JOURNEY FORWARD PROJECT

A qualitative research and training initiative exploring how Australian mental-health professionals support international students—with a focus on case formulation, assessment, and understanding acculturative stress. Insights will translate into practical frameworks, training, and supervision.

Why?

Research shows international students in Australia face higher mental-health risks and more barriers to care.

Before becoming a psychologist, I was an international student myself. I experienced first-hand the emotional complexity of studying, adapting, and building a life across cultures in a language that was not my native tongue.

In my therapeutic work today, I see those same themes reflected in my clients . Many describe feeling unseen or misunderstood in systems that weren’t designed with their cultural backgrounds in mind.

This project bridges research, practice, and lived experience to create mental-health support that is culturally responsive and accessible to everyone.

What we are doing

Interviews with mental health professionals about their work with international students starting in January 2026
Practical outputs: culturally informed frameworks, resources, training, individual + group supervision starting from May 2026

Get involved

Participate in the research

Eligibility

Currently registered (or provisionally registered) psychologist, psychotherapist, counsellor, or mental-health social worker (AHPRA, ACA, PACFA, AASW)
Provided therapeutic services to at least international student clients in the past 12 months
Can do a 30-minute video call interview in January - February 2026

Thank you benefit: free access to the pilot training program and resources (from May 2026).

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