Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Psychology
Member Resources
Annual General Meeting Minutes
- AGM 2005 - minutes
(24kb)
Articles
The 'Australian Psychologist', vol 40, no. 1, March 2005:
Western psychotherapeutic practice: Engaging Aboriginal people in culturally appropriate and respectful ways
David A Vicary and Brian J Bishop (pp. 8 - 19)
Abstract:
Until recently the majority of psychologists in Australia have been confronted by the lack of information relating to culturally appropriate methods of engagement and therapy with Aboriginal clients. Findings from a qualitative study undertaken in Western Australia indicated that Aboriginal conceptualisations of mental health appear more holistic and contain elements that are both cultural and spiritual. The extent of these differences in conceptualisations from Western psychiatry and psychology are so vast that the mental health interventions need to be reconsidered. Extending from an Aboriginal mental health model are traditional treatments that endeavour to address the cultural and spiritual components of the mental illness. Findings from the study indicated that these treatments appeared to be hierarchically organised, depending on cause, severity, type of practitioner required and treatment. The findings also indicated that Aboriginal people generally seek traditional interpretations and treatment of an illness and exhaust these avenues prior to contact with the Western mental health system. The research also delineated Aboriginal beliefs about Western psychotherapy, including conceptions about Western therapy. The authors propose an engagement model, including formative preparation, for non-Aboriginal practitioners intending to work with the Aboriginal community.
To access the full article you need to login to the APS website then follow the prompts to find the journal article via: http://www.psychology.org.au/Journal.aspx?ID=1202#s4
The 'Australian Psychologist', vol. 35, no. 2, 2000: Special Issue: Australian Indigenous Psychologies
In particular:
- 'The Australian Psychological Society and Australia's Indigenous People: A Decade of Action' by Heather Gridley, Graham Davidson, Patricia Dudgeon, Harry Pickett and Ann Sanson (p88 - 91); and
- 'Australian Psychology and Australia's Indigenous People: Existing and Emerging Narratives' by Graham Davidson, Ann Sanson and Heather Gridley (p92 - 99).
Enough talking - more walking - achieving deadly outcomes
by Marlene Burchill, adapted from a presentation to APS Conference in Sydney 2004.
From Stronger Families Learning Exchange - the Bulletin of the AIFS
Bulletin No. 6, Spring/Summer 2004
Download Enough Talking - more walking
Bridging cultures: psychologists working with Aboriginal clients
By Sarah Ford
InPsych, October 2003
View article
Indigenous health and mental health: APS monitors policy changes
By Graham Davidson FAPS
InPsych, June 2003
View article
Ethical guidelines
The 'Guidelines for the provision of psychological services for, and the conduct of psychological research with, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Australia 'were produced by the APS in May 2003. Within this document are the following specific guidelines:
- Guidelines for psychological research that involves Indigenous people
- General guidelines for provision of psychological services to Indigenous people
- Guidelines for psychological testing of Indigenous people
- Guidelines for conducting other forms of assessment with Indigenous people
Books
'Working with Indigenous Australians: a handbook for psychologists'
Pat Dudgeon, Darren Garvey, and Harry Pickett, eds.
The Curtin Indigenous Research Centre (CIRC), in association with the Australian Psychological Society and the Curtin School of Psychology, has developed a handbook for working with Indigenous Australians. The handbook is a practical guide for psychologists and associated mental health professionals and addresses the practical issues of working in Indigenous settings and with Indigenous people in urban, rural and remote environments. It covers individual, family and community approaches and describes appropriate models of intervention for children, youth and adults.
Publisher: Gunada Press, Curtin Indigenous Research Centre, Curtin University of Technology. Publication date: 2000
'A Life of Extremes: Journeys and Encounters'
Jeff McMullen
In Chapter 15 'Coming Home', Jeff writes: "Petrol sniffing by indigenous Australians was the subject of my very first story for '60 Minutes' when I joined the Nine Network towards the end of 1984. It was also my first film back in my own country after so many years as a foreign correspondent. After tackling racial injustice and the plight of indigenous people in many parts of the world, I now was confronted with our own sad record at home."
Jeff also writes: "As I left Amata some of the parents thrust a letter into my hand asking the federal government to help them save their children. These are our children, I thought. Have we done enough for them?"
In this chapter of 'A Life of Extremes', Jeff McMullen shares the success and sadness of our Indigenous peoples. A highly recommended read.
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd
Publication date: July 2002
ISBN: 0732275091
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