What is the role of CPHs?
A culturally competent health system disseminates information on cultural competence and assists the mental health workforce to achieve culturally competent practice. CPHs have the potential to contribute to this mission.
At an organisational level, CPHs can participate in the development of policies that are culturally responsive and provide input into decisions regarding allocation of resources.
They can play a role in educating the mental health workforce by conducting cultural competence training, disseminating information or influencing practice through a range of informal means.
They can also facilitate partnerships within and outside the service in order to meet the needs of a diverse community.
There is no one way to describe the role of a CPH. Services are encouraged to develop their own role descriptions that reflect their particular programs and organisational structures. Most CPHs are enhancing the care and management of individual CALD consumers, their family members and carers, and participating in broader service and community development initiatives.
Gathering information and knowledge about the mental health needs of local CALD communities, assisting fellow team members to develop skills in cross-cultural work, agitating for improvements in the use of language services, developing linkages and partnerships with a range of organisations – these are just some of the tasks in which CPHs are engaged.
CPHs are "champions"; they are seeking creative and innovative ways to address the needs of our diverse and ever changing multicultural community and helping to develop more responsive, flexible service models. They need mentoring, sponsorship, and management support. For a brief, irreverent summary of what engaging the change champions within your service could mean click here.
A number of CPHs have been working in these roles for some time. Here are some outcomes they are seeking and some suggestions, for CPHs who may be just getting started, about what to do:
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