Media Release: AVWA's Mental Health Initiative "Pathways to Wellbeing" Named Finalist in 2024 Victorian Premier's Design Awards
AVWA's Mental Health Initiative "Pathways to Wellbeing" Named Finalist in 2024 Victorian Premier's Design Awards
Richmond, VIC - November 8, 2024
In a significant milestone during its 41st year of service, the Australian Vietnamese Women's Association (AVWA) proudly announces its selection as a finalist in the Service Design Award category of the 2024 Victorian Premier's Design Awards for its pioneering mental health initiative, "Pathways to Wellbeing."
This innovative digital platform addresses critical barriers identified through extensive community consultation. Research conducted by CQ University found that Vietnamese Victorians often face multiple challenges in accessing mental health support, including cultural stigma, language barriers, and limited awareness of available services. The "Pathways to Wellbeing" initiative was specifically designed to overcome these obstacles by providing culturally sensitive, confidential support in both Vietnamese and English.
Pictured: Pathways to Wellbeing web app – 2024 Design Awards finalist, bilingual support.
Key Highlights:
- Award Recognition: • Finalist in the Service Design Award category • Official VPDA Finalist Trademark rights granted until December 2027 • Awards ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, 19 November 2024
- Project Partners: • CQ University • Mental Health Legal Centre • Legal Tech Helper
- Project Impact since March 2024 Launch: • Over 600 visits recorded, accessing mental health resources • Bilingual support available in Vietnamese and English • Enhanced accessibility to mental health information • Successful integration with AVWA's existing mental health services.
Pictured: Launch of Pathways to Wellbeing (March 2024) – Including Minister Ingrid Stitt, Luba Grigorovitch MP and members of AVWA Committee of Management.
Nicky Chung, CEO of AVWA, reflected on this achievement: “We are proud to be part of a strong and effective four-way partnership. The robust research that was conducted by CQ University, the technical capability of Legal Tech Helper, the expertise of Mental Health Legal Centre, together with the cultural context that AVWA provided, has resulted in an application that helps community members take that first step to address their mental health concerns, in a psychologically safe way. I am grateful for the strong relationships we have with our partners and to our wonderful staff who innovate to continue to add value to the community.”
"This innovative initiative was made possible through the Victorian Government's Diverse Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Grants Program. As a trusted organisation in the Vietnamese community for over four decades, we understand the importance of breaking down barriers to mental health support. This platform represents our commitment to ensuring every community member can access help in their preferred language, at their own pace, with dignity and privacy."
Pictured: Launch of Pathways to Wellbeing (March 2024) – L-R - AVWA CEO Nicky Chung, CEO Mental Health Legal Centre Inc. Charlotte Jones, Legal Tech Helper Samantha Lovrich and Tatiana Lenz, CQ University Victoria Lambropoulos, AVWA President Cam Nguyen, AVWA Vice-President Thanh-Kham Tran-Dang and Trung Luu MP.
Looking Ahead:
- Representation at the Victorian Premier's Design Awards ceremony by project partners
- Enhancement of platform features based on community feedback
- Development of additional mental health resources in Vietnamese
- Sharing of project learnings with other cultural and ethnic communities
- Expansion of digital mental health support services reach
About AVWA
The Australian Vietnamese Women's Association (AVWA), established 41 years ago, is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting the health, well-being, and empowerment of Vietnamese community members. With over 410 employees across Victoria, AVWA provides a range of services including aged and disability care, playgroups, vocational training, and counselling services. AVWA operates five key program areas: Family and Children Services, Training and Vocational Services, Aged and Disability Services, Health and Community Wellbeing, and Cultural and Language Services.
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