Aboriginal Mental Health Cultural Competency Intervention Programs
– A Summary of Available Services

*NOW AVAILABLE: General Cultural Competency Intervention Programs contact IPS for details 

IPS has been at the forefront of research, development and delivery  of a unique range of Aboriginal mental health cultural competency programs since its inception. The foundation of this work has been the award winning research of the IPS Managing Director, Dr Tracy Westerman. Since this foundation research, IPS has focused on the ongoing validation of a suite of Aboriginal mental health specific products and services which in combination provide comprehensive Cultural Competency Intervention Programs for Organisations which operate as stand alone services/products or as as whole of organisational cultural change programs. The entire range of products and services are described more fully in the Cultural Competency Intervention Program Brochure, but in summary include:  

1. ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION: Determining Individual and Organisational Aboriginal Mental Health Cultural Competencies - the Aboriginal Mental Health Cultural Competency Test (CCT: Westerman, 2003, 2010 in preparation)

The CCT is the only tool in Australia that has established its cultural and scientific validity in being able to determine the predictors of Aboriginal mental health cultural competencies. It is commonly used as follows:

Step 1: Individuals complete the CCT to establish a baseline of cultural competence,
Step 2: Individual analysis and feedback is provided and Organisational Cultural Competencies’ are also determined. The organisation is provided with a detailed report and recommendations to improve cultural competencies across the service as a whole.
Step 3: A tailored Cultural Competency Intervention Program is then developed specifically to the cultural needs identified via the analysis in Step 2. The range of programs available from IPS are detailed in points 2-4 below.
Step 4: Re-Evaluation of Organisational and Individual Cultural Competencies. Individuals receive a second report which compares their initial CCT to their post-intervention CCT. Organisations are also provided with a report which details pre and post-intervention cultural competencies with analysis focusing upon the implications of the results and recommendations for the ongoing development of organisational cultural competencies.

AN EVIDENCE BASE OF MEASURING AND IMPROVING ABORIGINAL MENTAL HEALTH CULTURAL COMPETENCIES

IPS analysed its Cultural Competency Intervention Programs to SIX separate organisations targetting a total of 177 practitioners. IPS was able to achieve significant shifts in cultural competencies which were measured before the training program was delivered (pre-training) and following the delivery of the targeted training intervention program (post-training intervention). View the results of IPS' Cultural Competency Intervention Programs here  

2. CULTURAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMS: Targeted Training Intervention

IPS is without peer when it comes to Aboriginal mental health training delivery Australia wide. On average IPS trains over 988 individuals across every state of Australia each year. A total of 8,895 individuals have attended an IPS workshop since 2001. IPS is able to develop, deliver and evaluate targeted training programs in which baseline organisational cultural competencies are determined; a training intervention program developed and delivered and a re-evaluation of competencies occurs. IPS is the only organisation in Australia who have successfully developed, delivered and evaluated such programs. Download the results of these programs here.   

3. CULTURAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMS: Review and Development of Aboriginal specific mental health client policies, procedures and proformas

IPS has developed the only known Aboriginal specific client policies and procedures specifically for use in the mental health service delivery field. These policies enable organisations to work within ’cultural best practice’ and provide the ‘blueprint’ for ensuring that cultural competency is 'everyone's business'.   

4. CULTURAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMS: Cultural Audit of Programs, Psychological Testing and Assessment Protocols

IPS conducts cultural reviews of programs being delivered to Aboriginal organizations which includes guidance regarding changes to existing content as well as process of delivery. IPS has provided numerous reviews of programs for their cultural appropriateness for many national and state based organizations. For an overview of reviews conducted please click here to download brochure. IPS has also developed a significant number of Aboriginal specific psychometric tests and assessments, stemming from the PhD research of Westerman (2003), the cornerstone of which is the Westerman Aboriginal Symptom Checklist - Youth (WASC-Y). This service includes reviewing psychological assessment processes and protocols as well as the development of organisation specific guidelines which governing culturally appropriate psychological testing and assesement of Aboriginal people. 

5. CULTURAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMS: Review and development of Aboriginal Mental Health Service Delivery Models

IPS has arguably conducted more Aboriginal specific mental health intervention programs Australia wide than any organisation in Australia. To date, well over 2,000 Aboriginal people have attended an IPS Mental Health Intervention Program. These programs have involved 14 discrete rural and remote Aboriginal communities across four states of Australia (WA, NT, WA and NSW). For further information on IPS’ very successful programs click here. IPS conducts evaluation of all intervention programs it provides which has resulted in a substantial evidence base regarding effective models of engagement, service delivery and importantly governance. In addition IPS has conducted a number of Aboriginal mental health service delivery reviews of major organisations who are either (1) wishing to commence an Aboriginal mental health program, or (2) wish to improve on current levels of access to their service by Aboriginal clients.

If you would like further information on IPS' Cultural Competency Intervention Programs click here to download the full brochure.