The Bouverie Centre
Where Families Matter
Established in 1956, the Bouverie Centre is a premier clinical, teaching, and research hub and a trusted leader in family therapy and systemic practices.Our multidisciplinary staff of family therapists, First Nations advisors, researchers and educators - together with our family member advisors - bring compassion and diverse knowledge and lived experience to all elements of our work.
As a statewide service within the Victorian Government’s mental health care system, we provide training to a wide range of workforces to support growing capabilities in systemic practice, as well as direct support to families through our specialist family therapy clinic. We have a special focus on family-based supports for mental illness and/or alcohol and other drug misuse, prevention and recovery from relational trauma, across the lifecourse. Within this, we have an abiding commitment to supporting families whose contexts call for deep knowledge of intersectional challenge, including for First Nations families, families with a LGBTIQ+ member, families living in rural and regional areas, and military and veteran families.
As an integrated research centre within La Trobe University, we underpin our clinical, training and education pillars with research, to advance systemic knowledge and its translation. We have a strong focus on building evidence for accessible, effective practice innovations that uplift relational health in challenging times, across diverse family contexts. Through our University home, we support post-graduate training programs in Family Therapy. We partner widely throughout Australia and globally, to build systemic capacity and to inform policies that support family, community and societal well-being.
Families
Our work centres on and radiates out from family contexts. By family, we mean people connected by biology, or by choice, who share caregiving bonds, and influence each other’s wellbeing. Family takes many forms and is both a uniquely personal yet completely shared human experience. Family is embedded deeply in cultural systems, past and present, that connect and influence. Since Bouverie’s establishment in 1956, our purpose has been to nurture the relational ties that make us well — from families to nations.
The Bouverie Centre has four integrated functions, supported by devoted programs and integrated specialist teams.
- Family Therapy Services
- Practice and Service Development
- Research & Evaluation Partnerships
- Academic Qualifying Courses
Our functions are grouped into program areas, staffed by leaders in family therapy practice, teaching and research. These functions are further resourced by specialist teams, namely Partnerships and Pathways, Digital Operations, Production and Communications, and Service Support. Two reference groups provide ongoing input across our four functions: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, and Family Violence.
Woven throughout all Bouverie does is a First Nations perspective, with First Nations staff advising and consulting on the work of all program areas.
Visit the Our people page to find out more about our staff.
We share old wisdoms and generate new knowledge about relational health, the bedrock of personal and societal wellbeing.
Bouverie has long been a hub for connecting practitioners from all disciplines to ongoing professional learning and development.
We are a touchpoint for lifelong learning for many family therapists.
From individuals to governments, we enhance relational capacities and help to build skills.
- Serving families who seek our support with care and evidence-based approaches
- Innovating ways to strengthen family connections, security, and resourcefulness
- Building capacity in workforces to implement effective, family-inclusive care
- Teaching systemic family therapy
- Researching family-inclusive care and translating evidence into benefits for all
OUR VALUES
Bouverie has a long history as a values-based teaching organisation. Our work is embedded in multiple contexts.
We understand the privilege of our systemic service and leadership roles.
We always aim to conduct our work in ways that respect, safeguard, and enhance the ecosystems within which we operate: human, cultural, and environmental.
We respect and learn from many people:
- First Nations traditional owners of the vast lands across which we work
- Our staff, alumni, and friends, in all their rich diversity
- Our partners: industry, university and government
- The families we serve
- Our history
Our values shape how we learn, serve, teach, and lead – at every level. At core, we are...
Curious - Approaching people and ideas with openness and genuine willingness to learn
Collaborative - Working together in ways that strengthen relationships and outcomes
Inclusive - Ensuring every voice has space and value
Innovative - Developing evidence-based ideas to create lasting impact
The Bouverie Centre’s work is guided by a number of reference and advisory groups.
The Centre’s advisory groups consist of:
- Professional Advisory Group is made up of Industry, Government and University professionals.
- Family Advisory Group made up of families who have completed therapy with the Centre.
- First Nations Advisory Group made up of Elders, and Industry and University advisors.
Together, they both advise on the work that is underway at Bouverie and help steer future directions.
Directions 2026-2030
Our 2026-2030 Strategic Directions are crafted to foster transparency, alignment, and collaboration across our organisation and external networks. Explore how this resource supports our purpose and empowers us to work smarter, together.