What is the Development Needs Analysis (DNA)
With the Department of Health’s support, the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing is undertaking a Development Needs Analysis of Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing workforce.
The DNA is a statewide project to understand the strengths, gaps and future needs of the workforce. What we learn will directly shape the Collaborative Centre and the Department of Health's workforce development priorities.
This work is grounded in collaboration, Lived and Living Experience leadership, and respect for the expertise held across the system. It is designed to ensure workforce development is guided by the people who live it every day.
Take the Workforce Development Needs Analysis (DNA) survey
How the DNA was designed
The design of the Development Needs Analysis was shaped with advice from representatives from more than 40 organisations across the sector, including:
- Statewide training providers
- Peak organisations, including Lived and Living Experience peaks
- Area Mental Health and Wellbeing services
- Community mental health organisations
- Local mental health and wellbeing services
- Unions and professional associations
- The Department of Health
This input helped ensure the approach reflects the diversity, complexity and reality of working in Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing system.
Based on this advice, the DNA uses a mixed-methods, sequential design. This means the project will run in two connected phases, with what we learn in the first phase shaping the focus and questions of the second. This allows us to go beyond surface-level trends and explore what is really driving workforce strengths, pressures and gaps.
Click here to download this poster!
Take part in the DNA
The first phase of the Development Needs Analysis is now live.
This stage includes a statewide workforce survey alongside a review of existing research and data on mental health and wellbeing workforce needs in Victoria. Together, this will help build a shared picture of what is working, what is missing, and what needs to change.
Your voice matters. Whether you work in a clinical, community, Lived and Living Experience, peer, leadership, or support role, your experience will help shape the future of workforce development across the system.
Take the Workforce Development Needs Analysis (DNA) survey
If you would like to be involved in future phases, including interviews, workshops or deeper conversations, you can also subscribe to receive updates and invitations.
Subscribe for future participation
How this connects to the Summer Learning Series
The first phase of the DNA is being launched alongside the Summer Learning Series.
As the survey and data collection are underway, the Summer Learning Series creates space for shared learning, reflection and conversation about workforce capability, practice and emerging themes. It allows people across the system to hear what is being explored, connect with others, and begin making sense of what the data is telling us.
Together, the DNA and the Summer Learning Series form a single, connected process of listening, learning and shaping what comes next for Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing workforce.
Explore the Summer Learning Series