On behalf of the Australian Government, I warmly congratulate the Convenors and the Executive of the new Indo-Australasian Psychiatry Association, and all its members on the establishment of the Association.

Australia benefits greatly from the skills, intellect and diverse cultures of a wide range of health and medical professionals. The Australian Government recognises that effective health and medical services, including mental health services, must be sensitive to the cultural values and experiences of all members of our diverse and culturally rich society.

The Indo-Australasian Psychiatry Association is testimony to the value to the Australian community of the many psychiatrists and other health practitioners of Indo-Asian background, who are leading members of the profession in this country.

I welcome the work of the Indo-Australasian Psychiatry Association to further its objective in improving mental health care provided to the Australian community, and wish you every success in our contributions to the International Cultural Psychiatry Conference.

The Hon Tony Abbott MP
Minister for Health and Ageing