The Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing (the Collaborative Centre) marks a significant milestone this month with the official opening of its new home on Queensberry Street in Carlton.
The official opening on Tuesday 14 April will be followed by a sector engagement day, Reform in Practice, on Friday 17 April, bringing together people from across the system, including clinicians, community services, researchers and people with lived and living experience.
A key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, the Collaborative Centre works to connect knowledge, experience and practice across the system, and develop strategies for conducting research and applying findings that effect meaningful change for all Victorians.
This new space represents an important step in that work.
It is more than an office – it is a shared environment designed to bring people together, support collaboration, learning and connection across Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing sector.
The space has been purposefully designed to foster collaboration in practice, creating opportunities for people to learn from each other and work through challenges together. With partner desks and shared working areas, organisations can work alongside each other and Collaborative Centre staff on shared priorities and projects.
The Reform in Practice sector engagement day will bring this approach to life through plenary sessions, interactive discussions and dedicated spaces to explore initiatives and connect with others across the sector.
Over the coming months, the Collaborative Centre will host learning sessions, sector conversations, research translation activities and workforce training, supporting people to connect ideas with practice and take learning back into their everyday work.
As reform continues, opening this space is an invitation to the sector to come together, strengthen relationships, and contribute to building a more connected, inclusive and responsive mental health and wellbeing system for all Victorians.
Quotes attributable to Professor Sarah Wilson, CEO, Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing
“This is an important milestone for the Collaborative Centre, but more importantly, it’s about creating a space that drives system reform.
“We’ve designed this environment so people from across the sector can come together, share knowledge, and grow workforce capability.
“Reform doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when people can connect, learn from each other, and apply that learning in their day-to-day work.
“Our role is to help bring together clinicians, researchers and educators to bring world-class research into practice.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming people into the space and continuing to build this work together.”
Quotes attributable to Ingrid Stitt MP, Victorian Minister for Mental Health
“The opening of the Collaborative Centre’s new building marks an important milestone in Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing system reform.
“This new space brings people together to collaborate, share expertise and drive reforms needed to deliver better outcomes for all Victorians.”