Cultural Competency Training for the Mental Health & Addiction Workforce Working with CALD Asian and Refugee Communities

We are pleased to announce the launch of this new "Cultural Competency Training Programme for the Mental Health and Addiction Workforce Working with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Asian and Refugee communities". It is funded by Te Whatu Ora Mental Health and Addiction (Commissioning) Directorate. 

Completing this programme will equip the workforce to gain new skills and knowledge to meet the diverse and unique needs of the Asian and refugee communities, who are accessing mental health and addiction services and support. There are online and remote F2F virtual courses for clinical and non-clinical mental health and addiction workforce working in hospitals, specialists, primary care and NGO services. Click on the modules to find out more and how to enrol.

Basic Competencies in Working with CALD Communities in a Mental Health and Addiction Context

Module 801-1

Basic Competencies in Working with CALD Communities in a Mental Health and Addiction Context

This course is for staff working in clinical roles. On completing this course, you will have gained an understanding of what is required for cultural competency and developed new skills, attitudes and knowledge to work with Asian and refugee communities in a culturally safe, equitable, person-centred and responsive manner.

Essential competencies in Working with Asian communities in a Mental Health and Addiction Context

Module 801-2

Essential competencies in Working with Asian communities in a Mental Health and Addiction Context

Coming soon

This course will not be available until the end of 2023.

Essential competencies in Working with Refugee communities in a Mental Health and Addiction Context

Module 801-3

Essential competencies in Working with Refugee communities in a Mental Health and Addiction Context

Coming soon

This course will not be available until the end of 2023.

Basic Competencies in Working with interpreters

Module 801-4

Basic Competencies in Working with interpreters

This course is for staff working in clinical roles. Upon completing this module, you will have gained guidance, practical knowledge and skills to work effectively with interpreters in telehealth, in-person or group settings.

Cultural Competency & Customer Service

Module 1CS

Cultural Competency & Customer Service

For non-clinicians

This course is for customer service or non-clinical roles. The aim of this course is to increase awareness of your own cultural values and cultural values different from your own and to develop skills to apply the principles of cultural competence in your interaction with CALD clients.

Working with CALD clients in Palliative care

Module 6

Working with CALD clients in Palliative care

This course aims to provide strategies for managing cross-cultural interactions, treatment, and interventions when working with CALD clients and families during palliative and end-of-life care.

Working with Religious Diversity

Module 7

Working with Religious Diversity

The aim of this course is to ensure learners are aware of religious diversity and gain skills to assess and accommodate the spiritual/religious needs of patients and families.

Working with CALD Families - Disability Awareness

Module 8

Working with CALD Families - Disability Awareness

The aim of this course is to introduce you to the challenges of working with the cultural beliefs about disability that impact on treatment and interventions, as well as ways to accommodate different beliefs and attitudes wherever possible.

 Working in a Mental Health Context with CALD Children and Adolescents

Module 10

Working in a Mental Health Context with CALD Children and Adolescents

The aim of this course is to provide strategies for managing cross-cultural interactions, screening, assessment, treatment and interventions when working with CALD children, adolescents and families in a mental health context.

 Working with Addiction with CALD Clients

Module 11

Working with Addiction with CALD Clients

The aim of this course is to provide strategies for managing cross-cultural interactions, assessment, intervention and treatment in an addiction context when working with CALD clients and their families.

Assessment and Diagnosis

Module 301-2

Assessment and Diagnosis

It provides knowledge for recognising the differing expression of distress and explanations of illness; strategies to engage with CALD clients and their families; considerations when using screening tools and conducting Mental Status Examination; a cultural assessment tool and guidance on how to develop a cultural formulation.

Treating cross-culturally

Module 301-3

Treating cross-culturally

It provides knowledge for selecting suitable therapeutic modalities for CALD clients; understanding ethnopsychopharmacology applicable to CALD clients; identifying differing ethnocultural transference issues, and; collaborative approaches to enhance clinical intervention.