Roots Taking Hold
GRODC is well and truly underway, and the momentum in the Goulburn Region is building in ways that feel both meaningful and lasting. We are now more than halfway through the Open Dialogue Foundation Training with our community partners, and what is emerging goes well beyond skills development. When clinicians, youth workers, peer workers, housing staff, family support workers and managers learn together, Open Dialogue becomes a shared way of responding — not something owned by any one role or service. Having psychiatrists learning alongside the whole group has made this even more powerful, with something important shifting in how our community understands shared responsibility for young people’s mental health.
Behind the scenes, the foundations of GRODC are also firmly in place. The Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project has stepped into backbone leadership for the initiative, service agreements are signed, key roles have been recruited across partner organisations, and Network Meetings are already being held with young people at the Youth Foyer. The energy in the room — and in our community — is growing every time we come together.
Key highlights:
- Over halfway through the one-year Open Dialogue Foundation Training with 35+ participants across health, community and education sectors
- Key roles recruited across partner organisations including Berry Street, GV Health, Lighthouse Project and ODC
- A Community of Practice methodology has been confirmed to support the long-term fidelity of the Open Dialogue approach in the region
- A collaborative funding strategy is active, with funder events and new grant applications underway
- Young people and lived experience voices are being formally embedded into the design, delivery and evaluation of GRODC