South East Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect Centre

Our Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect Centre South-East Metro supports people caring for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community member who is experiencing challenges with mental health, substance use and trauma.

Who is it for?

• Any person that identifies as a carer that cares for someone who is experiencing mental health, substance use challenges and trauma.
• Carers may include kinship/foster carer, friend, family members and others.

How it works

• This program is jointly run by the Better Health Network, the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency, and Berry Street’s Take Two Program. The staff at the center have lived experience - either first-hand or through close connections - with the challenges families face.
• We listen carefully to figure out what really matters to each family. Then, we connect them to the right support services based on their most urgent needs.
• The types of support we can provide could include:
  • information and resources
  • yarns to identify supports and set goals, alone or with family
  • cultural consultation where needed
  • group activities focusing on health and wellbeing
  • opportunities to yarn and meet other carers
  • a kid's space with plenty of deadly books, toys and colouring books;
  • a bush tucker garden
  • access to financial support in times of hardship
  • sensory spaces to relax and find balance.