Asian, migrant and refugee

Mental health and addiction workforce development

Cultural capability of the mental health and addition workforce is essential to ensure Asian, migrant and refugee people have equity in access to appropriate and high quality services. This includes individual practitioner-client transactions and relations, as well as the systems and organisational cultures within which care is provided.

The Office of Ethnic Affairs data, and other research, show that health and social services are under-utilised by Asian, migrants and refugees, and that one of the barriers is that services are not responsive to cultural differences or needs. At Te Pou, we recognise it is time for health practitioners in New Zealand to become more culturally responsive in working with these culturally and linguistically diverse clients.

We work closely with experts from the sector to ensure the work we do meets the needs of the workforce and ultimately those of people who use services.

Current areas of work

Supporting cultural competency

RAS (Refugees as Survivors) and WDHB (Waitemata District Health Board) in association Te Pou have partnered to deliver the culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) national training programme. This was made possible by the Innovation Fund.

The two organisations combined resources and skills to meet a growing and vital need for training in cultural competencies that enables health professionals to work effectively with people arriving as refugees from diverse multicultural backgrounds.

The training is intended for frontline staff working with refugees and/or migrants from diverse cultural backgrounds. It includes components of how to work with and through interpreters, how to assess and assist in more culturally responsive and effective ways, and how to apply new knowledge in practical settings. Between August 2008 and March 2009 120 frontline staff were trained, there is an urgent need from the sector for this training and all training days were over subscribed.

Research agendas

Te Pou was commissioned by the Ministry of Health to develop national research agendas for Asian and refugee and migrant communities. These research agendas aim to support the development of an evidence base around what works and what does not work in mental health promotion, service access and service delivery for these specific population groups.

Knowledge Exchange

Stories of change showcase inspirational stories on mental health and addiction services, including Bo Ai She, a Chinese Peer Support group, and the Refugees as Survivors mobile team .

Northern region Asian, migrant and refugee mental health and addiction advisory group

The Advisory Group was formed by the Northern DHB Support Agency (NDSA) to provide strategic advice to the development of service responsiveness to Asian, migrant, and refugee communities in the Auckland region.

The advisory group is made up of representatives from the three Auckland metropolitan district health boards, primary health organisations, non-government organisations, settlement related agencies, Te Pou, practitioners, and Asian, migrant and refugee communities in the region.

Some of our past areas of work.

Some handy links

Services

Asian health support service
Auckland Regional Public Health Service: Asian Health

Workforce

CALD training The CALD training is a practical course designed to improve cultural awareness, knowledge and skills how to work with and understand Asian, migrant and refugee clients from different cultural backgrounds and how to work with interpreters effectively to improve the communication process.

Asian mental health nursing roles Skills Matter Developing the Asian Mental Health workforce has recently been acknowledged as one of the leading challenges specified in Te Kokiri: the Mental Health and Addiction Action Plan 2006-2015 (Ministry of Health, 2006).

Refugee Health Care: A Handbook for Health Professionals The Handbook has been developed for general practitioners and other health workers who care for refugee people. The book not only provides insights into the cultural and ethnic backgrounds of the main refugee groups in New Zealand but also provides guidance to health professionals on conducting culturally sensitive consultations and effective use of interpreters. There are sections that cover mental health issues.

Research

Te Pou Knowledge Exchange search for Asian and refugee research in NZ
CAHRE - Centre for Asian Health Research and Evaluation University of Auckland
Centre for Asian and Migrant health research AUT University
Mental Health Foundation recommended reading on Asian mental health

Policy

Ministry of Health, Asian Project page
Asian mental health Network North

If you would like your website listed please contact Martin Molloy.

Page last updated: 7 May 2010

The Asian Mental Health Education CD is available to view online, hosted on the University of Auckland website.