Our Connected Mobs project aimed to reduce the risk of suicide by providing culturally safe support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Melbourne’s west.
It was a partnership between the Aboriginal Wellness Foundation and North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (see below for more information).
The project team worked with the services on this page, which are run by and for the local Aboriginal community. They are designed to strengthen community and cultural development by connecting Aboriginal people with the best mental health and social services support.
Connected Mobs services
Culturally safe 24/7 support phone lines
Yarning SafeNStrong
The Victorian Aboriginal Health Service established this free and confidential counselling service for Aboriginal people and families who need to have a yarn with someone about their wellbeing.
13YARN
13YARN is a crisis support line for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping.
Indigenous suicide postvention service
Thirrilli
Thirrili provides emotional and practical support to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families and communities impacted by loss from suicide or other fatal traumatic incidents.
Other services in Melbourne’s west
Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Centre
(03) 8734 0288
wyndham.vic.gov.au
The Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Centre and the Integrated Family Centre provide early years and family support to local families as well as the broader community, including family and early intervention services for at-risk groups. This facility has community spaces, kindergarten rooms, maternal child health consulting rooms, office space, and consulting rooms that cater to the growing needs of the Wyndham community.
Kirrip
(03) 8088 0764
kirripaboriginalcorporation.org
Kirrip Aboriginal Corporation is a safe place for community to connect socially and culturally, to celebrate culture, and to promote self-determination and healing. Servicing the local Aboriginal communities in and around Melton.
Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency
The Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency provides more than 50 programs across Victoria for children, young people, families, and community members.
Deadly Western Connections
deadlywesternconnections.com.au
deadlywestern38@gmail.com
The Deadly Western Connections website is for community to share yarns and news, and promote local events and job opportunities. This is an Aboriginal community website, in Aboriginal hands. It includes a comprehensive service directory of Aboriginal-led services and support networks available for people in Melbourne’s west.
More information
About Connected Mobs
Connected Mobs is a project to address suicide prevention and postvention support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Melbourne’s west.
North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) commissioned the Aboriginal Wellness Foundation (AWF) to deliver the Connected Mobs project. AWF trained local people and worked with the service providers listed above to build better, community-led pathways for suicide prevention and postvention support.
This project is part of the place-based suicide prevention trial in Melton and Brimbank. The Aboriginal community is a priority population for NWMPHN and the Melton/Brimbank Suicide Prevention Network.
About the Aboriginal Wellness Foundation
AWF believes in whole-of-family capacity building and traditional mentoring approach to healing for Aboriginal people. Its members are working to revitalise culture, which at its very essence is the sustained wellness of Country, community, and self.
Through establishing a village of purpose, belonging and connection for community members to thrive, the foundation strives to incorporate the “old ways”. For example:
- The importance of connection to Country.
- Understanding structures that kept Aboriginal people living well for over 80,000 years.
- The importance of embodying and living by the traditional non-material values of respect, responsibility and accountability.
AWF exists exist to play a role in supporting Aboriginal people to reconnect and find strength in their own cultural journeys and practices of Traditional culture.
