Statewide Safewards Community of Practice event

The Eastern Health Mental Health and Wellbeing Program, in partnership with Safer Care Victoria, hosted the first statewide Safewards Community of Practice event for 2025. The event welcomed staff from both regional and metropolitan area mental health and wellbeing services.

Victoria’s Chief Mental Health Nurse, Anna Love, opened the event by highlighting the crucial role of the Safewards framework in reducing occupational violence within the sector.

Eastern Health staff were prominent throughout the day, with presentations from Acting Clinical Nurse Consultant, Emily Mattsson, Clinical Nurse Consultants, Emma Cain, Katlin Pal and Rose Nguyen, and Senior Psychiatric Nurse, Harry Singh.

A keynote address was delivered by Associate Professor Bridget Hamilton. These presentations showcased innovative approaches to embedding the Safewards framework and reflected the team’s ongoing commitment to improving staff safety and consumer care. Additionally, an update on Eastern Health’s Safewards acute project was presented by Kristel Ward-Stockham.

The event featured a live panel discussion, a presentation by Grampians Health and Safer Care Victoria’s senior project officer. Ending the event was a review of “Pledges” made by each health service during the previous Community of Practice event six months earlier. Each set new pledges for the 2026 Community of Practice, outlining ambitious goals and reaffirming their commitment to the Safewards framework.

This event is one of the ways the Eastern Health Mental Health and Wellbeing program continue to strive for our promise of ‘Healthier Together’.