Culturally Respectful Guidelines
for Working with Ethnic Communities

About Guidelines

The Culturally Respectful Guidelines were developed by Diversity Counselling New Zealand (DCNZ) to help ensure that mental health services are accessible and effective for former refugees and migrants from ethnic communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.

These guidelines emerged from the vision of Vanisri Mills, DCNZ's director, who has over a decade of experience working as a counsellor with ethnic communities. These guidelines address the barriers many face due to cultural misunderstandings within the healthcare system.

The guidelines were created through research involving focus groups and a co-design panel. As a result, six core principles were developed:

Connection, relationships, and trust
Tailored, person-centred approach
Human-to-Human approach and compassion
Collective effort in the mental health journey
Collaboration and power dynamics
Culturally competent practitioners

While initially aimed at DCNZ-contracted practitioners, there is a plan to broaden the guidelines with input from a wider range of professionals and communities to enhance their effectiveness and cultural safety.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the development of the Culturally Respectful Guidelines.

We reached out to members of our ethnic communities to help shape these guidelines, and their response was truly inspiring. Community members from various backgrounds participated in focus groups, co-design hui, and provided invaluable feedback. Their generous sharing of time, knowledge, and personal experiences was crucial to making this project authentic and impactful.

We also extend our gratitude to the DCNZ practitioners whose dedication and expertise significantly shaped these guidelines. Special thanks go to our research team, including Vanisri Mills, Director of Diversity Counselling New Zealand, Dr. Shemana Cassim from Massey University, Dr. Gauri Nandedkar from DCNZ, and Dr. Nishanthi Kariyapperuma from DCNZ.

Our appreciation extends to our operational staff, including Jessie Zhu for operational and financial support, and Kaoru Tsukigi for facilitating connections with DCNZ practitioners and community members.

We gratefully acknowledge Toia Chase, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Cultural Consultant for her expert guidance and insights. Toia’s cultural knowledge and perspectives have significantly enriched the development of the culturally respectful guidelines.

Finally, we acknowledge the support from our DCNZ Board of Trustees, the Ethnic Advisory Committee, and everyone else who provided ideas, encouragement, and support to make this project a success.