Education and Service Development Consultant
Radhika Santhanam-Martin
Hello, I’m Radhika and I’m a clinical psychologist working in the field of trauma. I’ve worked with VTMH since 2011.
I have completed a postdoctoral fellowship in transcultural mental health and hold a PhD in developmental neuropsychology, a Master of Philosophy in medical and social psychology, a Master of Arts in clinical psychology, and a graduate degree in philosophy. I have more than three decades of experience in clinical practice in institutions across India, Canada and Australia. I can speak six languages, and am lucky to be able to use four of these in both my therapeutic and community work.
In Australia, I have worked in tertiary hospitals and universities as a clinical consultant and senior lecturer. Over the last two decades, my work, in addition to direct therapeutic practice, has focused on service development and working with clinical and community organisations to improve access and equity in mental health. Before joining VTMH, for example, I worked in Far North Queensland with remote Aboriginal and Islander communities in Cape York and the Torres Strait Islands. I currently work with consumers, communities and service providers across three sectors: refugees and asylum seekers; emerging communities; and vulnerable women/families.
My primary interest areas include:
- attachment and trauma; narrative methods of practice.
- intersectional approaches addressing oppression and privilege.
- ways of working with cultures.
- enhancing the reflective capacity of practitioners in mental health settings using professional supervision.
I look forward to continuing to work with my VTMH colleagues and with professionals and organisations across the sector to see VTMH become a Centre of Excellence in training and policy work in the area of cultural diversity.
