CPHs in Victorian mental health services

The "Cultural Diversity Plan for Victoria's Specialist Mental Health Services 2006-2010" provides a framework for improving the specialist mental health services available in Victoria for CALD communities. Among several recommendations, this document sets out the requirement that every mental health service in Victoria appoint a CPH to support the implementation of the Plan.

CPHs are the service-based human resource suggested in the Plan to be the key players in mental health services to generate service improvement activities for CALD consumers and carers. Their importance is restated in the document "Because mental health matters: Victorian mental health reform strategy 2009 – 2019."

The overall responsibility of CPHs is to assist their service to promote culturally sensitive practice and to facilitate service access by members of CALD communities.

The VTPU has been supporting CPHs in several ways; through providing education and training, coordinating a state-wide network and assisting with the implementation of service and community development initiatives within organisations.

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