A Model for Increasing Indigenous Participation in Psychology Degrees

Abstract

For psychology to truly embrace reconciliation, a greater representation of Indigenous Australian psychology professionals is required. A model for increasing Indigenous participation in psychology degrees is described here. Such an increase has many potential benefits for the discipline and the services that it provides. The model proposed targets the barriers reported by past and potential Indigenous students. Key aspects of this model are as follows: the institutional context that embraces a cultural competence framework, the inclusion of relevant Indigenous curriculum in subjects within the degree, partnership with the local area health service, and involvement of local elders and communities. It also encompasses a system for growing a sustainable mentoring program involving students and staff. Mutually respectful relationships and reciprocal learning are foundational in this approach. The model provides experience of reconciliation in action for all psychology students important in training future professionals. Integral is a process to increase the relevance of the curriculum and pedagogy for serving the needs of Indigenous people, thereby increasing the engagement of Indigenous students.

Challenges in Developing a Cultural Evidence‐Based Psychotherapy in the USA: Suggestions for International Studies

“…As is the case of Rosselló and Bernal's (1999) (Harris et al, 2012). Thus, racial/ ethnic psychotherapies recommend that interventions be tailored for ethnic/racial groups.…”

“…However, in Australia, this goal may be particularly challenging. As we understand it, there are nearly 550,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders living in Australia in about 250 communities, each with different ethnic, language, and traditional cultures (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2014; Harris, Hill, & Kiernan, 2012). Furthermore, in Australia, there are only a little over 80 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander psychologists (Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association, 2014).…”

“…Furthermore, in Australia, there are only a little over 80 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander psychologists (Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association, 2014). There are not nearly enough Indigenous psychologists to serve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (Harris et al, 2012). The need to educate more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at the university level is pressing.…”

“…The need to educate more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at the university level is pressing. Educators are testing models that try to help increase the numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and educate non-Indigenous students about the history, traditions, and current issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (Harris et al, 2012;Ranzijn, McConnochie, Day, Nolan, & Wharton, 2008).…”

The Australian Psychological Society's Apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

“…Research has addressed how to increase the number of Indigenous students in psychology programs (Harris, Hill, & Kiernan, ), the training experience for Indigenous students (Cameron & Robinson, ), variables contributing to Aboriginal students’ adaptive and maladaptive engagement in their studies (Bodkin‐Andrews, Denson, & Bansel, ), and embedding Indigenous perspectives, history, and explicit cultural competence training in the undergraduate psychology curriculum (Chiodo, Sonn, & Morda, ; Ranzijn & McConnochie, ; Ranzjin, McConnochie, Day, Nolan, & Wharton, ).…”