Origins

Origins supports people who are experiencing a mental illness and who come from a culturally and linguistically diverse background.

Melbourne’s southeastern region is home to large numbers of people who have arrived from all over the world. In the city of Greater Dandenong alone 178 different languages are spoken. Language and culture differences can complicate matters when it comes to finding and using mental health and other support services.

Origins assists clients to make the best use of community resources and also introduce them to other Ermha programs that provide different support opportunities. For example, Origins clients can join our Aspirations day program which offers, among other resources, pre-vocational and job-training support.

Origins uses an outreach approach (one-to-one, home-based support) and we also support clients in small groups. This two tier approach means we can tailor our support more closely to our clients’ needs. We are committed to developing and maintaining long-term supportive relationships with clients and wherever possible we seek to draw family members and other carers into the recovery process.

Origins staff seek to
• Build carer and client friendly pathways to mainstream services
• Ease access to a range of community support options
• Build more support opportunities within Ermha for Origins clients

Origins has a strong community development emphasis and we actively seek to engage with new arrivals to ensure the earliest possible provision of culturally appropriate services and support.
As well as experiencing a mental illness, Origins clients face added challenges related to employment, finance, housing and the adjustment to a new culture and language.

The Origins program works with other support agencies to build a web that provides comprehensive and continuing support for our clients on their path to recovery. For example, we work with the Southeast Migrant Resource Centre, Foundation House (a support service for survivors of trauma and torture) and Southern Health’s Area Mental Health Service.

Origins clients are referred to us by other support agencies. We also accept self-referrals.

Download the Origins brochure as a pdf