Listening Beyond the System - Bicultural Voices on Mental Health

In this episode, we hear from Khatera Barez, an Afghan community leader and founder of the Afghan Women Empowerment Association. Khatera shares her perspectives on mental health and wellbeing within Afghan communities, the challenges of displacement and settlement, and the importance of trust, community connection and culturally safe support.

In this episode, we speak with Ez Eldin Deng, a South Sudanese Australian youth worker, filmmaker and community advocate. Ez shares his perspectives on mental health and wellbeing, the importance of family, faith and community, and why trust, cultural understanding and genuine partnership matter in supporting refugee and migrant communities.

Bicultural Worker and registered psychiatric nurse Dawt Tha Sung Thang Eng shares reflections on mental health and wellbeing within Chin communities. Drawing on her professional and community experience, Dawt explores the role of culture, faith and trust, and the barriers people can face when navigating mainstream mental health services.

Bicultural Mental Health Practitioner Aisha Mahboob shares reflections on mental health, migration and wellbeing within Afghan communities. Drawing on both her professional and lived experience, Aisha explores the importance of culturally meaningful language, faith, family and trust in supporting equitable and culturally safe mental health care.

Refugee health nurse Nesrudin Mohamed Salah shares reflections on mental health, migration and wellbeing within the Harari and broader Ethiopian community. Drawing on both his clinical and lived experience, Nesrudin explores the role of faith, community connection, language and cultural understanding in supporting culturally safe mental health care for refugee communities.

Shadow, a Karen community member from Burma, shares her multifaceted work as an interpreter, bicultural worker, and researcher and PHD candidate. Shadow's work is focused on improving access for refugee and migrant communities. She reflects on how culture, language, and lived experience shape understandings of mental health, highlighting the need for trust, culturally safe care, and more supported bicultural and interpreting roles within the mental health system.

Shadow, a Karen community member from Burma, shares her multifaceted work as an interpreter, bicultural worker, and researcher and PHD candidate. Shadow's work is focused on improving access for refugee and migrant communities. She reflects on how culture, language, and lived experience shape understandings of mental health, highlighting the need for trust, culturally safe care, and more supported bicultural and interpreting roles within the mental health system.

Tenzin is a Tibetan community leader and bicultural worker who shares his experience supporting newly arrived Tibetans as they navigate settlement challenges and systemic barriers. He also reflects on ancient Tibetan wisdom and how cultural and religious practices support wellbeing.

Sara shares her perspectives on mental health and mainstream service access as an Egyptian, Muslim Woman - A Bicultural worker living and working in Naarm

Nanchok shares her perspectives on mental health as a South Sudanese, Bicultural Lived experience worker, mother, writer and artist.