Collaborative Centre to lead mental health training in Victoria

VICTORIA’S mental health workforce will soon have a single statewide hub for training and development, under changes announced by the State Government this week.

Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt said the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing would take over responsibility for professional development across the sector from 1 July.

“The workforce is the backbone of our mental health system and delivering this recommendation will support them to continue developing their skills and deliver the best care possible,” she said.

The move delivers on a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, which called for a coordinated approach to professional development and training.

The Centre for Mental Health Learning has led workforce development since 2018 and will transition its programs to the Collaborative Centre, which was established in response to the Royal Commission and enshrined in legislation.

The Government said the change would create a single point of access for training and development, providing greater certainty and support for workers across the mental health system.

Ms Stitt said the centre would work with local services to ensure the training offered was aligned with their workforce needs.

“The Victorian Collaborative Centre will play a significant role bringing together lived experience, research and innovation to help us grow and develop our world-class mental health workforce,” she said.

The Allan Labor Government has invested more than $600 million into the mental health workforce since 2022, with a 25 per cent increase in full-time equivalent roles over that period.