Arts & Social Sciences
Te Kura Kete Aronui

Introduction

Our vision

Our goal is to provide a supportive and challenging learning environment in which graduate students can learn to become competent, safe practitioners of community psychology. By that we mean practitioners who

• are familiar with the values of community psychology and can integrate them into their professional practice,
• act in an ethical manner, and
• can use their knowledge and skills to contribute to changes in the community which enhance the lives of groups of people who are disempowered or oppressed.

About the origins of Community Psychology

The area of psychology which has b ecome known as community psychology developed primarily in the United States during the 1960's and 1970's, although the work of certain European social scientists (e.g. Marie Jahoda) during the 1930's and 1940's is evidence of an older tradition of community interventions. Similarly, in Aotearoa, the antecedents of community psychology can be found in the work of certain psychologists in the first half of the twentieth century, particularly Ernest Beaglehole (1906 - 1965). Beaglehole, a friend of Te Rangi Hiroa (Sir Peter Buck), was a proponent of ethnopsychology (now more often referred to as cross-cultural psychology) and a strong advocate for the application of psychology to improve material and social conditions so as to prevent the development of psychological and other problems.

Broadly speaking, community psychology developed in response to the concern of many psychologists that preventing social pro b lems and improving the quality of people's lives requires more than simply changing the b ehaviour of individuals. It requires the analysis of, and intervention in, the broader social, political and physical systems affecting human b ehaviour. It requires confronting oppression, including colonisation, racism, sexism and classism - and addressing the disparities which result.

There have been important contributions to the conceptual development and research base of community psychology from many areas of psychology, particularly applied social psychology, environmental psychology, organisational psychology, and, more recently, critical psychology. In addition, most community psychologists have a strong interdisciplinary emphasis and recognise the contributions from areas such as applied anthropology, applied sociology, community health, geography, and the policy sciences. A major emphasis in training and research in community psychology is clarification of values, objectives and roles appropriate for practising community psychologists, and the maintenance of an interdisciplinary perspective towards social problems and community development.

About Community Psychology at the University of Waikato

The Department of Psychology at the University of Waikato was established in 1965 by Professor James Ritchie, a student and son-in-law of Earnest Beaglehole. Under Ritchie's leadership, the Department developed strengths in both cross cultural psychology and social psychology, and an interest in the application of psychological knowledge to address social problems. It was therefore not surprising that the Department became the first in Aotearoa/New Zealand to teach community psychology. Moreover, this background has helped to ensure that cultural issues, cultural justice and the Treaty of Waitangi have become integral to teaching and research in community psychology at Waikato.

The first graduate paper in community psychology at the University of Waikato commenced in 1977. A proposal for the Diploma programme was developed by Professor David Thomas and received formal approval from the then School of Social Sciences in 1979.

The Community Psychology Diploma programme within the Department of Psychology commenced in 1980. Three students were admitted to the programme in 1980, and the first students to complete the Diploma graduated in 1983. As of December 2006, 6 students had completed PhDs in community psychology, there were 77 graduates of the Diploma programme and a larger number of students who had graduated BSocSc(Hons) or MSocSc with a specialisation in community psychology. Graduates from the Diploma programme are eligible to become registered psychologists through application to the Psychologists' Board.

The Community Psychology Programme has established a tradition of collaborating with community organisations in areas such as evaluation, policy-related research, organisational development, and community needs surveys. Staff members, particularly those who contribute to the programme, have close ties with a number of community organisations within the University region (central North Island of New Zealand). Students in the programme have access to a considerable range of community organisations throughout the region, such as alcohol and family counselling services, community houses, homeless shelters, district health boards, women's refuges, women's health centres, local and regional government policy and community development sections, and the central government departments (or ministries) of Māori Development (Te Puni Kokiri), Social Development, Health, Corrections and Education.

About career opportunities

Graduates from the University of Waikato programme have taken up positions as community psychologists in health services, community service organisations, government departments and in private practice. Over the years there has been a continuing demand for graduates with community psychology skills. Most graduates have little difficulty in finding employment, especially in the main centres. An increasingly common option is for graduates to become involved in contract work with human service organisations.

Employment taken up by graduates has included positions as:

• National Coordinator for Police Youth Development, Police National Headquarters
• Kaiwhakahaere (Iwi Liaison Policy Analyst), Environment Waikato
• Community Development Officer, Meningitis Trust
• Researcher, Research and Development Unit, Runanga o Kirikiriroa
• Kaitohutohu (Careers Advisor) Career Services Rapuara
• Social Development Manager, Ministry of Social Development
• Policy Analyst, National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges
• Clinical Services Development Co-ordinator, Mental Health & Addictions Service,  Waikato District Health Board
• Social  Development Team Leader, Hamilton City Council
• Relationships Manager, Whai Marama Youth Connex
• Independent Researcher and Evaluator
• Manager, Problem Gambling Foundation
• Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Anti-Hate Crime Coordinator, Lambeth Crime Prevention Trust
• Public Health Evaluation Support, Population Health, Waikato District Health Board
• Analyst, Takawaenga Maori Unit, Tauranga City Council Manager, Pacific Islands Drug and Alcohol Services
• Policy Analysts (e.g. Government Departments, Regional Councils, City and District Councils)

About the Department of Psychology

The Department of Psychology is one of the largest within the university. It has a staff of approximately 30, including 20 academics. Administratively, the Department is part of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. In addition to community psychology, the Department offers specialisations in kaupapa Māori psychology, cross-cultural psychology, social psychology, organisational psychology, experimental psychology and clinical psychology. Within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, allied programmes include those in women's and gender studies, social policy, and resource and environmental planning. Community psychology papers are offered at both undergraduate and graduate levels, there is a specialist three-year professional qualification in community psychology (PGDipPsych(Com.)) which leads to registration as a psychologist, and community psychology may be taken as a specialised area of doctoral study (PhD).

Of particular relevance is the Department's commitment to providing for the needs of tangata whenua. This is reflected in Value Two of the Department's Strategic Plan: "(To) provide an environment that serves the educational needs of the Māori community, in both the Waikato and nationally" (2000, p2). The Community Psychology Programme has a close working relationship with Kaupapa Māori Psychology Staff and the Māori and Psychology Research Unit. Staff and students have regular involvement in applied research with Māori organisations and the programme has a clear commitment to operate in a fashion consistent with the Treaty of Waitangi principles of protection, partnership and participation.

Community Psychology staff

Core university teaching, research and supervisory staff who co-ordinate the MAppPsyc(Comm) and PGDipPracPsych(Comm) are Bridgette Masters-Awatere (Programme Convenor) and Dr Neville Robertson. Other staff in the Department contribute to papers and are available for thesis supervision.

Bridgette Masters-Awatere obtained her MSocSc and PGDipPsych(Comm) at the University of Waikato and joined the Psychology staff in 2001. Bridgette is of Te Rarawa and Ngai te Rangi descent with connections to Ngati Porou through marriage. During 1998 and 2001 she worked as a health promotion evaluation researcher/trainer while setting up her own private research contracting business in Gisborne. Her interests are in Māori health, health promotion, community development, evaluation research and kaupapa Māori methodologies. Bridgette completed her masters degree on the social support networks of Māori graduate students and is exploring the ways in which evaluation models are applied to Kaupapa Māori programmes for her doctoral thesis. Bridgette is a registered psychologist. (bridge@waikato.ac.nz)

Dr Neville Robertson is a Pakeha New Zealander with a B.A. from Canterbury University, and a MSocSc, PhD and DipPsych(Comm) from the University of Waikato. He joined the Department in December 1986. Previous experience includes teaching in secondary schools and working in the Probation Service. He has interests in family violence and programme evaluation. He teaches in the core papers in community psychology and supervises thesis and intern students. Neville is a registered psychologist. (scorpio@waikato.ac.nz)

Other staff who contribute to the community psychology teaching and research programme are:

• Associate Professor Linda Waimarie Nikora
• Associate Professor Darrin Hodgetts
• Dr Cate Curtis
• Mohi Rua
• Dr Ottilie Stolte

Programme Associates

The programme has a number of Associates, experienced practitioners of community psychology who contribute to the community psychology programme. As of September 2009, the Community Psychology programme associates are:

• Michael B. Blewden BSocSc MSocSc PGDipPsych(Com) Waikato
• Dr Ingrid Huygens MA Auck PGDipPsych(Com), PhD Waikato
• Beth Neill BSocSc MSocSc PGDipPsych(Com) Waikato
• Jacob M. Read BSocSc(Hons) MSocSc PGDipPsych(Com) Waikato
• Patricia Te Wairere Ahiahi Young BSocSc MSocSc PGDipPsych(Com) Waikato
• Rosanne Black, BSci Massey, MSocSc(Hons) PGDipPsych(Com) Waikato
• Jacqueline Henry, MSocSc(Hons) PGDipPsych(Com) Waikato
• Ruth Buckingham, BA Massey, MSocSc PGDipPsych(Com) Waikato