Psychological Assessment of Cross-Cultural Mission Candidates in Australasia.

This article examines the current practices of psychological assessment for cross-cultural mission candidates in Australasia, surveying mission chief executive officers (CEOs), member care specialists, and professional assessors. The study found consensus on the importance of pre-field psychological assessments, particularly focusing on candidates' interpersonal skills, physical and psychological resilience, and contentment with their relational status, but revealed significant differences in how assessments are applied, understood, and integrated into selection processes. It identified systemic issues related to consent procedures, funding, compliance with Australian privacy law and government recommendations (including psychosexual assessment), and variability in psychometric test usage. The authors recommend a more standardized, legally compliant, and purpose-driven approach to assessments that includes comprehensive screening and ongoing well-being monitoring to better support candidate selection and retention in cross-cultural mission work.