Dear Erica and all,
In further response to your query, Community Psychology has not been de-registered but it has been de-legitimized through government decisions about education funding and professional registration. The result is a serious one because without Comm Psych holding professional status students are less likely to do the courses. Low course numbers in Universities having to compete for funding and generate profit makes a course ripe for being cut. Ergo, women's studies have almost disappeared off the map here in Oz. This situation threatens Community Psychology now and makes its future viability in Australia questionable...
The APS has been extremely supportive of Community Psychology and has lobbied against and strongly opposed, the government's decison to not endorse Community Psychology in the new national Professional Registration process. The fact that the national body for psychology (the APS) is doing this is of great assistance to us. Heather Gridley, a foundational member of Community Psychology in Australia who works for the APS is extremely effective and lobbies tirelessly on our behalf.
The processes that have led to this situation are: a national centralization process for Professional registration (introduced by a progressive government) and the shift of education from its position as a public good (60s-80s) to that of being a corporate, profit oriented entity with a core purpose of revenue generation (introduced by a conservative government). This combination, married with the PR, advertising and marketing of the Clinical Psych sector have led to a situation of atrophy for Comm Psych. As high fees were introduced into education the profiteering aspect has grown and, to our shame, education is now one of Australia's highest Gross Domestic Products. Universities strapped for cash have targetted the international market and the high fee paying sector of developing nations. The long term implications of profiteering in this manner have not been forethought or comprehensively calculated.
I don't think we brought this upon us but if you wish to draw anything from our experience in order to plan strategically it might be:
1. The importance of fostering efficient, inclusive and welcoming practices towards students and professionals who have a social justice orientation;
2. Fostering solidarity and manageable internal processes so that enough energy is left for the external political and professional battles which are critical to further change.
3. Student numbers are critically important to governments focussed on profit based approaches to education.
4. Intelligent, questioning students are already oppressed in education systems which do not value social justice and, in a relatively disempowered position, cannot be expected to pay fees (here around $24 000-$100 000) to get a 'professional degree' which does not allow them to act as powerful actors within the system. The struggle to ensure legitimacy therefore often which needs to be waged by the middle-aged! It is critical that these students become powerful actors in tomorrows field. Discipline legitimation in this context is part of the social responsibility of our generation towards those coming through. In Australia this generation of students is already paying high costs for an education we received for free, 4 times what we paid for a home and have no guarantee that a University education will ensure employment.
Hopefully the ongoing lobbying will effect a reversal of the Government's decision here in Australia
Regards
Katie
Dr. Katie Thomas
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research
PO Box 855
WEST PERTH 6872
Western Australia http://www.ichr.uwa.edu.au <https://owa.ichr.uwa.edu.au/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.ichr.uwa.edu.au>
Email: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Latest Book: Human Life Matters: The Ecology of Sustainable Human Living vs. The Rule of the Barbarians now available at www.amazon.com <http://www.amazon.com/> .
Mailing Address: Suite 4, 147 Canning Hwy,
East Fremantle WA 6158
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
________________________________
From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List on behalf of Erica Brostoff
Sent: Sat 14/08/2010 10:36 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Australian Community Psychology
A query;
I have the impression that earlier this year, and not necessarily on
this website, I read that in Australia, the Community Psychology
section or group had deregistered themselves or been deregistered.
Can anyone throw any light on this? I do not recall any reason or
background being mentioned.
I do believe, however, that if delays in setting up the Community
Psychology Section in the UK are traced back by someone who is
dissatisfied, to preference given to setting up a more action-based,
and inevitably political arm or shadow organisation, there could be
serious complaints about this.
I do not recall this issue being mentioned when canvassing for the UK
Section was going on.
Once this process has been supported by a fairly range of people,
most of whom were probably BPS members in other sections or
divisions, some consideration has to be given to their needs,
and their wishes as well.
I see no reason why the sister group or fraternal group, if
preferred, has to be set up first. Such a group is not primarily to
do with the BPS, which is what is under discussion at the moment.
Arbitrary decisions NOT to join the BPS when a mandate has been
given, seem to be just as patriarchal as the procedures which are
being complained about.
It is possible to be radical and follow procedure, and I do not think
that a mandate was given by this vote to wait. Furthermore, it
might rebound on the section before it has even got started.
If the BPS terms are thought to be so restrictive, why bother to join?
E
___________________________________
The Community Psychology List has a new website/blog at:
http://www.communitypsychology.co.uk/
There is a threaded discussion forum:
http://www.communitypsychology.co.uk/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi
There is a twitter feed:
http://twitter.com/CommPsychUK
To post on the website blog, forum or twitter feed, contact Grant or David at the email addresses below.
David Fryer ([log in to unmask]) or Grant Jeffrey ([log in to unmask])
To unsubscribe or to change your details on this COMMUNITYPSYCHUK list, visit the website:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=COMMUNITYPSYCHUK
--
This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
believed to be clean.
#####################################################################################
This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared
by MailMarshal
#####################################################################################
___________________________________
The Community Psychology List has a new website/blog at:
http://www.communitypsychology.co.uk/
There is a threaded discussion forum:
http://www.communitypsychology.co.uk/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi
There is a twitter feed:
http://twitter.com/CommPsychUK
To post on the website blog, forum or twitter feed, contact Grant or David at the email addresses below.
David Fryer ([log in to unmask]) or Grant Jeffrey ([log in to unmask])
To unsubscribe or to change your details on this COMMUNITYPSYCHUK list, visit the website:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=COMMUNITYPSYCHUK
|