This chapter discusses some of the complex issues surrounding the notion of cultural competence—and the critical need for practitioners to develop knowledge, skills, understandings and attributes to be responsive in diverse cultural settings. The argument for culturally competent mental health practitioners and services is situated within a human rights framework which underpins the principles, standards...

The performance of mainstream services provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians is a particular focus of the annual Report on Government Services. This Indigenous Compendium contains all the Indigenous data to be found in the most recent Report, published in January 2014. This Compendium, like the Report, was compiled by the Steering Committee...

Summary: This information paper presents findings from engagement conducted over the past 12 months with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and homelessness service providers in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples perspectives on homelessness. The paper presents different perspectives of homelessness and their alignment with the ABS statistical definition of homelessness and...

This study aimed to develop a culturally acceptable and valid scale to assess depressive symptoms in older Indigenous Australians, to determine the prevalence of depressive disorders in the older Kimberley community, and to investigate the sociodemographic, lifestyle and clinical factors associated with depression in this population.

Throughout the legal profession and law schools of Australia, people are exploring how to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of the legal profession. I recently visited universities in Canada, the USA and New Zealand (‘CANZUS’) to learn about the programs available to their Indigenous law students. Throughout the visit, it...