Decolonising tertiary psychology education in Australia: Processes, challenges, and opportunities of curricula change
Australian psychology higher education and training has historically excluded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ knowledge systems which has profoundly shaped the discipline, including its cultural responsiveness. Decolonising psychology education offers a systemic approach to improve e...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit, The University of Queensland
2025-08-01
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| Series: | The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education |
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| Online Access: | https://ajie.atsis.uq.edu.au/ajie/article/view/1067 |
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| author | Belle Selkirk Joanna Alexi Chontel Gibson Rachel Fishlock Pat Dudgeon |
| author_facet | Belle Selkirk Joanna Alexi Chontel Gibson Rachel Fishlock Pat Dudgeon |
| author_sort | Belle Selkirk |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Australian psychology higher education and training has historically excluded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ knowledge systems which has profoundly shaped the discipline, including its cultural responsiveness. Decolonising psychology education offers a systemic approach to improve education and practice, and, in turn, the cultural responsiveness of psychology. Decolonising psychology higher education has become a focal point to support transformational change. The present research investigated how higher education providers (HEPs) are decolonising psychology education in Australia. An Aboriginal Participatory Action Research approach was used to design, implement and evaluate the research. Eighteen representatives of psychology HEPs completed a short, open-ended survey. Findings were thematically analysed via qualitative content analysis. Results highlighted 11 interconnecting themes ranging from effective policies to adequate resourcing. The results demonstrated the need for ongoing Indigenous leadership, resourcing and systemic changes that value Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing to support efforts in decolonising psychology education.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1f9708a87df14c5f8be87f6a001059c3 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2049-7784 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit, The University of Queensland |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-1f9708a87df14c5f8be87f6a001059c32025-08-20T02:56:02ZengAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit, The University of QueenslandThe Australian Journal of Indigenous Education2049-77842025-08-0154110.55146/ajie.v54i1.1067Decolonising tertiary psychology education in Australia: Processes, challenges, and opportunities of curricula change Belle Selkirk0Joanna Alexi1Chontel Gibson2Rachel Fishlock3Pat Dudgeon4School of Indigenous Studies, University of Western AustraliaSchool of Indigenous Studies, University of Western AustraliaSchool of Indigenous Studies, University of Western Australia and Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA)Gayaa Dhuwi Proud Spirit AustraliaSchool of Indigenous Studies, University of Western Australia Australian psychology higher education and training has historically excluded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ knowledge systems which has profoundly shaped the discipline, including its cultural responsiveness. Decolonising psychology education offers a systemic approach to improve education and practice, and, in turn, the cultural responsiveness of psychology. Decolonising psychology higher education has become a focal point to support transformational change. The present research investigated how higher education providers (HEPs) are decolonising psychology education in Australia. An Aboriginal Participatory Action Research approach was used to design, implement and evaluate the research. Eighteen representatives of psychology HEPs completed a short, open-ended survey. Findings were thematically analysed via qualitative content analysis. Results highlighted 11 interconnecting themes ranging from effective policies to adequate resourcing. The results demonstrated the need for ongoing Indigenous leadership, resourcing and systemic changes that value Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing to support efforts in decolonising psychology education. https://ajie.atsis.uq.edu.au/ajie/article/view/1067decolonising psychology educationcultural responsiveness and cultural safetyAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoplesIndigenous mental health and social and emotional wellbeing |
| spellingShingle | Belle Selkirk Joanna Alexi Chontel Gibson Rachel Fishlock Pat Dudgeon Decolonising tertiary psychology education in Australia: Processes, challenges, and opportunities of curricula change The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education decolonising psychology education cultural responsiveness and cultural safety Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Indigenous mental health and social and emotional wellbeing |
| title | Decolonising tertiary psychology education in Australia: Processes, challenges, and opportunities of curricula change |
| title_full | Decolonising tertiary psychology education in Australia: Processes, challenges, and opportunities of curricula change |
| title_fullStr | Decolonising tertiary psychology education in Australia: Processes, challenges, and opportunities of curricula change |
| title_full_unstemmed | Decolonising tertiary psychology education in Australia: Processes, challenges, and opportunities of curricula change |
| title_short | Decolonising tertiary psychology education in Australia: Processes, challenges, and opportunities of curricula change |
| title_sort | decolonising tertiary psychology education in australia processes challenges and opportunities of curricula change |
| topic | decolonising psychology education cultural responsiveness and cultural safety Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Indigenous mental health and social and emotional wellbeing |
| url | https://ajie.atsis.uq.edu.au/ajie/article/view/1067 |
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