The Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association (AIPA)
The Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association AIPA is the peak representative body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychologists. AIPA is committed to achieving equitable participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within psychology. AIPA provides leadership and advocacy for social and emotional wellbeing. This includes access to culturally responsive, evidence-based psychological care and best practice for the provision of psychological services within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contexts. Furthermore, AIPA is dedicated to supporting and representing the views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychologists and students, working toward achieving equity within the profession.
AIPA members are an extraordinary set of individuals who come from all Australian States and Territories. Many are high profile people, and their expertise ranges from professors to new graduates, from private practitioners to prison psychologists, from university lecturers to poets and authors. AIPA members are much in demand individually and as a group for media comment, student mentoring, cultural competence training, and partnerships with local communities.
AIPA and the APS working together
AIPA has been instrumental in encouraging the APS to work toward reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in more formal ways. This partnership has helped drive:
- the development of APS’s Reconciliation Action Plan
- involvement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advisory Group (ATSIMHSPAG)
- the Australian Indigenous Psychology Education Project (AIPEP)
- the establishment of the Indigenous Psychology Advisor Group to the APS Board (2015)
- the APS’ Apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People (2016)
Until recently AIPA sat within the auspices of the APS and is now an independent organisation. AIPA and the APS value their mutual commitment to ensuring the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are heard.
Memorandum of Understanding
On the 16th of October 2020 the APS and AIPA signed a MOU that formalises a commitment between both organisations to work on achieving equity in psychology and social and emotional wellbeing, including the promoting of Indigenous psychology and the development of best practice approaches working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
This MOU sets out the values, objectives and activities for the collaboration between the APS and AIPA for annual actions plans to continue promoting Indigenous psychology and cultural safety and responsiveness with the profession.
Memorandum of Understanding
History of AIPA's formation
AIPA had its beginnings in Melbourne in March 2008, when the APS hosted the first ever meeting of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychologists in their own right. One of the first actions of the group was to resolve to form an association of Indigenous psychologists under the umbrella of the APS. A further meeting was held in Adelaide in July, where the CEO of the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association, Romlie Mokak, facilitated the group in developing an action plan for its first year.
An interim Steering Committee was formed at this meeting, which continues to be chaired by Associate Professor Pat Dudgeon. Members of the Steering Committee include Dennis McDermott, Amanda Hart, Cherise Daiyi, Elizabeth Cameron-Traub, Christine Gilles and Carmen Cubillo. The development of AIPA was also facilitated by a project undertaken by Pat Dudgeon, Stan Steindl and Jacky Cranney as part of APS President Amanda Gordon's Strategic Leadership Program, and presented at the Hobart Conference.
Following the official launch of AIPA at the APS conference in Hobart in September, AIPA members met for a third time in December, with 20 Indigenous psychologists coming to Melbourne from as far as Darwin, Perth, Adelaide and Far North Queensland.