Knowledge Hub

This document is designed to improve assessment and treatment of mental illness through effective communication between a mental health practitioner and an individual through the engagement of an interpreter. Language can be a significant barrier for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds to access and use services.

This glossary is one of a series of glossaries developed by the Queensland Transcultural Mental Health Centre. It is a compilation of some of the more common mental health terms used in mental health settings, as well as a brief overview of the mental health system and services.

Available in 30 languages, including: Amharic, Arabic, Bosnian, Burmese, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Croatian, Dari, Farsi (Persian), French, Greek, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Karen, Khmer, Kirundi, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Samoan, Serbian, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog (Filipino), Tamil, Thai, Tigrinya, Vietnamese

Accessing Mental Health Services- Resource by Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health (available in other languages)

The purpose of this guide is to provide information to Australian Mental Health services, practitioners, Primary Health Networks and other on what good practice looks like in working effectively with people from CALD backgrounds. It is intended to provide practical advice and guidance for mental health service providers. 

This guide was developed by the Embrace Project and published in August 2020

This guide is designed to support providers of mental health care to be able to deliver their services in a gender affirming way to support the needs of trans and/or gender diverse people. 

'The Guide for Clinicians Working with Interpreters in Healthcare Settings provides evidence-based recommendations for effective communication in the event of doctor-patient language discordance, specifically with regard to engaging and working with interpreters. The Guide has been officially recognised as an Accepted Clinical Resource by The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.' (Migrant and Refugee Women's Health Partnership)

This guide was developed by the Migrant and Refugee Women's Health Partnership, 2019.

This Guide to Better Communication with CALD Communities provides you with tools to understand your language needs, so that you know exactly what to look for when sourcing language services. 

This Guide has been developed by Polaron Language Services.

Access a guide to Managing Sensitive Content and Conversations in Classrooms, by Foundation House, that lists strategies and methods for supporting students belonging to refugee backgrounds. 

Link to resource: Managing Sensitive Content and Conversations in Classrooms

The unique experiences of refugees and humanitarian entrants prior to their arrival in Australia can have a significant impact on their health outcomes. Understanding the health status, health care needs and health service use of humanitarian entrants can provide vital information to inform policies and services for these diverse populations.

This web report presents data on the health outcomes, health service use and causes of death for humanitarian entrants who arrived in Australia from 2000 to 2020.

Web report by Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2023 | Last updated: 03 Nov 2023 

This guide is for staff in community and clinical services who support people living with mental illness, their families and carers.

Hints for Healing, by STARTTS, contains a suite of practical resources aimed at supporting educators and school counsellors who play an instrumental role in the recovery, resettlement and development of learners with a refugee experience .