About the presenter(s)
Dr. Lidia Lae is a writer, and the founder and principal psychologist of To Learn Consulting, a psychological consultancy that empowers culturally diverse individuals to embrace their identity, overcome challenges, and thrive in life and leadership. With over two decades of clinical experience, she specializes in the intersections of culture, identity, and mental health, bringing a deep understanding of how cultural narratives shape psychological well-being. Dr. Lae has extensive expertise in psychological assessments, clinical interventions, and leadership training, helping individuals and organizations thrive across diverse cultural contexts.
She is also an adjunct lecturer at the Centre for Theology and Psychology. Her research focuses on cross-cultural psychology, the co-construction of culture and self, the integration of psychology and theology/spirituality, and semiotic/narrative approaches in psychology.
Dragos Ileana is a Clinical Psychologist with expertise in working cross-culturally in the mental health, counselling, and psychotherapy areas. He is the State-wide Transcultural Mental Health Practice Leader at the Queensland Transcultural Mental Health Centre, Queensland Health. Dragos has been involved in developing Quality Improvements frameworks and conducting clinical research with CALD consumers exploring the importance of using client’s cultural framework and engaging Bicultural Consultants in conducting assessments and providing comprehensive mental health care. He is an AHPRA clinically endorsed psychologist supervisor and has been involved in delivering training in culturally sensitive practice, to clinical psychology Master and PhD students from different Brisbane and Gold Coast based universities. In his current role, Dragos works collaboratively with statewide stakeholders towards supporting MHAOD systems to become more culturally inclusive and responsive.
Dragos also consults privately at Ramsay Psychology, Gold Coast, where he provides psychotherapy to people from the broader community presenting with a wide range of mental health, interpersonal, and existential issues. His psychotherapeutic approach is integrative in nature, underpinned by strong humanistic values and adopting a client centred approach with emphasis on tailoring psychotherapeutic techniques to best meet client’s needs and goals.
Akrim Mahouachi is an experienced and internationally registered psychologist with over 15 years of practice across diverse cultural and clinical settings. Holding a double master’s degree in Social and Clinical Psychology, he is fluent in three languages including English, Arabic and French, allowing him to effectively connect with individuals from various cultural backgrounds. His career spans across private practice, the public health system, NGOs, community organizations, and schools, where he has provided essential support to individuals facing mental health challenges.
Akrim has a particular focus on migration-related stress and trauma. His extensive work in transcultural mental health has shaped his expertise in supporting marginalized communities, particularly in relation to the psychological impacts of migration and cultural adaptation. Currently, Akrim manages, trains, and supervises a team of over 130 cultural consultants, many of whom have lived or living experience with mental illness and trauma. Through his leadership, he has created a supportive environment where these peer support workers can offer invaluable insights and empathy in their work with diverse populations. Akrim is also leading the development of a CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) lived experience framework, aimed at enhancing the quality and accessibility of mental health care for culturally diverse communities. His work emphasizes the importance of integrating lived experience into mental health frameworks to provide more inclusive and effective care.
Dr. Alice-Viviana Bercean has extensive experience in teaching psychology and counselling at the higher education level. Over the last eight years she has coordinated a range of units including Counselling in a Diverse World, Trauma Informed-Counselling, Grief Counselling, Cognitive behavioural approaches, Counselling skills, and Positive Psychology. Driven by a strong interest in the intersection between psychology and culture, she completed her PhD in Psychology at Curtin university, in 2019, focusing on the cultural adaptation process of cognitive behavioural therapy for Chinese migrants with depression. In 2025, Alice was awarded the International Society for the Science of Existential Psychotherapy grant to lead a research project exploring the existential concerns faced by migrants to Australia, the strategies they employ to navigate these challenges, and the meaning-making processes they engage in throughout their acculturation journey.
Alice is also experienced in delivering evidence-based interventions to diverse clients, including those dealing with mood and anxiety disorders, and survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Her personal experience as a migrant coupled with her academic journey and clinical experience, has strengthened her commitment to culturally responsive practice.
Notes
Target Audience
This event is aimed at early career psychologists working with clients with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Duration of Access
This event will be recorded. The recording will be emailed to all registered within 2 weeks post event and available for viewing up to 90 days.
CPD
It is up to attendees to assess and determine how learning from this event aligns with the requirements of their learning plan. The providers accordingly do not make any representation that the event counts towards attendees’ CPD learning requirements. If an attendee determines themselves that the learning they complete aligns to their learning plan, then they can decide to count those hours towards their CPD requirements for the registration cycle.
The information in this presentation has been prepared in good faith and for educational purposes only. Therefore, the information is general in nature and should not be relied upon in the treatment of any condition and you should seek your own independent professional and/or legal advice concerning any specific issue. The APS accepts no responsibility for any errors, omissions or decisions relating to the information. The content should not be reproduced without permission or unless permitted by law.
If you are experiencing registration difficulties please contact APS Events Support.