The Guidelines are intended to inform employers and funding bodies and to support change across the mental health sector by improving understanding of the benefits of the Lived Experience workforce and by supporting employers to assess their local readiness and prioritise activities.
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Related resources
A practical guide to working with children and families through Telehealth
Families & carers | Workplace wellbeing & practice support | Younger persons mental health | 2020
This resource from Emerging Minds aims to develop practitioners' knowledge and confidence in using Telehealth with children and families. It provides practical ideas on where to start, how to prepare and what to do during a session.
Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan, 2019: The consumer and carer perspective
Consumer perspective | Families & carers | 2017
The Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan (Fifth Plan) is an integral part of the National Mental Health Strategy. Endorsed by the Australian Health Ministers’ Conference in 1992, the National Mental Health Strategy is formed by a suite of documents, each with a specific purpose.
Supporting staff to work with children and families with complex needs
Families & carers | Younger persons mental health | 2019
This paper provides managers, practice leaders, and other decision-makers with practical guidance on supporting staff to work with children and families with complex needs.
Useful links

Emerging Minds: National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health is a workforce development initiative funded by the Australian Government. The project focuses on building workforce capacity to better support children and parents/carers and improve the mental health outcomes of children aged 0 – 12 years.

Tandem is the Victorian peak body representing family and friends supporting people living with mental health issues.

The Bouverie Centre: Victoria’s Family Institute combines clinical family therapy, academic teaching, qualitative and quantitative research, workforce development and community education in one integrated service.
The Berry Street Childhood Institute strives to enhance outcomes for children and young people who have experienced trauma and disadvantage by strengthening the capability of their practitioners, services, systems and communities.