What is the Culturally Diverse Psychological Service?

The Culturally Diverse Psychological Service (CDPS) is a free mental health service that provides short term, culturally sensitive, and evidence-based counselling to people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. This service is funded by the WA Primary Health Alliance.

Who's eligible?

To be eligible for the CDPS you need to be all of the following:

  • be aged 12 years or older;
  • from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background;
  • experiencing mild to moderate psychological distress;
  • hold a valid Medicare Card and not be under NDIS;
  • experiencing cultural, financial or language barriers to accessing mainstream mental health services.

What if I’m not eligible?

If you require support but are not eligible for CDPS, our team can connect you with other programs or services that may be able to help.

What services are available?

Clients can receive up to 10 free, confidential, and culturally appropriate counselling sessions conducted by our experienced and registered mental health professionals. Along with access to interpreters if needed, our team of Psychologists are fluent in various languages to support clients throughout their time with the service.

Where is the CDPS located?

We have CDPS locations throughout the Perth metro area including:

  • Leederville
  • Mirrabooka (and surrounds)
  • Langford

If you live in the Perth metro area and are looking for a CDPS location closer to home, please contact us.

Accessing the Culturally Diverse Psychological Service

A GP, Psychiatrist or Paediatrician referral is needed to access counselling through the program. If you need help to arrange a GP referral, download and print the letter Requesting a referral from your GP and take it to your next GP appointment, or contact us for support.

Does the CDPS offer practical support or case management?

No, the service does not provide support with practical, financial, housing or legal matters or case management. It only offers clinical services, and two reports (after sessions 5 and 10) are sent directly to the referring GP.

Waiting times

Clients are allocated according to our waiting list. Our waiting list times vary depending on the type of referral and the caseload of our mental health professionals. Clients will be advised of an approximate waiting time when the referral is received.

Contact

If you’d like to learn more, get in touch through our contact form or call us to find out more about this service.

0418 724 549
cdps@lwb.org.au

Interpreting services

If you need an interpreter to speak to us, please call 13 14 50 and ask for the Culturally Diverse Psychological Service

0418 724 549

Get in touch

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For GPs, Psychiatrists and Paediatricians

Clients need a referral to access the service. A K10 is beneficial and a Mental Health Treatment Plan from the GP is optional.

To provide a referral please complete the GP referral form and email the completed form to cdps.referrals@lwb.org.au.

The CDPS Referral Form is available in the Best Practice Premier Software, search CALD Psychological Service GP Referral Form.

The CDPS is funded by the WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA). All the counselling sessions are free to people that meet the eligibility criteria.

The CDPS does not provide services under Medicare. MBS (Better Access) sessions will remain available for the client to use for other services.

REFERRAL FORM

    For clients

    If you would like to access the counselling sessions through the CDPS:

    1. Check if you are eligible to access the CDPS

    2. Download and take the Requesting a referral from your GP | PDF letter to your next GP (Psychiatrist or Paediatrician) appointment.

    3. Talk to your GP (Psychiatrist or Paediatrician) and ask them to complete a GP referral form (preferably with a K10 and mental health treatment plan) on your behalf.

    4. If they need support with the referral process, they can contact us via our website, on cdps.referrals@lwb.org.au or calling 0418 724 549.

    REFERRAL FORMS & BROCHURES

    The Culturally Diverse Psychological Service is not a crisis service.

    If you need urgent or immediate support, please call:

    Emergency Services

    If you are concerned for your, or someone else’s safety.

    000 (triple zero)

    Mental Health Emergency Response Line (MHERL)

    Metro: 1300 555 788
    Peel: 1800 676 822

    Lifeline

    13 11 14

    Suicide Call Back Service

    1300 659 467

    Beyondblue

    1300 224 636

    The Culturally Diverse Psychological Service is supported by WA Primary Health Alliance under the Australian Government’s Primary Health Networks Program.