IPS Mission Statement
IPS aims to set a benchmark for the delivery of culturally competent mental health services for Aboriginal (Australian) people. This will be achieved through the continued development and delivery of evidence based best practice in our programs, services and products
Aboriginal Mental Health Training Programs
Delivering our unique range of Aboriginal Mental Health Training programs to clients across Australia. IPS Training Programs are delivered to more than 800 individuals nationally each year. They offer a unique opportunity to develop core skills in working with Aboriginal people and communities impacted upon by mental health. Click to find out about courses available through IPS
Cultural Competency Intervention Programs
IPS has been at the forefront of the development, delivery and evaluation of organisational cultural competency intervention programs since 1998. Click to find out more and view the results of these programs Australia wide
Community Intervention Programs
IPS' Whole of Aboriginal Community Suicide Intervention Programs have been delivered across Australia since 2002. They have attracted national and international recognition due to their track record of successful delivery across four states of Australia, within 16 distinct communities representing dozens of language groups. Click here to read more
Psychological Tests
IPS has developed psychological tests that are established world firsts (Canadian Health, 2009) - these greatly assist those who work with Aboriginal clients to screen for a range of mental health issues and monitor client outcomes. Click to learn more
Workforce Development Products
Supporting our training programs is the capacity to determine baseline levels of cultural competency of staff, determine the cultural needs of Aboriginal workers and design an intervention strategy specific to these needs. The Aboriginal Mental Health Cultural Competency Profile (CCP); General Cultural Competency Profile (GCCP) and Cultural Needs Scale (CNS) are tests that are completed on the IPS website. These tests determine baseline competencies and needs whilst also generating a profile which is readily utilised as a cultural supervision or support plan. Click to find out more
Indigenous Psychological Services (IPS) is a private company founded in 1998 by Dr Tracy Westerman AM of the Njamal people of the North West of Western Australia. She developed IPS to address the paucity of specialist mental health services for Aboriginal people, despite the obvious need for these. The company operates in the ABSENCE of government funding and maintains a focus on the provision of free work as deemed necessary to address chronic needs. IPS also self-funds research to ensure the cultural validity of programs, assessments and tests. It is essential that social justice and the addressing of inequity remains a constant focus.
It can only be for the greater good that solutions based on empirical evidence remain a focus for us all.
IPS prides itself on delivering on cultural and clinical best practice at all times.
IPS’ services commenced from its origins in WA to now having a significant service delivery presence across NSW, SA, QLD, VIC and the NT since 2003. IPS’s track record of success over the past 18 years is directly attributable to a number of core principles including:
- All trainings have been developed uniquely for Aboriginal people by Aboriginal people based upon over 10 years of research into Aboriginal mental health with many aspects of IPS’ work drawing both national and international recognition. The substantial science and cultural evidence base means that participants walk away with an increased ability to make sense of the interface between mainstream and Aboriginal perspectives of mental health;
- The programs are delivered by facilitators who continue to work directly with Aboriginal people and communities in mental health service delivery. This provides authenticity to the delivery of the content and talks to its practical relevance with clients;
- The training programs undergo constant review and evaluation to ensure that IPS and our clients are at the forefront of Aboriginal mental health as new information becomes available.
It is these principles that have resulted in IPS being a firmly established leader in the provision of innovative, culturally specific Aboriginal mental health services. IPS has four areas of service delivery including:
Aboriginal Mental Health Training Programs
Cultural Competency Intervention Programs
Psychological Tests & Profiles
Whole of Aboriginal Community Mental Health & Suicide Intervention Programs
IPS also undertakes a significant amount of Aboriginal mental health research which has resulted in the development of a number of unique Aboriginal mental health workforce development products and psychological tests.