BUILDING THE ABORIGINAL WORKFORCE IN THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SECTOR Simone Montgomery – Mental Health Coordinating Council

ACIMH Purpose Increase Aboriginal employment in the community mental health sector Build the capacity of community mental health organisations to employ and support Aboriginal workers Build the capacity of community mental health organisations to engage with and better support Aboriginal communities and people Assist Aboriginal people to develop the skills and requirements to work in the community mental health sector Increase Aboriginal engagement with vocational training.

Neami Anglicare New horizon Richmond PRA UCMH Bensoc Lyndon Aftercare Mission Organisational level Traineeship level Sector / System level DEC (funder) MHCC AEU Aboriginal Employment Unit Government level DEEWR (funder) SF

Mid Project Evaluation Increased Aboriginal employment Built capacity of participating organisations Assisted trainees to build skills and knowledge in mental health sector Increase trainee engagement with VET Starting to have impacts on engaging Aboriginal consumers and communities Challenges – Momentum/ work study balance