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The aim of the Children and Families Mental Health Program is to enhance the mental health of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) children and their families. The program uses a collaborative community development approach that is sensitive to cultural values, child-rearing practices and language needs.
The program is involved in a range of initiatives that;
- raise awareness of mental health issues amongst CALD children and their families
- provide prevention and early intervention services
- provide treatment and rehabilitation and support services
- embed awareness of diversity within child and family mental health policies
Click on the links below to find out more about our initiatives;
The Healthy Kids Guide is a series of mental health fact sheets for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and the extended family of children from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Each fact sheet provides information about a specific topic as well as contact details for organisations that can provide further assistance.
The guide was developed in partnership with the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. It has been widely distributed to health and community organisations throughout NSW, nationally and internationally. In 2003 the guide was awarded first prize in the inaugural Multicultural Health Communication Awards.
The topics covered by the fact sheets are:
- Anxiety
- Disruptive disorders in children
- Depression in children
- Anorexia Nervosa in children
The fact sheets are available in the following languages; Arabic, Chinese, Dinka, English, Farsi, Filipino, Greek, Hindi, Khmer, Korean, Samoan, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese
To download or order the Fact Sheets click HERE and scroll down the page to Healthy Kids.
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For some CALD families, educational opportunities in their country of origin have been compromised by inadequate infrastructure, displacement, war or civil unrest. As a result some children and parents lack literacy in their own language and may benefit from oral rather than written information.
In 2003, the TMHC in partnership with SBS Radio produced a four-part radio campaign. The campaign focused on the health and well - being of children and was produced in ten languages.
In September 2003 the campaign was presented with the Media Award for Radio and the Public Health Association of Australia’s 35th Annual Conference.
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An important aspect of TMHC’s work is to incorporate cultural competence and awareness of diverse health beliefs and the social conditions that can impact on health into mainstream health service provision. TMHC provides consultation, advice and training and develops resources for health and community services across NSW.
In 2004 the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, in partnership with TMHC piloted a program that employed a cross-cultural clinical consultant. The consultant’s role was to assist clinicians to provide culturally appropriate care to their patients, their families and care providers. The consultant was also responsible for implementing changes in practice throughout the hospital that would enhance cultural competence and remove barriers to more effective care of CALD patients.
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In 2007, TMHC introduced ten bilingual outreach clinics in Sydney and in rural NSW. The clinics aim to link with local generalist community health Child and Family Teams (CAFT). Thirty clinical contractors staff the clinics. The contractors provide cultural formulation and assessment, group education and short-term interactive therapy sessions.
If you are a bilingual clinician who would like to work as part of this new initiative or are interested in referring to this service please contact our Child and Family Clinical Program Coordinator on (02) 9840 3800 or Email
Last Updated 23 Feb 2010
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