New psychology framework to support Indigenous people
by
Emma Masters
UniSA
academics are leading a push to develop national curriculum guidelines
that equip psychology graduates to work effectively with Indigenous
people and communities.
Dr Rob Ranzijn and Dr Andy Day from the School of Psychology and Associate Professor Keith McConnochie and Wendy Nolan from The Unaipon School recently hosted a forum that attracted more than 80 academics, practitioners and Indigenous people from across Australia.
The one-day workshop looked at how to improve tertiary teaching so graduating psychologists will have the skills and understanding to work sensitively with Indigenous communities.
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 Aboriginal 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.”
Dr Ranzijn said the forum 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 national support and resource network to help implement the guidelines and foster ongoing collaboration between psychology and education professionals.
“There is no quick fix for some of the long-term problems facing Aboriginal Australians, however the forum was a great basis for working out ways to improve the role of psychology in Indigenous health and wellbeing.
“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.”
The UniSA team will present a case for national guidelines at the national
Australian Psychological Society conference this month and hold discussions with
the society about implementing the guidelines. The academics are also working to
make the national forum an annual event.