Community psychology in Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand

Abstract

Community psychology in Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand reflect interesting parallels and convergences. While both have a strong educational basis influenced by North American publications, they have developed foci and forms of practice reflecting the cultural, political, and historic underpinnings of these two countries. In New Zealand, community psychology developed from academic researchers and teachers moulding and adapting approaches to suit the needs of their local communities. In Australia, two processes of practitioners establishing a professional home and academics developing a field of education have come together to form the basis of the field. At the core of community psychology in both countries is the place of social justice—with a strong emphasis on the position and plight of the Indigenous peoples. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Catalysts and connections: The (brief) history of community psychology throughout the world.

“…There was an influence from North America with the University of Waikato appointments of Higginbotham in 1980 and later, Moritsugu. There was also a strong local component, with community psychology being established at the University of Waikato and with emphases at the University of Auckland and Massey University (Fisher, Gridley, Thomas, & Bishop, 2008). The treaty of Waitangi between the Maori people and the British settlers provided a stronger position and legal protection for indigenous people than occurred in Australia.…”