Nigar Khawaja

Nigar Khawaja is a Professor at the School of Psychology & Counselling, Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Her research focuses on the psychological well-being of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations, including refugees, migrants, and international students, with a particular emphasis on acculturation stress, resilience, and cultural competence in mental health assessment and intervention.

She has developed and validated tools like the University Student Depression Inventory (USDI) and Tree of Life narrative therapy framework for vulnerable groups. Her recent work includes cross-cultural adaptation of psychological measures and exploring social adjustment among forced migrants.

Key research areas:

• Mental health of refugee and migrant communities
• Cultural competence in psychological practice
• Resilience-building programs
• Acculturation and its psychological impacts

Selected grants and collaborations include partnerships with the Australian Psychologist journal, QUT's refugee research initiatives, and international studies on domestic violence education and student well-being.