ABORIGINAL and TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLES and PSYCHOLOGY INTEREST GROUP/AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS PSYCHOLOGIST ASSOCIATION JOINT NEWSLETTER The Australian Psychological Society (APS) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Psychology Interest Group (Interest Group) respectfully acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which our members live and work. Together with the wider APS, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Psychology Interest Group is committed to working in partnership with Indigenous psychologists and communities to meet the social and emotional wellbeing and mental health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Terms of Reference of the Interest Group are: • promoting the psychological study and advocacy of issues related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; • improving relationships between psychologists and the Australian Indigenous community; • providing advice to psychologists working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities; • the development of ethical guidelines for the provision of psychological services; and • conducting research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Artwork: Song Lines – Connecting Communities Across Country The artwork on our newsletter depicts the cultural connections between people and sharing Aboriginal cultural knowledge within communities. The piece also carries with it a depth of understanding of how beautiful yet fragile the land and our environment is that we collectively live on. It further reflects major cultural and environmental understandings (shared by Elders to the artists) of the role the natural world plays in the lives of humanity – and the importance of the eco-system and the connections between all living things and water ways– all dependant on working together to survive – similar to that of the collective humanity. Copyright held by the Sister Kates Home Kids Aboriginal Corporation, 2016. Issue #4 – December 2019 0 TABLE OF CONTENTS Editorial - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Psychology Interest Group .......................................................................................... 2 Editorial - Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association ...................................................................................................................................... The Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association ................................................................................................................................................ Events & News ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ Mind Food That We Like and Support ....................................................................................................................................................................... Forthcoming Conferences ..................................................................................................................................................................................... Resources .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Useful Links ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ Appendix One: Strengthening Our Spirits Model ...................................................................................................................................................... Editorial - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Psychology Interest Group Dear members of the For more information on these two events please see: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and • Yuendumu – ABC article here Psychology Interest Group and members of the • Closure of Uluru – SBS article here Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association, The Interest Group has continued meeting regularly and will be planning a gathering at the next APS Hello everyone. Welcome to conference in 2020. Happy holiday reading! our bumper Christmas edition of joint ATSIPP Interest Group and AIPA Newsletter, our 4th and final newsletter Pat Dudgeon and Dawn Darlaston-Jones for 2019. It has been a big year with many Co-convenors of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait achievements and sadly, challenges and we have Islander Peoples and Psychology Interest Group covered the highlights in our previous newsletters. We pay our respects to the families of the young Yuendumu man, Kumanjayi Walker, with his death in custody and understand that this week the court case begins in the Northern Territory. We stand with Yuendumu. We also celebrate the Uluru climbing ban and are heartened to finally see this ban take place. These two issues did galvanise national social discussion and debate and we hope that we all continue to support each other on social media and in person. 2 Editorial - Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association Dear Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association This is also the first newsletter as a new Aboriginal members and colleagues of the Aboriginal and Torres Corporation. In August, the Australian Indigenous Strait Islander Peoples and Psychology Interest Group, Psychologists Association (Aboriginal Corporation) was registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Welcome to the 4th and final newsletter for 2019. Corporations. This represents an important step for AIPA as an independent organisation focused on achieving equitable participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in psychology, and as a peak body representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychologists. In November, AIPA members came together for their first Annual General Meeting of the new corporation. This gathering provided an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychologists to come together to discuss our work and interests. The AIPA Board currently consists of: Office Bearers Tania Dalton, Chair Paul Gray, Deputy Chair Pete Smith, Treasurer Tanja Hirvonen and Vanessa Edwidge, Secretaries Members Pat Dudgeon, Kelleigh Ryan, Leda Barnett, Carmen Cubillo, Yvonne Clark Photo taken at the AIPA meeting in November 2019 Over the last 10 years, AIPA has established itself as a Islander psychology, and how we can continue to work strong voice in social and emotional wellbeing and for our communities. mental health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In the coming months, we will be exploring Paul Gray, Deputy Chair AIPA, on behalf of the opportunities to build on this foundation, and to better Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association Board represent the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychologists and students and improve the provision of professional social and emotional wellbeing and mental health services to our communities. This will include building formal partnerships with other professional bodies, including the Australian Psychological Society, as well as establishing our own strategic plan. Naturally, we look forward to hearing from our members and stakeholders about what you would like to see AIPA focus on, and how you can be more involved in our work. AIPA’s biggest strength is, of course, our members – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychologists working in their communities to promote social and emotional wellbeing in our communities. We know that From both the ATSIPP Interest Group and AIPA, we a strong professional workforce is critical to supporting wish everyone a happy and restful festive season. We our communities to develop and implement their own extend our best wishes to you and your families. Stay strategies to promote mental health and wellbeing for safe over the holiday break and have a well-deserved our people. We’re excited about this next chapter in the rest. story of AIPA, and of Aboriginal and Torres Strait The Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association AIPA is committed to improving the social and emotional well-being and mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by leading the change required to deliver equitable, accessible, sustainable, timely and culturally competent psychological care which respects and promotes their cultural integrity. The aims of AIPA are: • AIPA will provide leadership on issues related to the social and emotional wellbeing and mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will have access to equitable, timely, safe, sustainable, evidence- based psychological care that respects and promotes their The Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association cultural integrity, regardless of where they live. (AIPA) is registered with ORIC has a Steering Committee • Psychology in Australia will be responsive to Aboriginal that governs the functions and activities of the and Torres Strait Islander cultures, values and belief association. systems and will be grounded in holistic Indigenous perspectives and the determinants of social and emotional The new AIPA Board consists of Tania Dalton as Chair, wellbeing. and Paul Gray as Deputy Chair. • The number of Indigenous entrants into undergraduate and postgraduate psychology