Translating research into practice

We lead, undertake, and partner on mental health and wellbeing translational research to improve treatments, care, and support across Victoria.

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Our action plan

  • Implement the Translational Research Strategy 2024-2027 for Victoria
  • Work with the Adult and Older Adult Best Practice Consortium to grow research leadership and workforce capability by creating a learning mental health system
  • Co-ordinate, disseminate and produce research informed by lived experience and translate the outcomes of that research into new models of care
  • Co-produce a lived experience-led research toolkit to support lived experience leadership and engagement in translational research
  • Invest in the next generation of mental health leaders through Translational Research Internships, PhD Scholarships and Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
  • Deepen our understanding of metro and regional needs and share effective approaches to collaborative translational research across Victoria

We’ll know we’re successful when:

  • The gap between research innovation and practice is reduced
  • We have evidence-based tools to support ‘on the job’ learning and implementation in services
  • Lived and living experience leadership is embedded and empowered in translational research
  • Evidence-based models of care are widely implemented in services
  • Consumer and carer access, experiences, and outcomes are measurably improved

Who benefits from this project?

  • Consumers of mental health services
  • Families, carers, supporters, and kin
  • Mental health researchers and academics
  • Service providers and workforce professionals
  • Government and policy makers
  • Future leaders in translational research

Strengthening and supporting our workforces

We support the mental health and wellbeing workforce through coordinated, evidence-based, and co-produced professional development.

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Our action plan

  • Develop and implement a system-wide Workforce Education and Development Strategy 2025-2028 for Victoria
  • Coordinate, disseminate and deliver system-wide workforce training and development aligned with core mental health capabilities and the needs of the lived and living experience workforce
  • Strengthen collaborative partnerships, governance, and ways of working with the Department of Health and the mental health and wellbeing sector
  • Develop and disseminate evidence-based and lived-experience informed practice guides and resources to improve outcomes for consumers, carers, families, supporters and kin
  • Apply implementation science to ensure training translates into real practice change across the sector
  • Support the wellbeing of the mental health workforce, fostering a culture of continuous learning

We’ll know we’re successful when:

  • All people receive mental health and wellbeing care from a workforce with a shared set of core capabilities
  • Training activities are more coordinated, consistent, and efficient
  • Workforce capabilities, support, and job satisfaction improves
  • Education and training activities lead to better outcomes and experiences for consumers and their support networks

Who benefits from this project?

  • Mental health and wellbeing workforce across all roles and disciplines
  • Consumers of mental health and wellbeing services
  • Families, carers, supporters, and kin
  • Training organisations and service providers
  • Professional associations, representative bodies, and unions