have survived experiences of torture and trauma. I am interested in supporting the mental health and service delivery workforce to better engage with diverse communities using an intersectional lens and culturally responsive practices to foster inclusion and cultural safety. I have been privileged to facilitate reflective practice groups, supervision, and education and training in a number of community organisations and universities.
Olivia Fletcher
Hi there, I’m Olivia. I joined VTMH as a Carer Consultant in November 2022. In my role, I aim to highlight the voices of young people with diverse experiences, and the voices of people with lived experience of being carers. I’m also keen to advocate for lived experience voices through a multicultural and intergenerational lens. I have a Bachelor of Science with a major in Psychology, and a Bachelor of Music. Before joining VTMH as a Carer Consultant, I worked in community support and student wellbeing at a secondary school. In the youth mental health sector, I have volunteer experience with headspace, and Raise.
Nadya Kouzma
Hello, I’m Nadya, a psychologist and consultant at VTMH. I’ve worked with VTMH since 2009, hold a PhD in Psychology, and am an Honorary Fellow at the School of Population & Global Health at the University of Melbourne. I have contributed to several VTMH reports and papers over the years. I previously worked at the Alfred Hospital in various roles including Education Program Manager, DHS funded Project Manager, and Research Consultant for the public health care system, mental health sector and academia.
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