• The determination of relevant population level risk and protective factors known to increase and moderate the risk of suicidal behaviours, depression, anxiety, alchol and drug use in Aboriginal people. This enables practitioners to develop case planning and treatment intervention based upon these differences
• Prevalence data on Aboriginal youth,
• The ability to screen Aboriginal youth for EARLY stages of risk and proactively address this risk,
• Determination of covariance between disorders,
• Determination of the role of cultural resilience as a moderator of risk,
• The development of Aboriginal Community Mental Health Intervention Programs from the research into these different risk and protective factors
• The delivery of highly successful Whole of Community Suicide and Mental Health Intervention Programs into communities Australia wide (click here for more information)

FOR futher information download an abstract of Dr Westerman's PhD research here which describes the development and validaition of the WASC-Y.

PURCHASE OF THE WASC-Y

The WASC-Y is only accessible once you have undergone accredited training. Click here for details of accreditation training (“Mental Health Assessment of Aboriginal Clients”) available at a location near you or privately for your organisation.

THE WASC-Y START UP PACK

The WASC-Y start up package includes the WASC-Y manual, 30 copies of the WASC-Y test, 10 reply paid envelopes and a hold all satchel. The WASC-Y manual is extensive and can act as a great resource for those who work in Aboriginal mental health. It covers the methodology associated with the development of the WASC-Y including the rationale for the development of a unique psychological test. A review of existing psychological tests and their limitations for use with Aboriginal people; an review of the existing Aboriginal mental health to determine prevalence and gaps in existing understanding of Aboriginal mental health; an overview of the literature and evidence base regarding culturally derived models and methods of mental health assessment. The manual also provides outcomes of Dr Westerman’s Phd [DOWNLOAD ABSTRACT] research including evidence supporting the existence of culture-bound syndromes (spiritual visits, sorry cutting; being sung, cursed; longing for country etc), models of traditional and cultural treatments; cultural assessment models guiding readers through assessing for cultural illness within a mental health diagnostic framework and outcomes of large scale screening of Aboriginal youth with the WASC-Y  including prevalence across disorders; notable correlation and co-morbidities as well as normative data for Aboriginal youth. The manual also provides WASC-Y administration guidelines including scoring templates relevant to each of the domains of depression, suicidal behaviours, drug and alcohol use, impulsivity, anxiety and cultural resilience. Finally, the manual provides you with a set of Cultural and Clinical Validation Guidelines for use when interviewing youth who have been screened with the WASC-Y. This ensures that you provide the most culturally valid assessment of Aboriginal youth and includes a cultural engagement model validated with over 104 Aboriginal youth (Go to article on Publications page).

All of this information is also covered in the IPS Training Program “Mental Health Assessment of Aboriginal Clients” which includes accreditation in the WASC-Y.

Cost:  $980 AUD (including GST) plus postage.

THE WASC-Y REFILL PACK

 The refill pack can then be purchased following the purchase of the Start Up Pack. This includes 30 copies of the WASC-Y.

Cost:  $376 AUD (including GST) plus postage

Click here to download WASC-Y order form. To order the WASC-Y packs fill out this form and fax it to us:  (08) 9362 5546 or post to:

PO Box 1198

East Victoria Park WA 6981