VMIAC has a Lived and Living Experience Workforce (LLEW) team who have been funded by the Department of Health to deliver twelve (12) projects that are in response to the Royal Commission into Mental Health.
Part of these projects cover delivering training to consumer LLEW and developing new training for a pilot program called Our Future (Based off the Our Future report).
Read below for more information, including how to get involved:
Alternatives to Suicide (Alt2Su) – when conversations turn to suicide training
Application for subsidised training
VMIAC is offering Alt2Su training, hosted in collaboration with DISCHARGED, to consumers in the lived and living experience workforce.
What is when conversations turn to suicide training?
When conversation turns to suicide training is being offered to members of the lived/living experience workforce who want to build skills and understanding in effectively supporting those with suicidal thoughts in their work and community.
When conversation turns to suicide training is rooted in the ‘Alternatives to Suicide’ approach. It offers an alternative means of support to the more medicalised suicide prevention trainings that emphasise assessment, safety planning, and crisis referrals.
Training topics
- Myths and misunderstandings related to suicide support and how to help
- Trauma, losses of power and control, and their relationship to suicide
- Alternatives to Suicide framework for support
- Ways to share power as a supporter
- Ways to care for yourself before and after offering support
- How to influence change in suicide prevention policies and beyond
Who is running the training?
DISCHARGED is a volunteer lived experience driven association specialising in Alternatives to Suicide group facilitation and trainings. They run groups in their local community in Western Australia as well as online, and train and support others to start their own groups across Australia. The name DISCHARGED is an acronym woven from the values embedded in the Alternatives to Suicide charter.
DISCHARGED stands for Deserving of Inclusion, Support, Community, Hope, Authenticity, Respect, Growth, Empathy and Dignity. The name, which is also associated with the process of leaving hospital, reflects the desire embedded in their work, for alternative options to current crisis management systems that emphasise in-patient treatment.
Who should take part?
The Department of Health – lived and living experience workforce branch has funded VMIAC to facilitate training to the lived and living experience workforce in Victoria. This is inclusive of all people who use their consumer lived and living experience in their employment. Your employment might be volunteer, casual, part time or full time.
- People who currently live in Victoria
- Consumers – individuals who have experienced mental health challenges, trauma or emotional distress and/or who may have accessed mental health or other related services specifically to support their mental wellbeing.
- People currently working in any capacity and using their lived experience in their role. This is not limited to mental health workplaces, and might include roles in disability, education or other areas.
- Individuals who identify with any of the following are welcomed and encouraged
- First Nations and Indigenous Peoples
- People of colour
- Individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including individuals with migrant or refugee and asylum seeker experiences
- Individuals who are disabled or identify as having a disability
- Individuals who identify as neurodiverse
- Individuals with sensory loss, deaf, hard of hearing, blind/vision impaired
- Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer, asexual and other identities (LGBTIQA+)
Payment and participation dates
This training will be free (no cost) for applicants selected to take part.
The training will take place for 16 hours over 2 days in person (8 hours each day inclusive of breaks).
Applications are open for our first round of training hosted in Warragul and Melbourne CBD.
- Warragul May 1st and 2nd Wednesday and Thursday
- Melbourne CBD May 4th and 5th Saturday and Sunday
You must be available to attend both full days of training to apply.
Information will be released in the future about additional training in Geelong and Bendigo which are to be held in June 2024.
We request that people apply for the training closest to them, and only apply for one training.
Timelines and application process
The application for this training will be open until Sunday 31 March at 10:00pm.
We will be unable to accept late applications. All individuals who apply to take part in the training will be contacted by Thursday 11 April to be informed of the outcome.
Please note that there are limited places available for this training and not every application will be progressed.
This training opportunity is unfortunately not for whole teams of staff members. If your team is interested in participating in the training, please get in contact with us, using the contact information below, to learn how to explore training options for your team.
If you are unsure of meeting the criteria mentioned to participate in this training or would like support with any part of the application process, please contact us.
How to apply
Please complete the application form or if you need assistance to express interest, please contact Jet Atlas (they/them) or Hannah Tucker (she/her) at LLEW@vmiac.org.au or 03 9380 3900.
Please check you have entered your contact details correctly.
If you’d like to provide feedback on this process, please call our Reception on (03) 9380 3900 and ask to speak to the Program Manager, Tash Gore (she/her).
You can also email reception@vmiac.org.au to engage in the process of making a formal compliment or complaint.