Diverse Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Project – Phase 2
Phase 2 of the Diverse Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing project began in March 2024 and will continue through to December 2025, aimed at improving engagement between key settlement, health and community agencies working with people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds and Victoria’s mental health reforms and initiatives.
To increase knowledge and awareness of the mental health experiences of people from refugee and/or asylum seeker backgrounds among key settlement, health and community agencies, the Victorian Refugee Health Network has been convening a series of mental health sector coordination calls.
The Refugee and Asylum Seeker Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordination Calls are monthly meetings designed to foster collaboration among mental health service providers, settlement agencies, health services, and community organisations working with refugee and asylum seeker communities. The calls provide an opportunity to raise awareness about the mental health reforms, provide information about newly established mental health and wellbeing local services and referral pathways, and highlight workforce development and best practices for working with refugee and asylum seeker communities.
If you’re interested in attending, please email Faten Mohamed, Project Officer – Refugee and Asylum Seeker Mental Health Coordination, at mohamedf@foundationhouse.org.au for more information.
Upcoming Refugee and Asylum Seeker Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordination Call: LGBTQIA+ Mental Health
Supporting Practice: Working Effectively with Victoria’s Refugee and Asylum Seeker Communities (Session 1 & 2)
These two 90-minute sessions are designed to build on each other, offering valuable insights and practical tools for working effectively with refugee and asylum seeker communities.
These sessions will be presented by Cecilia Lopez (she/her), Practice Leader at Foundation House.
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- Session 1: Understanding the Refugee Experience – A Human Journey of Displacement and Resilience
Date: Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Overview: This session explores the emotional and psychological impact of displacement, the challenges of resettlement, and the vital role mental health plays in the refugee journey. - Session 2: Sustainable Self-Care – Building Habits for Personal Wellness
Date: Tuesday, 2 December 2025
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Overview: A practical workshop focused on creating lasting self-care strategies tailored to individual needs. Participants will gain insights into sustainable self-care, explore everyday wellness habits, and leave with actionable tools to support their mental, emotional, and physical health.
- Session 1: Understanding the Refugee Experience – A Human Journey of Displacement and Resilience
These sessions support our commitment to culturally responsive and trauma-informed care. Attending both sessions is encouraged to fully benefit from the content and tools provided.
Diverse Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework and Blueprint – Department of Health Presentation
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- Focus: Representatives from the Department of Health will present on the recently released Diverse Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework and Blueprint. This session will provide valuable insights into the implementation of the Framework with opportunities for Q&A and discussion. All the relevant documents are available here: Diverse Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework and Blueprint | health.vic.gov.au
- Date: Thursday, 20 November 2025
- Time: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
- Location: Teams
To attend or to find out more information about the upcoming sessions, please send an email to Faten Mohamed (she/her), Project Officer – Refugee and Asylum Seeker Mental Health Coordination, at mohamedf@foundationhouse.org.au
Past Refugee and Asylum Seeker Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordination Calls
2025
July 2025: Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission
Speaker: Maggie Toko (she/her) – Consumer Commissioner
Focus:
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- Commission overview and functions
- Complaints handling
- Trauma-informed conflict resolution
- Community Engagement Framework implementation
April 2025: LGBTIQA+ Refugee and Asylum Seeker Mental Health and Wellbeing
Focus: This call focused on the specific mental health and wellbeing challenges faced by the LGBTIQA+ refugee and/or asylum seeker community. The session, part of our ongoing commitment to capacity building initiatives in the mental health and refugee settlement sectors through learning, collaboration and centring lived experience, explored barriers to accessing support, as well as available referral pathways to services and supports.
A dedicated resource document was distributed, outlining services, research, and training opportunities.
Keynote Speaker:
- Dr. Tina Dixson (she/her) – Forcibly Displaced People Network (FDPN)
Panel Speakers:
- Grace Dee Macauley (she/her) – Many Coloured Sky
- Deborah Leticia Akumu (they/them) – Many Coloured Sky
- Jade Barber (she/her) – Drummond Street Services
- Lauren Breen (She/Her/Hers) – The Iceberg Foundation
- Anirudh Chilukuri (they/them) – The Iceberg Foundation
February 2025: Mental Health Connect Centres
Focus: Support for families, carers, and individuals navigating mental health challenges.
Speakers:
- Jennifer Bité – Tandem
- Shamus Goble – SE Metro
- Kate Fox – Gippsland Mental Health & Wellbeing Connect
2024
November 2024: Service Navigation in Rural and Regional Victoria
Focus: This session facilitated networking and knowledge-sharing across metropolitan and regional areas, enhancing engagement and referral pathways. Guest speakers from regional Mental Health Locals shared insights in breakout rooms tailored to participants’ regions.
Speakers:
- Shilpa Ullagaddi – Neami
- Melissa Asta – Mind Australia
- Cat Hunt – Wellways Australia
- Nikki Wynne – Wellways Australia
October 2024: Service Navigation for Young People from Refugee and Asylum Seeker Communities
Focus: Understanding service navigating for young people and what services are providing support for young people from Victoria’s refugee and asylum seeker communities.
Keynote Speakers:
- Jessica Mitchell, Clinical Specialist – Orygen
- Ali Rahman, National Clinical Manager – Headspace
Panel Speakers:
- Laura Boscaglia – Headspace (Dandenong Hastings)
- Stefan Parsons – Foundation House (Northern Region)
- Katherine Hubbard – Foundation House
- Abuzar Mazoori – Foundation House (Southeastern Region)
- Maureen Mwandiambir – DPV Health
- Eugenia Castro – DPV Health
- Becky Halliday – JSS Connexions (North West Melbourne)
September 2024: Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing (VCCMHW)
Focus: Presentation on current initiatives and future plans for the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing (VCCMHW).
Presenters: Malitha Perera, Rachael Unwin, Alicia Baker
July 2024: Mental Health and Wellbeing Literacy
Focus: Observations on mental health literacy among community participants, including barriers and facilitators to accessing services.
Presenter: Tracy Douglas, National Health Education Manager – Water Well Project
June 2024: cohealth Bicultural Workers Program
Focus: Insights into employing bicultural workers in refugee health, their roles, responsibilities, and professional standards.
Presenter: Jasmine Phillips, Bi-Cultural Program Lead – cohealth
May 2024: Mental Health Local Overview
Focus: Update on Mental Health and Wellbeing Reform, overview of Mental Health Locals services, referral pathways, and supporting frameworks.
Presenter: Alex Krummel, Director – Reform Implementation, Department of Health
April 2024: Diverse Communities Grant Program
Focus: Overview of funded projects and programs, and introduction to the Coordination Forum and its purpose.
Presenter: Adriana Ridzwan, Department of Health – Mental Health Branch
For more information
Faten Mohamed
Project Officer – Refugee and Asylum Seeker Mental Health Coordination
E: mohamedf@foundationhouse.org.au