Empowering the Workforce
This research is designed to empower the mental health workforce to deliver an improved workforce model of care that is culturally appropriate for, and responsive to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
In both mainstream and Aboriginal community-controlled mental health services, this stream will focus on:
- building the cultural responsiveness of the non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health workforce,
- mapping and supporting SEWB workforce needs and,
- empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander capacity and leadership within the mental health and SEWB sector
A culturally responsive workforce will support integrated mental health, suicide prevention, alcohol and other drugs (AOD), and SEWB service delivery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, improve access and uptake of services, and ultimately improve health and wellbeing outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.
Cultural responsiveness will be strengthened through the revitalisation of the Australian Indigenous Psychology Education Project (AIPEP-2) by decolonising psychology curricula, working with key psychology stakeholders and organisations to build capacity and increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ participation in psychology education and training, and develop a culturally responsive workforce.
The TIMHWB team will also undertake an evaluation of the pilot of the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA) SEWB service model across five regional ACCHS trial sites. Findings of the evaluation will inform systems and processes essential for supporting and developing the SEWB workforce in WA. For more information, see Key Projects below. Together, this research aims to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ and communities’ mental health and SEWB and build long-term, sustainable service capacity.
Key Projects
- Decolonising and transforming psychology education across higher education providers.
- Build a more sustainable and equitable society by increasing participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in psychology.
- Develop a culturally responsive workforce
AIPEP-2 works in partnership with key executive psychology stakeholders, including the APS, AIPA, HODSPA, APAC, and PsyBA, to build capacity, facilitate advocacy, and ensure policy translation.
AIPEP-2 also works closely with higher education providers across Australia to build a national Community of Practice, of which currently 80% of higher education providers have joined. The Community of Practice assists educators to transform their curriculum and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
AIPEP-2 and the UWA SPS work in partnership to decolonise psychology at a school level through yarning circles held with UWA SPS course convenors and educators and the AIPEP-2 team.
Learn more about these projects with the fact sheet below.
- Consistent with the recommendation from the SEWB gatherings, we will work in partnership with GDPSA to renew the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing 2017-2023 (MH&SEWB Framework) to reflect recent policy changes and ensure the third MH&SEWB Framework is ready for implementation.
- The TIMHWB team will undertake an evaluation of the pilot of AHCWA’s SEWB service model across five regional ACCHS trial sites. The trial commenced in July 2022 and will be completed in July 2024.
- Findings of the evaluation will inform systems and processes essential for supporting and developing the SEWB workforce in Western Australia and will also be translated and disseminated for the wider public. The evaluation findings can also be used to improve access and deliver culturally secure Aboriginal community-controlled health services across Australia.
Goals
- Empower educators to decolonise psychology higher education to increase students’ cultural responsiveness with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Increase the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in psychology higher education
- Build the cultural responsiveness capacity of the current mental health workforce
- Inform strong systems and processes that support SEWB workforces to deliver culturally secure Aboriginal community-controlled health services and strengthen SEWB outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.
