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About Us

Founded in 2012, but with a history spanning back to the 1940’s,
The Dax Centre is the premier gallery and education centre of it’s kind in Melbourne

 We work with emerging artists with lived experience of mental health issues, providing a safe and supportive environment for the artists to exhibit their work, develop their art practice and raise the public’s awareness of these artist’s important cultural contributions

We deliver education programs to secondary and tertiary students that inspire young people, expand their understanding of mental health issues and break down stigma

Through our exhibitions and educational programs we engage, inform and encourage conversations about mental health through art

We challenge stigma towards mental health issues and start conversations that advance the understanding of mental health issues and build empathy

We are the custodians of the Cunningham Dax Collection of art, one of only four collections of its kind in the world and the only Collection of it’s size and type in Australia

The Dax Centre Ltd is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee with charitable/DGR status

Our mission is to advance the understanding of mental health issues and reduce stigma through art



The Dax Centre is proudly part of the SANE Australia Group

 In April 2018 The Dax Centre merged with SANE Australia, a national mental health charity promoting the wellbeing of the four million Australians affected by complex mental illness, which includes schizophrenia, bipolar, personality disorders, eating disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and severe and enduring mood and anxiety disorders

The common goal of both organisations is to raise awareness of mental illness and its consequences and ramifications with an aim to reduce stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness. This goal was a driving force for the merger. The merger provides new opportunities to grow The Dax Centre’s programs in Victoria and nationally