This guide aims to drive high-quality implementation of mental health workforce capability building, with the goal of improved service experience for consumers, families, carers and supporters in Victoria, Australia. Grounded in implementation science, the guide offers a flexible, practical and real-world approach. Implementation science focuses on how a practice, program or other innovation can be applied in real world settings to improve consumer outcomes.

The guide is developed to support managers and organisation leaders put into everyday practice a set of common values, approaches, attitudes and ways of working considered essential for safe and effective service in Victoria’s mental health system. It provides practical steps and strategies to embed the capabilities and principles in Our workforce, our future.

There are tools, checklists and strategies that can be adapted to different needs – whether users are at the start of an implementation effort or wanting to refine existing activities. Key terms and concepts are explained in plain language, with case studies illustrating how these might apply in the mental health service context and across the different stages of implementation. 

The guide explains:

• what implementation science is and why it is important
• implementation barriers and enablers
• how to select and apply implementation strategies
• how organisations and services can track and measure implementation outcomes
• tools and resources to help implementation efforts.