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Media Release

July 21, 2005

New psychology framework to support Indigenous people

In a bid to equip psychology graduates with the right skills to deal with the issues facing Indigenous Australians, this Friday (22 July) the University of South Australia will host a national forum to develop tertiary curriculum guidelines Australia-wide.

The one-day workshop will bring together academics, practitioners and Indigenous people from across Australia.

UniSA senior lecturer in psychology Dr Rob Ranzijn says history shows that the interaction between psychologists and Aboriginal people has often been destructive.

“Psychologists have played a part in the welfare system – from deciding when children are taken away to working with offenders – and they have been involved in counselling surrounding substance abuse, depression and suicide,” Dr Ranzijn said.

“However when we did an audit of University psychology courses around Australia, we found there was very little being taught specifically on Indigenous issues.”

“There were a number of schools of psychology that taught issues of cross-cultural understanding but nothing specifically aimed at increasing skills in working with Aboriginal people.”

Workshop leader Dr Ranzijn said the aim of the forum was to get everyone together to work out how to improve tertiary teaching so that graduating psychologists can work more effectively and sensitively with Indigenous communities.

“We need to get a true understanding of the role psychologists have in the lives of Indigenous people,” Dr Ranzijn said.

“If you’re not really aware of the impact of your actions or inactions on the people you are dealing with, how do you help them?

“We need to teach new ways of listening and relating.”

Dr Ranzijn said the workshop was an important step toward developing national curriculum guidelines that he hoped would be endorsed nationwide within the next two years.

“We are working toward developing a guide that academics and teachers can refer to it if they want to teach specific courses or incorporate elements into their psychology programs that cover Indigenous issues,” he said.

“Another outcome will be to establish a network of psychology and education professionals and Indigenous groups who want to continue this collaboration and can provide ongoing support for improving teaching.

“There is no quick fix for some of the long term problems facing Aboriginal Australia, however the forum is a great basis for working out ways to improve the role of psychology in Indigenous health and well being.

“There are many good things happening and we know that psychology can have a more positive role in Aboriginal people’s lives as long as we can learn to walk with Aboriginal people.”

Psychology and Indigenous Australians: Effective Teaching and Practice
A workshop on developing curriculum guidelines
When: Friday 22 July, 9am-5pm
Where: Nunkuwarrin Yunti, 182 Wakefield St, Adelaide

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