About the Collaborative Centre
The Collaborative Centre supports a learning mental health and wellbeing system across Victoria.
We bring together research evidence, clinical wisdom, Lived and Living Experience expertise, and workforce capability to strengthen how the system learns, connects and improves.
What's on
What we are learning from the Lived and Living Experience workforce development program
This update shares key achievements from the Lived and Living Experience Workforce Development Program to June 2025.
Statement of priorities 2025 - 2026
Our 2025–26 Statement of Priorities sets out the shared focus between the Minister for Mental Health and the Collaborative Centre, guiding how we support workforce, research and Lived and Living Experience to strengthen the mental health and wellbeing system.
'Reform in Practice' - The Collaborative Centre Sector Engagement Day
The Collaborative Centre invites you to Reform in Practice, a sector engagement day bringing together people from across Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing system.
Learning from the Lived and Living Experience
The Board of the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing (the Collaborative Centre) is pleased to share its reflections from the Directions Paper prepared by Erandathie Jayakody. This report marks an important moment of reflection and renewal for the Collaborative Centre.
Director, Workforce Development role
We’re continuing to build a strong, connected approach to workforce development across Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing system.
This work is supported through the Director, Workforce Development role, which we are currently recruiting to as a job-share position, providing leadership across our workforce, education and development function within the Collaborative Centre.
The Summer Learning Series
The Summer Learning Series is your opportunity to help shape the future of Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing workforce — while gaining practical insights, learning alongside peers, and contributing your experience in a way that respects your time.
New report launch: Promising practices in gender-responsive mental health care
This report explores mental health reform in Victoria, offering a practical illustration of what gender-responsive mental health care looks like and highlighting approaches that can inform system-wide reform. It is an important resource for anyone working to improve mental health outcomes with a focus on gender equity.
Annual Report 2024/2025
The 2024–25 Annual Report highlights a year of change and growth as the Collaborative Centre strengthened foundations for workforce capability, translational research and Lived and Living Experience leadership.
In their own words - Leanne Burn
A reflective profile of a Lived and Living Experience leader working to embed lived experience at the heart of system-wide mental health and wellbeing reform.
Changing lives
This is a statewide, family carer–led research report documenting the characteristics, roles, practices, supports and priorities of the Family Carer Lived Experience workforce in the Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect centres.
Meet our new Senior Workforce Development Facilitator, Consumer Perspective.
We're delighted to welcome Erin Hill to the Collaborative Centre as our new Senior Workforce Development Facilitator, Consumer Perspective.
Meet our new Senior Workforce Development Facilitator, Lived Experience -Family/Carer Perspective
We're delighted to welcome Karen McKnight to the Collaborative Centre as our new Senior Workforce Development Facilitator, Lived Experience -Family/Carer Perspective
Spotlight on multicultural mental health: Sharing dumplings, sharing ideas
How can Victoria’s mental health system become more culturally responsive, psychologically safe and inclusive of the diverse communities it serves?
Through our shared love of food, connection and conversation is certainly one way!
Meet our new Lived Experience Sector Partnerships Officer
We're delighted to welcome Melissa Mendoza to the Collaborative Centre as our new Lived Experience Sector Partnerships Officer
Meet our new Manager, Lived Experience Sector Partnerships.
We're delighted to welcome Leanne Burn to the Collaborative Centre as our new Manager, Lived Experience Sector Partnerships.
Inside the Lived and Living Experience Governance Committee
Dr Robyn Callaghan and Sam Hayward lead the Lived and Living Experience Governance Committee, guiding reform through shared leadership and humanity.
The Power and Privilege of Psychiatric Leadership
Podcast - Leadership in mental health isn’t just about expertise — it’s about how power and privilege shape the spaces we share.