PSY114, or IKC101, or other knowledge, subject to the approval of the subject coordinator.

This subject provides an opportunity for students to spend a minimum of two days in country with Australian Aboriginal Elders and/or Cultural guides, learning about local Aboriginal culture. Development of cultural competence requires not just knowledge, but also engagement of attitudes, values and skills. The subject facilitates this engagement by taking students out of the classroom and involving them in first-hand experience. Activities such as storytelling, yarning and walking in country are examples of Aboriginal teaching approaches which will provide an authentic way for transformative learning to occur. Through direct contact with Aboriginal Elders and/or cultural guides, the subject provides a way to foster a deeper understanding of the experiences of Aboriginal Australians and the contemporary issues faced by Aboriginal people which impact upon their social and emotional wellbeing. This in turn will lead to reflection on attitudes and values.

Students must be enrolled in a course offered by the Faculty of Business, Justice and Behavioural Science and should have completed first year, including PSY114 or equivalent subject. Students will be responsible for their own accommodation and living costs whilst on placement. The number of places available in this subject is limited because it is conditional upon availability in Aboriginal communities. It therefore may not be offered every year. Preference will be given to students completing a minor in Indigenous studies in Psychology. Please check availability with the subject coordinator.

School of Social Work and Arts

Division of Students

Centre of Islamic Studies and Civilisation

School of Rural Medicine

School of Allied Health, Exercise and Sport Sciences

Centre for Law & Justice

School of Information and Communication Studies

School of Dentistry and Medical Sciences

School of Education

School of Policing Studies

School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences

School of Computing, Mathematics and Engineering

Division of Learning and Teaching

Faculty of Business, Justice and Behavioural Sciences

Faculty of Science and Health

School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences

Charles Sturt University Engineering

Centre for Customs and Excise Studies

School of Indigenous Australian Studies

Australian Graduate School of Policing Security

School of Psychology

Faculty of Arts and Education

Division of Student Success

School of Business

School of Theology

Centre of Rural Dentistry and Oral Health

This subject requires students to travel to an Aboriginal camp in NSW. The cost associated with travel and accommodation for the Subject Coordinator will need to met by the School. Students will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses.

PSY320 - Balgargal: Indigenous Cultural Immersion Experience

Balgargal: Indigenous Cultural Immersion Experience

be able to demonstrate critical reflexivity on their cultural identity, values and ways of working and the way in which this will influence their future professional relationships with Australian Aboriginal people;

be able to demonstrate knowledge and the use of protocols, codes of behaviour and skills that are relevant for interacting with Australian Aboriginal people in a culturally sensitive and respectful manner;

be able to demonstrate critical reflexivity on the way that their experience at camp challenges their assumptions and the way in which they will use this experience to consider an Indigenous standpoint when working with Aboriginal Australians as future psychologists;

be able to demonstrate an understanding of the way in which people in Australian Aboriginal cultures identify themselves in terms of family and the significance of this for psychological practice; and

be able to demonstrate an understanding of the local history of the country that they visit, the significance of Australian Aboriginal relationships with land and the implications of these for psychological practice.

be able to demonstrate critical reflexivity on the culture, values and history of the discipline, and the way in which this will influence their future professional relationships with Australian Aboriginal people;

be able to demonstrate an understanding of the issues impacting upon the social and emotional well being of Aboriginal Australians today and the implications of this for psychological practice;