About Hamilton Centre Podcast | Exploring Mental Health & Addiction
The Hamilton Centre Podcast | Exploring Mental Health & Addiction is for service providers, individuals and family members dealing with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions. In response to the recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System (2021), the Centre was established to create a more inclusive and supportive system by promoting integrated care in Victoria, Australia.
Our podcast will feature interviews with service providers, individuals with lived experience, and workers who assist people with co-occurring conditions. We aim to promote holistic care throughout Victoria by breaking down barriers to treatment and through open minds and open doors.
This series features Gemma Turvey's composition, "Turquoise," performed by Gemma on piano, Craig Beard on vibraphone, and the talented musicians of the New Palm Court Orchestra.
EP 11 - Youth-focused mental health and AOD care: Lived experience and family voices
How can services better support young people? How does stigma shape the way youth and families experience mental health and AOD care? And what happens when lived experience moves from the margins into service design?
In this episode, Hamilton Centre (https://www.hamiltoncentre.org.au/) Relationship and Partnership Lead Annie Williams is joined by Nathan Abaloz, Youth Peer Advocate at Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS) (https://ysas.org.au/), and Donna Ortiz, parent advocate and member of the YSAS Family Reference Group.
They explore how youth voice and family perspectives are shaping more responsive mental health and AOD services.
Nathan shares insights from his work with the YSAS Youth Advisory Committee (The Crew), including harm reduction, media literacy and amplifying young people’s voices through a range of initiatives.
Donna reflects on her journey as a parent supporting a young person through complex challenges, the isolation carers can face and the power of hope and peer connection.
This episode discusses what it takes to embed genuine partnership with young people and families.
Guests:
Nathan Abaloz is a Youth Peer Advocate with YSAS who is passionate about supporting and advocating for young people to have the best possible future, especially those who are marginalised. He works with the YSAS Youth Advisory Committee, known as The Crew, which consists of a diverse group of young people sharing their lived and living experience and expertise to help shape and improve services and policy. Nathan's areas of interest include harm reduction, destigmatisation, youth justice and reforms.
Donna Ortiz is a parent and carer with lived experience supporting young people through mental health and substance use challenges. Donna became involved with YSAS in 2021 when her youngest son engaged with their services during COVID. Donna now contributes to the YSAS Family Reference Group, a small team of parent carers and staff working to provide feedback and improve services for families. She is passionate about giving back and helping shape how YSAS supports young people and their families.
20 Jan 2026
EP 10 - How workforce investment builds stronger, more sustainable systems of integrated care
In this episode, we explore the critical role of workforce investment in driving meaningful, system-wide change.
This panel discussion was recorded on 11 December 2025 at an in-person event that brought together leaders and workers from Victoria’s mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) sectors. The event was hosted by the Hamilton Centre (https://www.hamiltoncentre.org.au/) in partnership with Mental Health Victoria (https://www.mhvic.org.au/) and the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing (https://vccmhw.vic.gov.au/).
The panel unpacks what it takes to translate investment in people into real-world impact. They discuss emerging models that embed lasting change, persistent barriers to progress and how we can strengthen the link between capability building and better outcomes for individuals, services and systems.
Guests
A/Prof Ravi Bhat AM
Associate Professor Ravi Bhat is Clinical Director at Goulburn Valley Mental Health and Wellbeing service and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Department of Rural Health at The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Medical School. He was recently recognised by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) as a Rural Champion for 2025, for his leadership of mental health services in rural and regional settings.
Ms Madeleine Harradence
Ms Maddy Harradence is the branch secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) and is a registered nurse with extensive emergency department experience. Maddy has previously held the AOD portfolio with the ANMF and led the Branch’s education and advocacy work in AOD nurse and midwife training.
A/Prof Lee Allen
Associate Professor Lee Allen is a Deputy Chief Psychiatrist at the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist at Safer Care Victoria. She has chaired the RANZCP Victorian Branch training committee for psychiatry trainees for over a decade. She has an interest in wellbeing and curriculum design, sexual safety, mental health workforce, collaboration with primary mental health care and the voice of lived and living expertise in the community.
Moderator
Professor Dan Lubman AM
Executive Clinical Director at Turning Point and Professor of Addiction Studies and Services at Monash University.
Professor Lubman has worked across mental health and drug treatment settings in the UK and Australia. His research is wide-ranging and includes investigating the harms associated with alcohol, drugs and gambling, the impact of alcohol and drug use on brain function, the relationship between substance use, gambling and mental disorder, as well as the development of targeted telephone, online and face-to-face intervention programs within school, primary care, mental health and drug treatment settings.
14 Apr 2025
EP 9 - Two years of the Hamilton Centre: Advancing mental health and addiction care
Professor Margaret Hamilton AO and Associate Professor Shalini Arunogiri discuss the Hamilton Centre's two-year journey advancing integrated mental health and addiction care in Australia.
19 Mar 2025
EP 8 - The role of lived experience in shaping mental health and AOD care
Benn Veenker and Tharindu Jayadeva discuss how their lived experiences shape mental health and addiction care, advocating for inclusive, trauma-responsive services.
20 Feb 2025
EP 7 – Holistic care for families affected by addiction and mental illness
Hamilton Centre's Annie Williams interviews A/Prof Brendan O'Hanlon and Robert Campbell on providing holistic care and support for families navigating addiction and mental illness.
19 Dec 2024
EP 6 - Navigating the intersection of mental health and substance use with LGBTIQA+ people
Annie Williams interviews Molly and Keiran from Thorne Harbour Health about navigating mental health and substance use challenges within the LGBTIQA+ community.
2 Sept 2024
EP 5 - Supporting AOD and Mental Health Workers in Navigating Complex Cases
Host Annie Williams interviews Senior Social Worker Sally Thomas and Senior Psychiatric Nurse James Steevenson about supporting AOD and mental health workers with complex cases.
7 Aug 2024
EP 4 - Lived Experience Workers & Human-Centred Practices in Integrated Care
Host Annie Williams interviews lived experience workers Sally Chin and Lee-Ann about integrating their unique perspectives into human-centred care for mental health and addiction.
9 Jul 2024
EP 3 - Inclusive Approaches in Mental Health and Addiction Care
In this episode, Annie Williams, Clinical Transformation Lead at Hamilton Centre, welcomes Dr Thileepan Naren, a GP and Addiction Medicine Specialist with interests and experience in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare, custodial health, and drug and alcohol management, along with Tracy Wrigley, a Registered Nurse with extensive experience in the AOD sector, as well as health service redesign and clinician education in Australia and the UK.
They highlight the importance of collaboration between the mental health and addiction sectors in delivering integrated care, discussing barriers to seamless integration and the need for education and stigma reduction. The Hamilton Centre plays a pivotal role in treating patients with co-occurring conditions and amplifying the voices of marginalised individuals.
Including people with lived and living experiences in the interdisciplinary team is crucial for promoting integrated care. The guests advise service providers seeking to implement or improve integrated care initiatives, emphasising the importance of involving individuals with lived experience in the planning and decision-making process. They also express excitement about the Hamilton Centre's future expansion into rural and regional areas, aiming to reach and support more people.
Takeaways:
Collaboration between the mental health and addiction sectors is vital for integrated care delivery.
Education and stigma reduction are crucial for overcoming integration barriers.
The Hamilton Centre plays a pivotal role in treating patients with dual diagnoses and advocating for marginalised individuals.
Involving people with lived experience in the interdisciplinary team is essential for promoting integrated care.
Service providers should involve individuals with lived experience in planning and decision-making for integrated care initiatives.
27 Jun 2024
Expanding the Reach: The Importance of Involving Lived Experience
Dr. Thileepan Naren and Tracy Wrigley interview Annie Williams about integrating mental health and addiction services by involving lived experience for better patient care.
18 Jun 2024
Building Relationships & Addressing Stigma in Healthcare
Annie Williams interviews Professor Edward Ogden and Allison Szarejko on building relationships and addressing stigma to improve integrated mental health and addiction care.
18 Jun 2024
EP 2 - Building Relationships & Addressing Stigma in Healthcare
In this episode, Annie Williams, Hamilton Centre Transformation Lead, interviews two guests from the Hamilton Centre Clinical Network at Austin Health and Goulburn Valley Health: Professor Edward Ogden PSM, Alcohol and Other Drug Consultant, and Allison Page, Mental Health Nurse and Clinical Lead. They highlight the importance of building relationships and understanding the needs of individuals and services in order to provide effective integrated care. They also emphasise the need to address stigma and unconscious biases in the healthcare system. The guests discuss the challenges and rewards of working in rural and regional areas, as well as the importance of education and training in the mental health and substance use fields.
Takeaways
Building relationships and understanding the needs of individuals and services are key to providing effective integrated care.
Addressing stigma and unconscious biases is crucial in the healthcare system.
Working in Victorian rural and regional areas presents unique challenges and rewards.
Education and training in the mental health and substance use fields need to be improved.
Integrated care requires collaboration and a client-focused approach.
28 May 2024
Integrated Care in Mental Health and Addiction | Shalini Arunogiri interviews Dan Lubman and Lisa Jarvie
Clinical Director Shalini Arunogiri interviews Addiction Psychiatrist Dan Lubman and Clinical Quality Improvement Lead Lisa Jarvie on integrating mental health and addiction care for better patient outcomes.
28 May 2024
EP 1 - Integrated Care in Mental Health and Addiction | Shalini Arunogiri interviews Dan Lubman and Lisa Jarvie
In the first episode, Shalini Arunogiri, Clinical Director at the Hamilton Centre, interviews Dan Lubman, Addiction Psychiatrist and Executive Clinical Director at Turning Point, and Lisa Jarvie, Clinical Quality Improvement Lead at the Hamilton Centre. They discuss the importance of integrated care in the mental health and addiction sectors, the challenges faced by workers, and the role of the Centre in providing support and upskilling. They also touch on the need for data collection and evaluation to drive improvement and address gaps in the system. The episode concludes with a vision for the future of the Hamilton Centre, which includes service expansion and a unified approach to care.
Takeaways
Integrated care is crucial in addressing the complex needs of individuals with mental health and addiction issues.
Workers need support and upskilling to effectively provide care for individuals with co-occurring conditions.
Data collection and evaluation are essential for driving improvement and addressing gaps in the system.
The Hamilton Centre aims to expand its services statewide and create a unified approach to care.
The ultimate goal is to provide meaningful support to all individuals seeking mental health and addiction services.
Who has been a guest on Hamilton Centre Podcast | Exploring Mental Health & Addiction
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
A/Prof Brendan O'Hanlon
Robert Campbell
Molly
Keiran
Sally Thomas
Podcast Authority Score: 13 / 100
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Questions about Hamilton Centre Podcast | Exploring Mental Health & Addiction
Who hosts Hamilton Centre Podcast | Exploring Mental Health & Addiction?
Annie Williams host the show. Published by Hamilton Centre.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
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