Joshua O'Neill and Rebecca Masterton are the 2023 recipients of the APS Bendi Lango bursary.
Joshua O'Neill
Josh is a proud Arrernte and Kaytetye man who was born and grew up on Larrakia Country in Darwin. Josh has previously worked as a Psychologist in the clinical field, and has returned to study a Masters of Organisational Psychology at the University of Queensland. For Josh, pursuing organisational psychology grew out a need to move beyond working at the individual level, to being able to work both individually and systemically to create change. Although thoroughly enjoying his clinical work, organisational issues and understanding problems through a wider, systemic lens is what ignites his passion for psychology.
There is currently a lack of representation of Aboriginal Psychologists in Australia, let alone Aboriginal Organisational Psychologists. Josh hopes to raise awareness for the role that organisational psychology expertise can play in addressing organisational problems such as systemic racism, cultural safety, cultural load and other workplace issues affecting mob. He believes that organisational psychology has much to offer Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities at work and the systemic approach lends itself well to addressing a multitude of problems affecting our people.
Through his studies, Josh has been fortunate enough to be surrounded by incredibly supportive people including family, friends, academics and colleagues who have enabled him to pursue his interests. He has completed placements comprising of consulting to Community Controlled Health Organisations on attraction and retention projects, development of inclusive leadership programs, regularly meeting with UQ’S First Nations Psychology group, volunteers for community and student engagement initiatives and participates in RAP consultations.
After completing his training, Josh plans to work with organisations to support Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander employees to not only survive but thrive in the workplace. Josh is determined to advocate for the benefits of systemic change and deliver outcomes to individuals, teams, communities and organisations.
Being the first organisational psychology student to have received the Bendi Lango Bursary, Josh hopes to inspire other Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students to pursue a career in psychology and see organisational psychology as a viable and worthwhile option.
Rebecca Masterton
Rebecca is a proud Kabi Kabi and Waka Waka woman, born and raised in Meanjin (Brisbane). Her family hails from the Sunshine Coast and Central Queensland. Rebecca has had extensive experience working with the public since the age of thirteen in Brisbane and Los Angeles. Rebecca’s desire to work with people on a deeper level came about when she experienced a traumatic personal experience of her own, and found it was difficult to access mental health care.
In 2014, Rebecca made a life-changing decision to dedicate her life to helping trauma survivors, by studying to become a psychologist. Rebecca overcame many obstacles during her journey as a full-time university student and single mum, as she wanted to show her son that goals are achieved with perseverance and hard work.
While undertaking her undergraduate course at Griffith University during 2016-2020, Rebecca was selected three times to participate in the Kungullanji Indigenous Summer Research Program. She simultaneously worked as a carer in disabilities and age-care. In 2020, Rebecca completed a Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Trauma and Recovery Practice at University of Wollongong. She then completed her Honours degree and Master of Professional Psychology degree at Southern Cross University. Rebecca recently commenced her provisional placement with a multidisciplinary team in the Quandamooka region of Brisbane.
In 2023, Rebecca undertook training to become a Lifeline Crisis Support worker. Other training completed in 2023 includes: Synthesising ideas on addiction to develop comprehensive recovery-oriented treatment plans (APS); Children’s Mental Health (APS); Suicide Prevention Training (APS); Indigenous Cultural Awareness Training (Wesley Mission); and 2-day Indigenous Suicide Prevention Forum (AIPA). In November 2023, Rebecca will attend the Indigenous Allied Health Australia Ltd. National Conference on the Sunshine Coast (IAHA).
Rebecca enjoys working within Indigenous communities. As well as having a full caseload working two days in the clinic, Rebecca works one day with the Brisbane school system, mostly with Indigenous primary school children. She also works one day at an Indigenous employment agency WES.Job, helping Indigenous people prepare for employment.
Rebecca feels privileged to engage with trauma survivors to provide them with mental health care. She feels that witnessing her clients make progress with their mental health is the best reward for any mental health professional.
The APS bursary is funded through generous donations from APS members. Since the launch of the Bendi Lango initiative in 2006, eleven Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students have been supported in their postgraduate psychology studies.
More about the Bendi Lango initiative, including previous bursary recipients and how to make an online donation.