A practice guide from the national psychology body on how to work well with professional interpreters. It gives psychologists practical advice for sessions that use an interpreter.
Topic: Workforce and cultural responsiveness
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Mental Health Interpreting: Guidelines for Interpreters
Guidelines written for spoken and sign language interpreters who work in mental health settings. They cover key terms, protocols, ethics, self-care and patients’ rights.
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Transcultural Mental Health Practice Kit
An online kit to help GPs and health professionals give good mental health care to people from culturally diverse backgrounds. It includes assessment tools, communication tips and cultural perspectives on diagnosis and treatment.
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Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide: Mental health
An online guide for GPs, nurses and other primary care workers caring for people from refugee backgrounds, including people seeking asylum. It includes a mental health section for clinicians.
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Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Acute Stress Disorder, PTSD and Complex PTSD: Refugees and asylum seekers
The refugee and asylum seeker section of Australia’s national PTSD treatment guidelines. It advises broad assessment that includes migration history, visa status and current stresses, and says trauma-focused therapy works but must be paired with practical support.
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Designing mental health services for young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds: Good practice framework
A practical guide for Primary Health Networks and services on designing youth mental health services that work for young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. It was developed with young people, services and PHNs, alongside a literature review.
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Recommendations for a Culturally Responsive Mental Health System
Joint recommendations from a peak community body and the state transcultural mental health unit on how Victoria’s reformed mental health system can be culturally safe and responsive.
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A review of mental ill health for culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Western Australia
A literature review for the WA Mental Health Commission on mental health in CALD communities. It found there is no reliable data on how common mental health issues are in these communities in WA, and it recommends funding transcultural services and cultural training for staff.
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Diverse Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework 2025–2035 and Blueprint 2025–2028
A ten-year Victorian framework, with a first action plan, to make the mental health system safe and inclusive for multicultural Victorians, LGBTIQA+ Victorians and Victorians with disability. It aims to reduce stigma and discrimination and uses an intersectional approach.
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Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 (Vic)
Victoria’s mental health law, which replaced the Mental Health Act 2014. Its principles say services must consider a person’s language, culture, ethnicity and faith and be culturally safe for people of all backgrounds.