DR WESTERMAN’S PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
This page is NOT always up to date with the latest publications. Please email the IPS office if you are seeking information on any of the work undertaken by Dr Westerman. We are always adding to this list of publications.
PUBLICATIONS CURRENTLY IN PEER REVIEW
Westerman, T.G (submitted). Racial Trauma as a Distinct Category: Pre-Trauma, Peri-Trauma, and Post-Trauma Variables for Aboriginal Australians
Westerman, T.G (submitted). The Racial Trauma Treatment Triad (RTTT): A Culturally Adapted Cognitive-Behavioural-Physiological Framework for Aboriginal Australians
Westerman, T.G (submitted). Representation of Indigenous Peoples in Peak Psychology Journals: A Scoping Review Across Four Nations (2016–2026)
PUBLISHED PAPERS
Westerman, T.G. (2026). Arguing the need for Aboriginal-specific testing of attachment theory as a foundation of culturally informed child protection and attachment best practice. Clinical Psychologist. Within days of publication, this paper reached the top 5% of all research outputs tracked worldwide by Altimetric. To read this article, download here: Attachment Article. To cite or share this paper, please use this link: https://doi.org/10.1080/13284207.2026.2682255
Westerman, T.G & Dear, G (2024). The Westerman Aboriginal Symptom Checklist – Youth (WASC-Y): National data from a clinical sample of Aboriginal youth. This is the FIRST national data base of clinical norms for Aboriginal youth at risk. It represents a significant contribution to our understanding of the nature and extent of suicide behaviours and mental health in Aboriginal youth. To cite or share this paper, please use this link: https://doi.org/10.1080/13284207.2021.1948883 DOWNLOAD HERE . The Westerman Aboriginal Symptom Checklist Youth Version national data from a clinical sample of Aboriginal youth
(2023) The need for culturally valid psychological assessment tools in Indigenous mental health, Clinical Psychologist, 27:3, 284-289, DOI: 10.1080/13284207.2023.2247532. This article places the WASCY and WASCA tools as the only culturally and clinically validated tools for at risk Aboriginal youth and adults in Australia. It is critical we understand the need for culturally informed assessment tools.
Westerman, T.G & Sheridan., L (2020). Whole of Aboriginal Community Suicide Prevention Forums, Australian Psychologist, 55, pp. 363-374. To cite or share this article please click here: https://doi.org/10.1111/ap.12470. This paper is the FIRST published paper in Australian demonstrating whole of community suicide risk reduction, improvements in knowledge base and intentions to help etc., It uniquely takes a ‘whole community’ approach. It is based upon Westerman (2003) Phd which determined a unique aetiology to Indigenous suicide. The program was developed based on these differences, making them the only EVIDENCE based programs developed specifically for Aboriginal people. These programs have been replicated across multiple states, language groups despite having ZERO funding for their development and delivery.
Westerman, T.G (2021). Culture Bound Syndromes in Aboriginal Australian Populations. To cite or share this article, please use this link: https://doi.org/10.1080/13284207.2020.1843967. To download this article, click here: Culture-bound syndromes in Aboriginal Australian populations, Clinical Psychologist, 25(2): 1-17. This paper is the FIRST data driven, empirical study which validated culture-bound syndromes in Aboriginal Australian populations for this first time. It WON the Australian Psychological Society Almetrics Award for greatest reach of a paper published in all APS Psychology Journals for 2022.
Westerman, T.G (2010). Engaging Australian Aboriginal Youth in Mental Health Services. Australian Psychologist, Vol 45(3). To cite or share this article; https://doi.org/10.1080/00050060903451790. Download article here: Engaging Australian Aboriginal Youth in Mental Health Services . This paper describes the empirical validation of an engagement model for at risk Aboriginal youth as part of the PhD research of Dr Tracy Westerman. This involved undertaking suicide risk assessment of 103 Aboriginal youth (13 – 17 years) determined ‘at risk’ via screening with the WASC-Y and validating a engagement process for clinicians working with at risk Aboriginal youth.
Vicary, D.A. & Westerman, T.G (2004). That’s Just the Way He Is: Some Implications of Aboriginal Mental Health Beliefs. Australian e-journal for the Advancement of Mental Health, Vol 3(3). To cite or share this article; https://doi.org/10.5172/jamh.3.3.103. To Download Article click here. That’s Just the Way He Is: Some Implications of Aboriginal Mental Health Beliefs
DR WESTERMAN’S PHD THESIS
Westerman, T.G (2003) The development of the Westerman Aboriginal Symptom Checklist for Youth: A measure to assess the Moderating Effects of Cultural Resilience with Aboriginal Youth at Risk of Depression, Anxiety and Suicidal Behaviours. Abstract of Doctor of Philosophy Thesis. Curtin University. The Phd of Dr Tracy Westerman which involved numerous Australian firsts including the development of the FIRST clinically and culturally validated screening tool for Aboriginal youth at risk; a unique set of practitioner guidelines to address practitioner bias in the culturally valid assessment of Aboriginal people. It also established a unique aetiology for Aboriginal suicide for the first time. Additionally, it empirically validated an engagement model for suicidal Aboriginal people, the initial development of the Acculturation and Acculturative Stress Scales. The initial development of the Aboriginal Mental Health Cultural Competency Profile, and finally, the validation of Culture Bound Syndromes in Aboriginal Australian populations. Dr Westerman was the FIRST Aboriginal person to complete a PhD in Health Sciences and Psychology in Australia. Her PhD received an average of an “A” grade across three examiners. It was previously under embargo and is now available here. Many of the below publications originated from Dr Westerman’s PhD.
SELF HELP & PROMOTIONAL RESOURCES
Westerman, T.G. Grieving Aboriginal Way.
A resource for Aboriginal families experiencing sudden loss.
EXTERNAL VALIDATION OF DR WESTERMAN’S PSYCHOMETRIC TESTS
Bright, C., (2012). Initial Validation of the Westerman Aboriginal Symptom Checklist – Adults (WASC-A)
Validation of the WASC-A scale: a screening tool for Aboriginal Adults (aged 18 and above) at risk of depression, suicidal behaviours, alcohol and drug use, impulsivity and anxiety. The scale also determines levels of cultural resilience as a moderator for risk. The WASC-A is based on the Westerman Aboriginal Symptom Checklist – Youth (WASC-A)
Stathis, Stephen L., Doolan, Ivan, Letters, Paul, Arnett, Amanda, Cory, Storm, and Quinlan, Laura (2012). Use of the Westerman Aboriginal Symptoms Checklist – Youth (WASC-Y) to screen for mental health problems in Indigenous youth in custody. Advances in Mental Health 10 (3) 235–239. https://doi.org/10.5172/jamh.2012.10.3.235
Validation studies are currently being undertaken for the General Cultural Competency Profile, The Aboriginal Mental Health Cultural Competency Profile and the Cultural Competency Profile – Child Protection (CCP-CP). Please contact IPS for further information.
ACADEMIC OPINION PIECES
A response to the validation of the aPHQ-9 for use with Indigenous Australians
Westerman, T.G & Johnston, G (2000). The adapted Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (aPHQ-9) is a translated version of the PHQ-9 for use as a depression screening tool in Indigenous men from central Australia (Brown et al., 2013).
PUBLIC OPINION PIECES
Dr Westerman has written significant national Opinion Pieces on Indigenous suicide prevention, Raise the Age and so forth and has a strong media and radio presence. Most of these pieces can be found on her Media and Opinion Piece pages.
EXPERT WITNESS REPORTS