Wenxin Guan, an international Master of Business Psychology student, is a nominee for the McCusker Centre of Citizenship’s Outstanding Intern Award, after making a significant contribution to Mercycare’s efforts to advocate for culturally informed mental health care in the Kimberley region.
Wenxin undertook a research project aimed at providing Mercycare with a deeper understanding of barriers faced by young people in accessing mental health services in the region and identifying possible actions for strengthening service provision.
Suzanne Caren, General Manager of Youth, Wellbeing and Accommodation Services at MercyCare, said that Wenxin’s research had the potential to have a significant and positive impact on Kimberley services and communities.
“Wenxin demonstrated a high level of research excellence by conducting thorough, data-driven research into the mental health needs of young people in the Kimberley region. Her ability to analyse complex issues, gather insights from diverse stakeholders, and draw meaningful conclusions was instrumental in developing tailored solutions for future mental health programs,” Ms Caren said.
“She showed an impressive ability to understand cultural context, recognising the importance of culturally appropriate mental health strategies that balance modern practices with traditional healing approaches, which is crucial for community acceptance of new services.
“Reflecting on her research, Wenxin came up with the idea of mobile health clinics that could address some of the logistical challenges of mental health care service delivery for remote communities.”
For Wenxin, who applied for the internship program motivated by a desire to gain real-world experience in social impact work, the experience delivered unique and practical learning.
“As a psychology student, I was especially interested in how organisations implement mental health interventions at a systemic level. The internship with MercyCare gave me the opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of mental health challenge for young people, and how historical and systemic factors have contributed to these challenges,” Wenxin said.
“With limited prior knowledge of regional histories and systemic issues, I had to build up my knowledge by reading academic literature on intergenerational trauma and Indigenous mental health. I also watched documentaries to gain a more personal and human perspective and spoke with my supervisor to learn from their experience working in this field. I was able to challenge my own assumptions and gain a more nuanced perspective on cross-cultural mental health care.
“I am proud of contributing to a comprehensive report that outlines practical solutions for addressing mental health service gaps in the Kimberley region. Knowing that my work could inform real-world improvements in service delivery made this internship incredibly fulfilling,” she said.
As a nominee for the Outstanding Intern Award, Wenxin has been recognised for going over and above expectations in her internship, with a view to serve the community.
Award recipients will be announced at the McCusker Centre for Citizenship’s annual event in October 2025.