Peer Supervision for Language Interpreters: Learnings from a Pilot Program
What can you expect from this session?
Since 2020, VTMH has developed a pilot program to offer reflective peer supervision sessions for language interpreters. This ongoing pilot activity will be discussed in this webinar.
The structure and process details of this activity will be outlined. Furthermore, the panellists will discuss the benefits of this unique space, the learnings along with its challenges.
Eligibility
VTMH webinars are open to individuals, from all disciplines and working in all sectors, who are based in Australia and interested in diversity and mental health.
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Justin Kuay & Tahmineh Salehi, Consultant Psychiatrist and Psychiatric Registrar at VTMH
Rohan Souter & James Godfrey, Mental Health Spiritual Care Practitioners at Bendigo Health and Thomas Embling Hospital
Topic
Spiritual care responses to mental health crisis and recovery
A collaboration between Spiritual Health Association (SHA) & Victorian Transcultural Mental Health (VTMH), as part of the Spirituality & Diversity Discussion Project
What can you expect from this session?
Responding to the spiritual care needs of mental health consumers has been traditionally overlooked by the prevailing medical paradigm at great detriment to holistic wellbeing. The Royal Commission into mental health services in Victoria has recently adopted a definition of mental wellbeing that includes the spiritual domain of human expression. So what does this mean in practice?
Our panellists will contribute their insights, lived experience and extensive practice wisdom to a dialogue that will be an invaluable support to all mental health sector workers.
This webinar also signals the return of a new series of Spirituality & Diversity Discussions – a collaborative Project between SHA and VTMH, running since 2019. These small group reflective practice spaces support mental health workers to integrate spiritual themes as part of culturally responsive mental health care. 2021 dates will be released shortly.
VTMH webinars are open to individuals, from all disciplines and working in all sectors, who are based in Australia and interested in diversity and mental health.
Series: How do we do ‘cultural safety’ in the time of COVID-19?
Session: Community Voices
Panellists
Tigist Kebede (culturally-inclusive counsellor also known as ‘The Coloured Therapist’), Abdiqafar Ururshe (spokesperson for Australian Muslim Social Services Agency (AMSSA) and board member of AMSSA Youth Connect), Summayyah Sadiq-Ojibara (counsellor psychotherapist) and Ahmed Dini (co-founder Ubuntu project) with Shehani De Silva (VTMH).
What to expect in this session?
This session will explore living in the times of Covid-19 and what this means for people’s mental health and wellbeing. We will hear directly from public housing residents in inner city Melbourne, and their friends, supporters and allies.
The session panellists are experienced and respected therapists, community volunteers and advocates, and leaders of innovative community projects.
They will share their understanding of the situations facing communities. We’ll discuss their views on how to connect the dots between creating healthy communities and addressing enduring patterns of inequality. We’ll also hear about the role these panel members are playing right now in communities. Finally, we’ll reflect on how communities are supporting themselves, and what action needs to be taken by government and services, on many levels, with communities as partners.
Series: How do we do ‘cultural safety’ in the time of COVID-19?
Session: Using telehealth
Panellists
Joanne Gardiner (general practitioner, refugee health fellow, VIDS, RMH), April Philpott (neuropsychologist), Charles Manila (consumer consultant), Katherine Monson (social worker, working in Orygen’s community development team) and Tahmineh Salehi (psychiatry registrar VTMH).
What to expect in this session?
The move to provide more mental health care via phone and video technology has been swift and far reaching. Communities and services alike are grappling with what this means. How do people feel about using technology and not seeing practitioners in person? What are the implications for cultural safety and ensuring consumers experience respect and agency? Is telehealth overcoming barriers to accessing appropriate mental health support? The session will include an open conversation among advocates and professionals. Panellists will share their experience of using telehealth during the current time of COVID-19, offer their insights and discuss emerging practice principles. They will discuss the challenges and opportunities as well consider some of the ethical issues associated with using telehealth to provide mental health support. VTMH webinar sessions are open to individuals, from all disciplines and working in all sectors, who are based in Australia and interested in diversity and mental health.
Health Direct has guides to download and email or print (some customisable) for clients in preparation for using video calls
Brisbane South Primary Health Network has produced information for clients on how to use telehealth, in audio or video formats in a number of languages, available from Health Translations
Links to agencies providing translated health information including information on COVID –19 and mental health
Series: How do we do ‘cultural safety’ in the time of COVID-19?
Session: Challenges of interpreting
Panellists
Susan Esmaili (Accredited Interpreter), Lew Hess (Mental Health Social Worker), Norma Medawar (Accredited Interpreter), Radhika Santhanam-Martin (VTMH)
What to expect in this session?
An open conversation between interpreters and clinicians. Panellists will share what they are learning during the current time of COVID-19. They will offer insights about what helps and hinders the process of interpreting and discuss strategies for enabling positive interpreted encounters.
These sessions are open to individuals, from all disciplines and working in all sectors, who are based in Australia and interested in diversity and mental health.
Approaching working with interpreters – includes interactive online learning and links to further resources including practice tips, a tri-fold booklet, a report, and video that explains this suite of resources.
Series: How do we do ‘cultural safety’ in the time of COVID-19?
Session: What we are learning
Panellists
Shehani De Silva, Radhika Santhanam-Martin, Tahmineh Salehi and Susan McDonough (VTMH)
What to expect in this session?
Suddenly, many things have overturned. We have arrived at a crossroad. We are isolated from one another and dependent on each other at the same time. How then do we build social solidarity and connect emotionally during this challenging time of physical distancing? Let’s talk about our concerns, draw on our strengths, struggles and experiences, and imagine the possibilities for profound positive change.
What to expect in this session? An open conversation between the facilitators and opportunities for you to participate. What are we learning about ourselves and about what really matters? What’s emerging about the ways in which communities and mental health organisations and teams are responding? How is the sector hurting or triumphing together? We want to explore, reflect, and find ways to name these collective hurts and triumphs.
VTMH webinars are open to individuals, from all disciplines and working in all sectors, who are based in Australia and interested in diversity and mental health.
Key concepts – Cultural safety and cultural humility – were discussed in the session. These and other frameworks are outlined in Principles guiding our work.
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