Decolonising tertiary psychology student support in Australia: empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychology students
Creators: name: Selkirk, Belle
name: Dudgeon, Pat
name: Gibson, Chontel
name: Alexi, Joanna
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: Ecology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Science Policy
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified

description: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including psychologists, are actively leading and decolonising psychology. The focus of decolonising psychology is on epistemic justice for Indigenous knowledges and delivering culturally responsive services. Indigenous psychologists play a vital role in the decolonising process. Despite recommendations and initiatives aimed at decolonising psychology tertiary programs, such as increasing the representation of Indigenous peoples’ completing psychology tertiary education programs, completion rates remain below parity. This study explores the current strategies and initiatives within Australian psychology tertiary programs, which support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychology students. Aboriginal Participatory Action Research was foundational in this qualitative research, which included an online survey. Eighteen representatives from Australian psychology higher education providers participated in an online survey. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Four key themes emerged: policies and structural support, partnerships with Indigenous communities, research and placement support and processes supporting cultural safety. Findings emphasise the need for multipronged and layered initiatives to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychology students. Implementing these strategies can enhance the recruitment, retention and graduation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychology students, contributing to a more culturally responsive psychology workforce. <b>What is already known about this topic:</b>Increasing Indigenous representation in psychology is a significant component to culturally safe care with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.One systemic approach is increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in psychology education and workforce; however, the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students is below parity across all higher education levels in psychology.Previous research has indicated that multilayered approaches in higher education is needed to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, but there is little information in the literature specific to psychology education. Increasing Indigenous representation in psychology is a significant component to culturally safe care with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. One systemic approach is increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in psychology education and workforce; however, the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students is below parity across all higher education levels in psychology. Previous research has indicated that multilayered approaches in higher education is needed to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, but there is little information in the literature specific to psychology education. <b>What this topic adds:</b>Multipronged strategies and layered support specific to psychology education is required to effectively support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in their psychology education.Four themes of student support were revealed: policies and structural support; partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, organisations and departments; research and placement support; and processes supporting cultural safety.Future research could engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in a comprehensive exploration of psychology-specific barriers, social and emotional wellbeing factors and lived experiences pertaining to psychology education. Multipronged strategies and layered support specific to psychology education is required to effectively support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in their psychology education. Four themes of student support were revealed: policies and structural support; partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, organisations and departments; research and placement support; and processes supporting cultural safety. Future research could engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in a comprehensive exploration of psychology-specific barriers, social and emotional wellbeing factors and lived experiences pertaining to psychology education.