Professor Nigar Khawaja

Biography

I have been an academic and a researcher at the School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology for 25 years. Although, I coordinated and taught in 24 units across various degrees, my primary focus has been on teaching in the Master of Clinical Psychology program. As a clinical psychologist, I trained more than 400 clinical psychologists. I have supervised the research of more than 90 students (PhD, MPhil, Course work Masters & Honours). I am passionate about developing and delivering training programs to the provisional and registered psychologists, to enhance their cultural competency and sensitivity to offer best psychological practices to culturally and linguistically diverse individuals and communities in Australia.

My cutting edge transcultural and cross-cultural research has focused on understanding the challenges of the culturally and linguistically diverse individuals and communities settled in Australia. My research aims to enhance the mental health and wellbeing of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and international students. My major contribution is developing culturally safe and sensitive assessment measures and interventions for these populations. My research promotes the integration of the ethnically diverse communities in the Australian society and the relations of the larger majority with the minorities.

I have disseminated my research through peer reviewed journal articles (130 plus publications) and conference presentations (70 plus). On invitation I have delivered keynote addresses at several prestigious conferences. My research has led to national and international policies for the mental health and wellbeing of the culturally and linguistically diverse populations settled in Australia and other Western countries.

I have contributed to the profession through influential national and international organisations. I offer consultancy and expert advice to a range of government and non-government organisations. I work zealously with national and international stakeholders to promote mental health, integration, and social inclusivity of CALD populations in Australia. As a multilingual person herself, I offer psychological services in multiple languages.

Research interests

• Clinical Psychology
• Transcultural Psychology
• Cross-cultural Psychology

Specific  research focus:

• Culturally sensitive assessment and intervention
• Cultural competency of allied and mental health professionals
• Test development and validation

• My research is aligned with international and national research priorities and QUT’s mission to enhance the mental health of vulnerable individuals and communities.  In collaboration with national health (Transcultural Mental Health Centre) and education departments (e.g., Milpera School and Brisbane Catholic Education) and international researchers, I have focused on culturally and linguistically diverse (migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and international students) populations.

• Through my research I promote mental health promotion, integration, and social inclusivity of CALD populations. My strength-based interventions facilitate acculturation and resilience of diverse populations.

• My other salient contribution to the discipline is the development and validation of 21 questionnaires, 11 of which are for culturally and linguistically diverse adults and adolescents. These scales address gaps in literature and utilised nationally and internationally in clinical and research settings.