Students lead the way for indigenous psychology
Caught between the Federal Government and loyalty to their communities, the Northern Territory intervention plan is putting a strain on indigenous people, particularly their mental health. Social workers need specific skills geared towards Indigenous patients, but they’re not getting the training they need at University. A group of students at UniSA recently decided to do something about this. They started the Pyschology and Indigenous Australian Student Group, with the aim of fundraising and increasing awareness for indigenous issues in the community. One of the founding group membera Kymberlee Lynch explains what led them to start making changes. Group leader and lecturer in psychology Dr Robert Ranzijn says indigenous patients are less focused on ‘me’ as is the case in white society, and concentrate on issues affecting their entire community.