Welcome to the Learning Hub
These free online learning modules introduce and explore a range of practices and topics that build cultural responsiveness in mental health settings.
The modules are all self-paced to offer maximum flexibility. They allow you to save your progress and return at any time, in any order.
The modules integrate reflective questions and suggest further reading and links to relevant materials. They have been designed to be used as both standalone modules to support individual and team-based learning, and to support our workshop program by acting as workshop pre-readings.
We have created some Tips for using the Learning Hub which will help you navigate and get the most out of them. Read them below.
We hope the modules help you to reflect on, and spark curiosity, in the range of issues and themes related to culturally responsive practice in order to support you in your work – whatever it may be.
Select a module below. To get started, select ‘Take this course’ and then work your way through the module content.
Online Learning Hub
An introduction to community engagement in mental health
Duration: 30 mins – 1 hour approx.
This module considers what community focus looks like in mental health and it explores what is meant by the notion of community. It considers types of community engagement, when to engage with communities, and it offers practical tips to help with that engagement. It highlights the history of community care and how engagement is being considered in mental health at a system level in keeping with the current mental health reform.
This module acts as a pre-reading for VTMH’s Community Engagement with Purpose: Approaches to Consider in Mental Health Settings Workshop. Some of the resources in this module were developed through VTMH’s Community Engagement with Purpose Resource Project.
This module considers what community focus looks like in mental health and it explores what is meant by the notion of community. It considers types of community engagement, when to engage with communities, and it offers practical tips to help with that engagement. It highlights the history of community care and how engagement is being considered in mental health at a system level in keeping with the current mental health reform.
This module acts as a pre-reading for VTMH’s Community Engagement with Purpose: Approaches to Consider in Mental Health Settings Workshop. Some of the resources in this module were developed through VTMH’s Community Engagement with Purpose Resource Project.
Online Learning Hub
Orientation to Cultural Responsiveness
Duration: 4 hours approx.
This module introduces key concepts in culturally responsive mental health practice. It provides information to support individual practitioners in work with consumers, carers, families, and communities, and can also support agencies to implement a diversity plan. Mental health service providers and a range of diversity organisations were consulted during the design and development of this resource.
This module acts as a pre-reading for VTMH’s Foundations of Culturally Responsiveness Practice in Mental Health Settings Workshop.
This module introduces key concepts in culturally responsive mental health practice. It provides information to support individual practitioners in work with consumers, carers, families, and communities, and can also support agencies to implement a diversity plan. Mental health service providers and a range of diversity organisations were consulted during the design and development of this resource.
This module acts as a pre-reading for VTMH’s Foundations of Culturally Responsiveness Practice in Mental Health Settings Workshop.
Online Learning Hub
Cultural Diversity & Assessment
Duration: 3 hours approx.
This module supports mental health practitioners to consider cultural aspects of mental health and wellbeing when undertaking assessments. Concepts and tools are explored which help clarify the role culture plays for those with a lived experience of mental health, for practitioners, and within mental health systems. This module provides some assessment questions which have been adapted from the Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI), encourages reflection on cultural aspects of mental health, and provides useful links to other assessment information.
This module acts as a pre-reading for VTMH’s Recovery and Diversity: Approaches to Cultural Assessment and Supporting Personal Recovery Workshop.
This module supports mental health practitioners to consider cultural aspects of mental health and wellbeing when undertaking assessments. Concepts and tools are explored which help clarify the role culture plays for those with a lived experience of mental health, for practitioners, and within mental health systems. This module provides some assessment questions which have been adapted from the Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI), encourages reflection on cultural aspects of mental health, and provides useful links to other assessment information.
This module acts as a pre-reading for VTMH’s Recovery and Diversity: Approaches to Cultural Assessment and Supporting Personal Recovery Workshop.
Online Learning Hub
LGBTIQ Intersect
Duration: Flexible
LGBTIQ Intersect is an online learning resource that promotes equity and inclusion from an intersectional understanding of identities and experiences. It has been co-designed and co-produced with service providers, community leaders and same sex attracted, sex and gender diverse people from multicultural, spiritual and faith-based communities. The online learning modules are freely accessible and aim to enhance the visibility, safety, mental health and wellbeing, social inclusion and sense of belonging amongst LGBTIQA+ people from multicultural, spiritual and faith-based communities. This module was produced through a Grants project that concluded in 2019.
LGBTIQ Intersect is an online learning resource that promotes equity and inclusion from an intersectional understanding of identities and experiences. It has been co-designed and co-produced with service providers, community leaders and same sex attracted, sex and gender diverse people from multicultural, spiritual and faith-based communities. The online learning modules are freely accessible and aim to enhance the visibility, safety, mental health and wellbeing, social inclusion and sense of belonging amongst LGBTIQA+ people from multicultural, spiritual and faith-based communities. This module was produced through a Grants project that concluded in 2019.
Online Learning Hub
Approaching Work with Interpreters in Mental Health Settings
Duration: 2 hours approx. in total. The module is divided into 3 shorter sessions that can be completed together or separately.
This module aims to create an opportunity to explore and reflect on the range of factors that come together to support work with interpreters. Providing a snapshot of key practices, strategies and learnings, it supports learners to: discover useful ways to approach work with interpreters; reflect on system level factors that help and hinder work with interpreters; understand the policy context and history of interpreter services in Australia; and consider perspectives on the interpreted encounter from consumer, carer, interpreter and practitioner lenses. This module highlights the roles of both interpreters and practitioners within the interpreting encounter.
This module acts as a pre-reading for VTMH’s Approaching work with Interpreters in Mental Health Settings Workshop.
This module aims to create an opportunity to explore and reflect on the range of factors that come together to support work with interpreters. Providing a snapshot of key practices, strategies and learnings, it supports learners to: discover useful ways to approach work with interpreters; reflect on system level factors that help and hinder work with interpreters; understand the policy context and history of interpreter services in Australia; and consider perspectives on the interpreted encounter from consumer, carer, interpreter and practitioner lenses. This module highlights the roles of both interpreters and practitioners within the interpreting encounter.
This module acts as a pre-reading for VTMH’s Approaching work with Interpreters in Mental Health Settings Workshop.
Tips for using the Learning Hub:
The modules are all self-paced to offer maximum flexibility. They allow you to save your progress and return at any time, in any order.
Here are some tips to help you navigate and to get the most out of these modules
- Duration
- Each module has a different length. You can check the duration at the top of the page of each module.
- Audio visual requirements
- All the modules contain some video content to complement written text. Most videos contain closed captions however, learners may wish to use headphones or speakers when completing the module.
- Navigation
- To begin a module, select ‘take this course’ at the top right-hand side of the page of each module.Use the next and back buttons at the bottom of the page to move through the module.Each module is separated into pages, each focusing on a different topic related to the module. You can view all the pages within the module at the bottom of the module’s home page, or in the sidebar of the module itself.Once you have read and completed each page of the module, click “Next lesson” to save your progress and continue to the next page.If you would like to save your progress so you can return to the same page at a later date, prior to selecting “Next Lesson” you can select “Mark as complete”. Doing this means that the next time you log in, you will be able to see which lessons you have already completed.To return to the main Learning Hub, select “Return to Module” at the bottom of the Lesson page, then you can use the headings at the top of the page to navigate to another module, or to return to the VTMH website.
- Links to further learning
- You will find links to additional resources which will build on the learnings at the end of each module.
- User profile
- Navigate to your user profile by clicking the icon in the top right-hand corner of the page.You can view your completed courses and reset your password or change your email.
- At the end of each completed module, you will have the option of receiving a certificate. These can also be found in your user profile.
- Managing your Learning Hub account
- Can’t remember login details
If you can’t remember your password, please select “forgot password” at the login screen. This will send an email to your inbox with instructions on how to reset your password. - Can’t reset password
If you have any issues resetting your password, please make sure that the reset email has not gone to your junk or spam folders. If you are using a work email, your IT department may have blocked the email due to security reasons. If this is the case, please contact your IT department. - No account associated with email address?
If you are advised that there is no account associated with your email when you try to reset it, please try again with another email you may have used. If you keep getting the same message or no longer have access to your email account, please email us on vtmh@svha.org.au so that we can help to recover your account.
- Can’t remember login details
- Have an issue that isn’t listed here?
If you need help with something not listed in these FAQs, please email us on vtmh@svha.org.au.