The Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing (VCCMHW) recently delivered its first co-facilitated Motivational Interviewing (MI) training, bringing Lived Experience and clinical educators together in a shared learning space.

 

Motivational Interviewing is a well-established, person-centred approach that supports people to explore ambivalence and strengthen motivation for change. The co-delivery model, which embedded Lived Experience knowledge alongside clinical expertise as equal and complementary forms of practice wisdom strengthened the learning for participants.

 

Through practical activities and reflective discussion, participants explored not only how MI works in practice, but how it feels from the perspective of people accessing services. This dual lens deepened understanding of MI's core principles "collaboration, autonomy, empathy, and respect" and highlighted how language and power dynamics can shape engagement and outcomes.

 

This training marks an important step in the Collaborative Centre's commitment to Lived Experience co-design and workforce capability, aligned with the Royal Commission's vision for a more collaborative and recovery-oriented mental health system.