About AIPA

The Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association (AIPA) is the national body representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychologists in Australia.

AIPA is committed to improving the social and emotional well-being and mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by leading the change required to deliver equitable, accessible, sustainable, timely and culturally competent  psychological care which respects and promotes their cultural integrity. Furthermore, AIPA is committed to supporting and formally representing the views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychologists and students, supporting Indigenous psychologists through undergraduate and post graduate courses, working toward achieving equity within the profession and developing and delivering professional development activities which aim to increase the cultural competence of the mental health workforce, service delivery and the mental health system overall.  By maintaining a high standard of practice and engaging in Indigenous psychological research, AIPA is committed to being on the forefront of Indigenous psychology in Australia.

As well as offering leadership, professional support, mentoring and networking for Indigenous psychologists, AIPA has identified the following ten priorities for action in 2011:

  1. Establish a fully funded AIPA secretariat 
  2. Deliver cultural competence training
  3. Work toward Indigenising psychological curriculum in universities
  4. Work toward increasing the number of Indigenous psychologists
  5. Provide mentoring and professional support for AIPA members
  6. Expand and nurture AIPA membership
  7. Develop new paradigms in Indigenous psychology
  8. Provide input into social and emotional wellbeing and mental health policy
  9. Provide pathways for Indigenous people to enter psychology
  10. Develop and implement a research agenda for AIPA.

It is of concern that only 39 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychologists were identified at the last census, when 625 would be expected if parity existed within the profession (2.5% of the Australian population and the profession). Psychology did not produce its first Aboriginal graduate until 1987 and in the 20 years to 2007, it has graduated an average of 2 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychologists per year.  At the current rate, it will take another 293 years to graduate sufficient Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychologists to achieve parity within the existing psychology workforce. Clearly, ‘business as usual' will not achieve national benchmarks and special measures are required to achieve equity. 

AIPA plans to work closely with the APS Interest Group Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and Psychologists to achieve shared goals.