Reverb 2.0 puts Culture and Lived Experience at the Heart of Youth Mental Health
The Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) is reshaping how mental health support reaches multicultural young people.
The Reverb 2.0 program delivered in partnership with headspace National uses peer-led storytelling and cultural insight to break down stigma in mental health care, build confidence and connect young people with the supports they need for their mental health.
Reverb 2.0 has delivered culturally responsive workshops to over 170 staff across 20 headspace centres in Victoria and New South Wales. From July, the program will expand nationally, training even more headspace staff across Australia to help build understanding and improve engagement with multicultural young people.
“Reverb 2.0 is a platform for multicultural young people to lead and share practical, culturally grounded strategies with headspace centre staff – helping them better support diverse communities and their families. By embedding lived experience into every stage – from design to delivery – we’re building a stronger, more inclusive mental health system.” – Bimba Chavan, headspace Multicultural Practice Lead
“Reverb 2.0 is led by young people who’ve lived it. The power of this program comes from young people sharing their culture, lived experience and perceptions of the current mental health system, with the view to create impactful and lasting change.” says Jess Case, CMY Project Lead, Reverb 2.0.
At the centre of the school program are three 55-minute workshops for students in Years 8 to 10, facilitated by Reverb 2.0 Youth Advocates — all young people with lived experience of navigating mental health challenges in multicultural contexts.
Through storytelling, peer connection and culturally grounded content, the workshops help students to:
- Understand the link between mental health and cultural identity
- Build confidence and challenge stigma among peers
- Learn practical ways to access support services
Workshops are fully subsidised, meaning there is no cost to schools or students, thanks to targeted program funding.
Mental health support doesn’t work when it’s one-size-fits-all. We bring lived experience stories into the room, so young people feel seen, heard, and understood — not judged,” says Jess.
“Reverb 2.0 is the program I wish I had in school. It’s made, and delivered, by young people who get it, and covers the conversations around mental health that matter to us.” – Adriel, Reverb 2.0 Youth Advocate
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The Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) is a non-profit organisation based in Victoria. We’ve been shaping culture since 1988. Our purpose is to create a society where multicultural young people live a life where they are connected and can fully reach their potential.