Chapter in Working Together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing Principles and Practice. Editors: Pat Dudgeon, Helen Milroy and Roz Walker, 2014. Commonwealth of Australia.
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 and practice frameworks intended to
facilitate/contribute to the capacity and empowerment of mental health practitioners and
clients, families and communities.