The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) and the Department of Health are proudly working in partnership to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples living in Victoria can access safe, inclusive and respectful social and emotional wellbeing care and mental health services for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Our shared vision is for a mental health and wellbeing system where Aboriginal self-determination is respected and upheld, and where the physical, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of health and wellbeing are seen and understood to be interconnected. This shared vision is one where Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing are practised and valued, and where Aboriginal people have genuine choice in how and where they receive care.
To achieve this, we are building on the strength and advocacy of Aboriginal communities and leaders; the vision set out in Balit Durn , VACCHO’s submission to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System; and Balit Murrup, the Victorian Government’s 10-year Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Framework 2017-2027.
The past: learning from what has worked well, and what has not
The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health revealed the difficulties that many Aboriginal people have faced – and continue to face – in accessing appropriate care, treatment and support.
A significant number of people, communities and organisations contributed to the Royal Commission, sharing their stories and experiences in accessing services: what worked for them, and what didn’t work.
Drawing on these experiences and expertise, the Royal Commission agreed that social and emotional wellbeing supports and services should be holistic, culturally appropriate and healing-focused.
The Royal Commission’s final report resulted in a record investment in Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing. The Victorian State Budget 2021-22 included funding of $116 million over four years and $32.3 million ongoing to support social and emotional wellbeing initiatives that are Aboriginal-led and ensure safe and respectful care in both mainstream and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO)-led settings.
The programs, services and approaches recommended by the Royal Commission have strong connections to the solutions set out in Balit Durn Durn, including the establishment of Aboriginal-led healing centres and investment in multidisciplinary social and emotional wellbeing teams. The recommendations also reflect the ambitions laid out in Balit Murrup of culturally responsive services, building a strong and supported Aboriginal workforce, and ensuring that people can easily access and move between services when they need or choose to.
VACCHO and the Department of Health are working in formal partnership to deliver a number of the Royal Commission’s recommendations.
Since the release of the Royal Commission’s final report in March 2021, progress includes:
- Launching the Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Scholarship Program to upskill and grow the social and emotional wellbeing workforce. In 2024, VACCHO and the department have awarded 49 Scholarships to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples studying a mental health related discipline at undergraduate and post-graduate levels.
- VACCHO establishing the Balit Durn Centre of Excellence in Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing
- The Balit Durn Durn Centre completing an Aboriginal-led co-design process with community and the Aboriginal community-controlled sector to:
- inform the future establishment of two Aboriginal Healing Centres
- develop a new service framework model called the ‘Nest’. The Nest is a service model to ensure Aboriginal children (aged 0-11) and their families receive integrated and culturally safe care, tailored to their unique needs that is delivered at the right time and place.
- Provided recurrent funding to 27 Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing teams across the state, so they can deliver multidisciplinary community-based support that is self-determined and addresses local community priorities.
- Provided recurrent funding to support ACCHOs to commission external health specialists to provide additional mental health and social and emotional wellbeing support for children and young people. This enables ACCHOs to identify and respond to the needs and strengths of their communities and provide on-site care and support where community members feel safest.
The department is also working with Infant, Child and Youth Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services to embed Koorie Mental Health Liaison Officers in selected services, to ensure that Aboriginal children and young people and their families can access culturally appropriate care within the mainstream mental health and wellbeing system. All 13 Infant, Child and Youth Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services are also provided with cultural safety funding to implement training, resources, and improve cultural safety practice so that Aboriginal children and young people, and families feel respected, supported, and understood within these acute mental health environments.
Read more about reforms to support self-determined Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing services on the Interim recommendation 04 webpage.
Read more about reforms to foundationally strengthen Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing on the Recommendation 33 webpage.
The future: what’s next and how you can get involved
We know that to bring our shared vision to life, we need to take the time to get it right.
We also know that we need to work closely with Aboriginal people, communities and organisations, as well as non-Aboriginal services, to make sure that people, no matter where they go, can find support that works for them.
Treaty
We know we get better outcomes when Aboriginal people are making the decisions that affect First Nations communities. Victoria’s Treaty process gives us a pathway to give First Peoples a say on the policies that impact First Peoples’ lives. We commit to working proactively to support this work in line with the aspirations of Traditional Owners and Aboriginal people living in Victoria.
We look forward to a time where, through the Treaty process, we have recognised the wrongs of the past, made peace, and can walk together with greater respect, understanding and connection, and fully celebrate the strength, resilience and diversity of First Nations people living in Victoria.
Yoorrook Justice Commission – key commitments
Focusing on improving reporting and accountability, the department will undertake an evaluation of the Balit Murrup Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing framework 2027-2027 in 2025-26. This evaluation will occur concurrently with an evaluation of the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System recommendations to improve Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing.
Balit Durn Durn Centre of Excellence in Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing
VACCHO will continue to share important updates with their members and more widely through the Balit Durn Centre of Excellence in Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing, including opportunities to directly contribute to how new and existing programs and services are delivered.
Reviewed 04 December 2024