Join us for this instalment of Let’s Talk Culture where the panel will discuss mental health throughout the different stages of life and the multifaceted barriers they experience accessing support. The panel will consist of two service providers and three CaLD women of different age groups. The purpose of the Let's Talk Culture seminar series is to promote culturally responsive practices working in the mental health and wellbeing space.

About the Panellists:

Sandy Richards - Mental Health Nurse and Counsellor

Sandy has been a mental health nurse for the last 40 years, and has worked predominately in the community from 1990 working in varied community settings.

She has worked in acute settings in a variety of roles, as psychiatric liaison nurse in the emergency department and acute intensive response team working with clients who are acutely suicidal, clients who suffer from the First Episode Psychosis and other mental health diagnostic disorders and have worked closely with police liaison officers responding to urgent assessments that require specialised mental health expertise. Sandy is trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectal Behaviour trainer and accredited counsellor. At Ishar she enjoys working in the area of domestic violence to be able to give women a voice, provide targeted specialised counselling and help promote autonomy and empowerment amongst this marginalised group of women from (CALD ) backgrounds. Sandy sits on many steering committees in the community especially in the area of women’s health, alcohol & drugs, working with youth, patients with eating disorders and domestic violence throughout a 40-year career. She was on the board of management at Ishar, Northern Suburbs Migrant Resource Centre, Forrest Personnel an employment agency for people who have physical and mental disabilities and a carer and consumer NGO’S called Pathways.

Pushpa Siroley - Senior Mental Health Advocate

Pushpa currently works in the capacity of Senior Mental Health Advocate at the Multicultural Futures.

Pushpa has over 20years experience of working with clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, supporting them to navigate services, especially health and mental health services. She is particularly passionate about providing advocacy to ensure all services are equitably accessible to people of all cultures and backgrounds.

Roya Yoosefi - Occupational Therapist

Roya was born in Tehran, Iran in 1980 and lived through the Iran and Iraq 8 year war. All of Roya’s childhood was waiting for an air-raid siren so she could to shelter from airstrikes. She immigrated to Australia in 2012

Roya holds a Master of Occupational Therapy from Curtin University in 2018, a Graduate diploma in counselling from private Iranian Institute, worked under the supervision of Dr Bita Rahmati for 5 years supporting clients with mild to moderate depression and anxiety and a Bachelor’s degree in information technology.

Culturally and linguistically diverse women -

Haleema Sadia                                                

Haleema was born in Pakistan. Haleema speaks Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, English.  She was married in Pakistan in an arranged marriage at age 19. Both applied for a visa to Australia about 2008. She has 2 sons.

 She arrived married but her husband was unsupportive and emotionally abusive. Her husband threatened to cast her out and take total custody of the children. She felt she must remain silent and not speak back and has very low self-esteem.

Haleema has managed to stay busy studying as well as being a single mum. Now estranged from her husband. She is achieving a Diploma of Child Care, English certificates and a driver’s license.

Lusia Wool                                                 

Lusia was born in Sudan and lived in Egypt for 6 years before moving on to Australia. Her native languages are Dinka, Arabic, and is fluent in English. Lusia learned English after arriving in Australia.

Lusia is now happily living with her husband who she met in Australia and they have 3 healthy children. In 2005, Lusia, her parents and with her 4 siblings, moved to Perth Australia. Lusia values her education and her goals include acquiring a professional role in community service so to help other migrants as she has been helped herself.

She wishes to raise her children in a kinder world with more opportunities than she had as a child.

Meriam Hussein

Meriam was born in Eritrea where she lived in the midst of a violent civil war and lived in Yemen as a child. She speaks Eritrean, Arabic, and later learned English.

Meriam lived in Saudi Arabia for 20 years, studied high school and married her husband who wanted to move to Australia. They did, and lived in Melbourne and moved to Perth in 2003 and she one son.

The husband became violent all the time then she was diagnosed with depression as well as other medical problems and has been put on medications.

The Let's Talk Culture seminar series is sponsored by: