In 2017, the Centre for Culture, Equity & Health (CEH) developed the original version of the bilingual Mental Health Services Glossary. This version included 30 key terms and was translated into seven different languages.

In 2025, the VRHN and CEH commenced a project to update the Mental Health Services Glossary. This update included adding 15 new terms and translating the glossary into more languages. These additional languages were selected based on the most common languages spoken by recently arrived people of refugee backgrounds.  

This project was undertaken to improve:

• Communication gaps between mental health practitioners and interpreters when discussing mental health concepts;
• Consistency and accuracy in how mental health terms are conveyed across multiple language groups;
• Understanding of new services and roles in the Victorian mental health system;

The updated Glossary was translated with the help of Polaron, staff from the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (Foundation House) and community testers. Workshops were held with NAATI accredited interpreters to help promote the use of the glossary.

The Glossary was officially launched in July 2026, and with the help of peak body organisations, will be disseminated throughout the mental health sector, language services, and community groups to encourage widespread use.

This glossary was funded by the Victorian Government Department of Health.

How did you decide which languages to translate into?
The Glossary was translated into the languages most commonly spoken by humanitarian entrants to Victoria. This is informed by humanitarian settlement data by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs.

Can you translate the Glossary into an additional language?
We are always keen to increase the accessibility of our resources. If there is a language you would like the Glossary translated to, please contact us.

Can you add another term to the Glossary?
We have done our best to include 45 of the top key terms for accessing and navigating the Victorian mental health system. The new terms that were added in the 2026 update of the Glossary was informed by the 2021 Victorian Mental Health Reforms. If there are other terms or concepts that you’d like us to consider adding, please contact us at refugeehealth@foundationhouse.org.au and we can explore the possibility.

Who was consulted in the translation process?
The team at Polaron translated each version of the Glossary. Their professional translators are NAATI accredited and are highly aware of cultural and linguistic nuances within the language.

We went through several drafts in consultation with Polaron, our colleagues at the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (Foundation House) and our collaborators at the Centre for Culture, Equity & Health, to finally create the documents you see above.

I don’t agree with one of your translations of a term, can you change it?
Please let us know if any of our translations are incorrect.
However, we also acknowledge that each interpreter may have different opinions on the exact translation of a term. We have done our best to combine the voices and opinions of multiple people in our consultation process and feel confident that each term has been considered thoroughly. We encourage you to use the Glossary as a foundation and continue to add your own interpretations as additional information for the client if required.

I live/work outside Victoria (or outside Australia) – can I still use this Glossary?
We encourage widespread use of this Glossary, both inside and outside Victoria! However, these terms have been tailored to service clients within the Victorian mental health system, and some terms will not be relevant outside of Victoria. For instance, “Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals” are a Victorian initiative not yet mirrored interstate. Please therefore be aware when interpreting directly from our translations to ensure the terms are still appropriate for your needs.

For other enquiries, please email us at refugeehealth@foundationhouse.org.au