Within a multicultural and multilingual community such as Australia’s, and indeed in many communities around the world, psychology faces a major challenge to demonstrate its relevance, both in its theories and its field application of psychological methods. There is a responsibility to the community but also a major opportunity for Australian psychology in embracing the challenges posed by diversity, to emerge with more universal theories, methods and practices.

There is considerable work to be done in raising awareness in all the endeavours Australian psychology undertakes, including in education (and its export to other countries), in research and in the application of psychology’s methods within communities highly-textured by cultural diversity. The role of the Psychology and Cultures Interest Group is to support this enrichment.

Terms of Reference

1. To focus on the provision of psychological services to the culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) population in Australia; CALD refers to migrants, refugees, international students and people from non-English speaking backgrounds.
2. To promote knowledge regarding acculturation and immigrant adjustment to Australian society with psychologists, other allied health professionals, and the broader Australian community.
3. To emphasise the significance of culturally sensitive and appropriate psychological services for the CALD population.
4. To enhance the competency of psychologists providing services to the CALD population through training and professional development.
5. To promote networking and peer support among psychologists, who offer psychological services to the CALD population.
6. To establish resources for the members to improve their practice with their CALD clients, and to address anxieties, fears, prejudices, bias or misinformation of the broader community about CALD communities.
7. To promote research on CALD populations, with a special emphasis is on the development and evaluation of culturally sensitive and appropriate measures and interventions for these communities.
8. To provide expert advice to the Society on issues relating to its area of interest when the need arises.