Community psychology

What is a community psychologist?

Community psychologists have specific training and experience in understanding and supporting communities of people, and individuals within communities, as they face various challenges to their physical and mental wellbeing, such as drought, unemployment, violence and poverty. They work with identifying and facilitating the strengths and competencies of community members, from elected leaders to grass-roots organisers and groups. They recognise human differences and diversity within community contexts. To address this, they are committed to processes that support flexibility, equity and respect for cultural diversity in meeting the needs of different communities. Community psychologists work as consultants in partnership with groups, organisations and residential communities to achieve their respective goals and aspirations, to solve problems and to prevent or reduce threats to individual and collective wellbeing, to promote social connectedness, and to facilitate the engagement or re-engagement with community of marginalised individuals and groups.

Community psychologists work in a variety of roles in urban and rural settings, in areas such as local government, education, community health, neighbourhoods and non-government organisations. They are also involved in Australian organisations providing assistance in community development overseas.

Areas of specialisation

Community psychologists specialise in:

• Needs analysis for communities at risk, such as immigrant groups and rural and remote communities
• Community asset mapping of social capital and related resources
• Community generated problem solving based on collaboration and social justice
• Community capacity building to manage change and address risks and threats
• Evaluation of psychosocial environments with respect to sense of community, quality of life, social support networks, resilience, etc
• Social impact assessment related to environmental issues such as drought and climate change.

Skills of community psychologists

Community psychologists have the knowledge and skills to:

• Conduct community-focused psychosocial research
• Assess the psychosocial needs of individuals, groups, organisations and residential communities
• Conduct community consultation to inform public policy development
• Enhance engagement and collaboration within a diverse community
• Evaluate the processes and outcomes of community programs that address psychosocial needs
• Coordinate systems to manage projects
• Educate staff in community consultation skills
• Provide counselling and advocacy for individuals and groups
• Negotiate and mediate to manage and resolve conflict
• Develop, facilitate and evaluate group-based intervention and education programs
• Develop and conduct health promotion and education programs
• Promote and manage attitudinal and behavioural social change in individuals, systems, organisations and communities.

Qualifications and registration

Community psychologists have usually completed six years full-time university training. This includes, but is not restricted to, postgraduate study in a recognised community psychology training program, plus further supervised practice as a community psychologist.

All practising psychologists are legally required to be registered with the Psychologist Registration Board in their State or Territory. As of 2010, they will be required to be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia. This is to ensure that they meet specified standards of competence and ethical practice.

In addition, psychologists follow strict guidelines for professional conduct that cover client privacy and confidentiality. Ethical codes are set and monitored by the APS and have been developed to safeguard the welfare of recipients of psychological services and the integrity of the psychology profession.

APS College of Community Psychologists

Membership of the APS College of Community Psychologists is offered to psychologists who have completed specialist training from either a postgraduate program or from another source considered to be of equivalent standard, and have supervised experience in community psychology. College members are required to undertake regular professional development activities in the area of community psychology to maintain their skills and stay up-to-date in their field.

The Community College publishes The Australian Community Psychologist, a peer reviewed journal which is accessable at: www.groups.psychology.org.au/ccom/publications/.

For information regarding the College go to www.groups.psychology.org.au/ccom/.

Locating a community psychologist

• Use the APS online referral service ‘Find a Psychologist' (www.findapsychologist.org.au) to locate a community psychologist by performing a search and selecting issues under the relevant categories.
• Look for the APS listing under ‘psychologists' in the Yellow Pages.
• Enquire through a government department or private agency concerned with health or social and community services.