Open Dialogue in Australia
Involving family and community to transform mental health care
About the Open Dialogue Centre
We support the growth of the Open Dialogue approach in Australia providing research, training, implementation support, engagement and education.
The Centre partners with schools, mental health, youth and social services to create supportive networks for people experiencing social and emotional stress or trauma.
We work closely with mental health professionals and teams so they can collaborate with family and community in a way that elevates agency and strengthens responsive care – complementing and enhancing existing practices.
Formed in 2021, the Centre is purpose-driven – led and primarily funded by philanthropy.
About the Open Dialogue Centre
Formed in 2021, the Open Dialogue Centre is a unique purpose-driven organisation,
led and funded by philanthropy.
We support the growth of the Open Dialogue approach in Australia through research, training and implementation support, engagement and raising awareness – with a focus on how Open Dialogue can be transformative and lead to long-term improvements.
The Centre partners with mental health, youth, social services and schools to create supportive networks for people experiencing mental health stress or trauma.
We work closely with mental health professionals and teams so they can collaborate with family and community in a way that elevates agency and responsive support across the mental health spectrum – from early identification to acute care.
What is Open Dialogue?
Open Dialogue creates supportive networks for individuals in a way that involves family, friends, carers and mental health and wellbeing teams.
Through network meetings, individuals have easy and timely access to coordinated support in their community. The family, supporters and teams collaborate throughout the care pathway.
Since it emerged in Finland in the 1980s, interest in Open Dialogue has grown in Australia. It has been trialed internationally and shows great promise in improving long-term mental health outcomes.
Australian Context
Open Dialogue is an approach that aligns with the intentions of Australia’s National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan. It is also featured in the Victorian Royal Commission into Mental Health recommendations.
Open Dialogue is an approach that supports:
With improved mental health throughout a person’s life as well as continuous and coordinated care from trained professionals and a supportive social network.
Enabling them to contribute and provide support in a way that is valued.
Reduced hospitalisations and cycles of admission. Better integration of health care and other service providers, and better connections with social and family networks.
Address burn-out, fear-based and restrictive practices that cause long-term distress or trauma to both carers and individuals.
Improved engagement in teaching and learning and support for the teacher workforce.
Deliver coordinated, compassionate, responsive and consistent care.
Reduce the cost to State and Federal Government Health budgets on mental health service delivery.
Why do we need Open Dialogue?
The Australian mental health system is not sufficiently resourced to provide the mental health support people need, at the right point in time. It struggles to engage family and social connections in people’s care pathways when they could play a really important role in prevention and recovery.
Stigma, isolation, lack of agency and ongoing trauma through the system add to the individual’s distress. The experience is disconnected and fragmented and waiting lists are growing.
The opportunity to change how we approach mental health care
Open Dialogue enables clinically-trained mental health professionals to collaborate with family, community and social workers to support an individual through Network Meetings.
Network Meetings are a crucial part of how Open Dialogue works. These meetings can also include trusted lived-experience peers, teachers and friends.
Open Dialogue facilitators undergo extensive training to support the network to unlock what is needed for safety and healing to occur. Facilitators learn how to enable the individual to have agency over their treatment pathway. The group commits to a discovery process, drawing from different perspectives and contributions.
Relationships with family and others are strengthened through Dialogue. People feel valued, included and capable of providing practical support. Their confidence and sense of compassion is elevated.
How we work in partnership with organisations
We collaborate and consult with organisations and teams to create bespoke professional support so that the adoption of Open Dialogue is supported by all levels of your oganisation – from executive teams and the workforce through to administrative processes.
Open Dialogue discovery process
If you are interested in exploring the potential of Open Dialogue for your school or service, we can offer a half or full day discovery workshop.
Co-design and implementation
We partner with organisations to co-design, embed and support the implementation of Open Dialogue.
Training and education in Open Dialogue
We offer a series of Open Dialogue training options tailored to the needs of organisations and community.
Building the evidence base
We support teams to evaluate and measure the impact of Open Dialogue for people and organisations.
Join the Open Dialogue network in Australia
Acknowledgement of Country
Open Dialogue Centre acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of the land and waters on which we live and work. We acknowledge their Ancestors who first walked on this land and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future, for they carry the cultural wisdom, the stories, the traditions and dreaming.
Acknowledgement of Lived Experience
We recognise and appreciate the unique and collective contributions of individuals with lived and living experiences of mental ill-health and suicide, as well as those who love, have loved, and provided care for them. Each person’s journey is distinct and represents a valuable contribution to Australia’s ongoing commitment to reforming mental health and suicide prevention systems.
Acknowledgement of Lived Experience
We recognise and appreciate the unique and collective contributions of individuals with lived and living experiences of mental ill-health and suicide, as well as those who love, have loved, and provided care for them. Each person’s journey is distinct and represents a valuable contribution to Australia’s ongoing commitment to reforming mental health and suicide prevention systems.
