Substance use and other mental health disorders are two of the leading contributors to health disparities among Aboriginal Peoples in Australia. Research illustrates the disproportionate rates of mental health conditions for Aboriginal Peoples when compared to the general Australian population.

The impacts of colonisation, intergenerational trauma, racism, and discrimination contribute to Aboriginal Peoples feeling high levels of mistrust, fear, and disengagement from health services.

Integrated approaches that make Aboriginal Peoples feel culturally safe and respected while also helping with their mental health and addiction issues lead to better health outcomes and more participation.

This training will support participants to strengthen their knowledge of wellbeing from an Aboriginal perspective and build their confidence to deliver culturally safe care.

This workshop is aimed at Victorian AOD and mental health workers. Offered by the Hamilton Centre and funded by the Victorian Department of Health.

• Date: Thursday, 23rd April 2026

• Time: Registration 9 – 9:30am | Workshop 9:30am – 4pm.

• Location: Turning Point/ Hamilton Centre, Level 1, 110 Church Street, Richmond.

• Cost: Free

Participants will receive a certificate of attendance and will be asked to complete a survey to help us improve future events.

Places are limited, so early registration will secure your spot. For further information, please contact us at [email protected].

Learning objectives

• Strengthen foundational awareness of historical and systemic factors affecting the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal People in Victoria.

• Explore common barriers that Aboriginal Peoples face when accessing care.

• Understand what Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) means and how this differs from Western biomedical models of care.

• Recognise key principles of culturally safe practice when working with Aboriginal Peoples.

Presenter

Clarisse Slater is a Yorta Yorta, Kamilaroi, and Wiradjuri professional from Melbourne. She has over 20 years of experience in the Aboriginal service sector, focusing on leadership, management, learning, development, and therapeutic practice. As an Aboriginal Family Therapist, Clarisse empowers individuals and communities through a trauma-informed and culturally safe lens.

For over 10 years, Clarisse has worked at the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) in learning and development roles. She is now the Senior Programme Manager for External Training and Relationships. At VACCA, she develops specialist training packages and leads large-scale training projects. These projects focus on culturally safe and therapeutic practices in Victoria.

Clarisse also lectures at the Bouverie Centre in the Graduate Certificate in Family Therapy: First Nations. In 2019, she founded Clarisse Slater Consulting to help organisations provide culturally safe, respectful, and effective services for Aboriginal communities. Through training, advisory, and reflective practices, she helps teams build confidence in professional judgement and embed culturally responsive practices across complex service systems.