[Commpsych] FW: defining what makes community psychology special

[Julie Ann POOLEY]

I feel I must reply to this letter.  I must say I am intrigued that the way in which change is being constructed.  I would have thought that a field like community psychology is aware of the process of social change and the political nature of the processes that surround it.  

 

The construction of change as one of closure is interesting and yet I am so aware of so many conversations about change in ECU's course structures and processes and yet very few people have actually talked about it with us at ECU.  

 

Is everything that changes automatically negative? I would have thought that community psychologists more than anyone  would understand the value of observation, political action and thought, looking at strengths and competence, adaptation, and resilience. It is not the first time we have been challenged ( and it will not be the last). Our challenge is about how we react and how we construct our future.  I can honestly say that I am looking forward to the training of our future community psychologists at ECU.  There will be an evolution, as we have been from our forefathers and foremothers. Does this make them worse, I think not. It makes them different. However those in the position of training them are in a privileged role as they have the ability to bring 40 years of research, knowledge and passion to a great sub discipline.

 

The other part of all of this is that while we are lamenting these internal changes, we as psychologists are losing ground.  We are losing out to other disciplines and we are not keeping our political eye on the ball.  So what, some might say? So what indeed. If we are truly interested in the values we espouse then we should be across the changes in the mental health field generally. We should be adapting and embracing and defining our new future and future students.

 

Julie Ann Pooley PhD

Senior Lecturer

Coordinator for Community Psychology Stream

School of Psychology and Social Science

Edith Cowan University (CRICOS code: 00279B)

100 Joondalup Dve

Joondalup

WA 6027

 

Tel: +61 8 6304 5591

Fax: +61 8 6304 5834

Email: j.pooley at ecu.edu.au <mailto:j.pooley at ecu.edu.au> 

http://www.psychology.ecu.edu.au/people/pooley_j.php <https://staffmail.ecu.edu.au/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.psychology.ecu.edu.au/people/pooley_j.php> 


________________________________

From: commpsych-bounces at lists.curtin.edu.au on behalf of Heather Gridley
Sent: Tue 18/03/2008 3:48 PM
To: commpsych
Subject: [Commpsych] FW: defining what makes community psychology special



From: Helen Sowey 
Sent: Tuesday, 18 March 2008 1:29 PM
To: commpsych at lists.curtin.edu.au
Subject: defining what makes community psychology special

 

Dear all,

 

Greetings from Sydney... where heads turn westwards towards Melbourne and Perth, where community psychology is booming.... or so it used to seem.  

 

I have just been reflecting upon the news of the closure of the WA community psychology course, and more generally about the challenges the College of Community Psychology currently appears to be facing (the December issue of Links described these in some detail).

 

I am psychologist working in community-based health promotion, while doing my masters in public health.  I feel a strong affinity for community psychology, and it saddens me to see it struggle.  I do feel it has something unique to offer.... but I have been grappling with the task of articulating exactly what this "something" is.  I would like to be able to define not only what unique contributions community psychologists can make in relation to other psychologists, but also what unique contributions community psychologists can make in relation to other community workers.

 

I feel that if we could articulate what makes community psychology special, then we could definitely strengthen the case for preserving it!  

 

While I have not maintained strong links with the APS, I have become more involved in the Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA).  As those in the health promotion field are now placing more and more emphasis on the social determinants of health, communities are coming more and more into the spotlight.   Perhaps AHPA might be able to assist in resourcing community psychology in some way?

 

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts,

 

With kind regards,

Helen

 

 

Helen Sowey

Senior Project Officer

Drug and Alcohol Multicultural Education Centre (DAMEC)

tel (02) 9699 3552

mob 0431 701 225

 

 



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