E&D SERIES: Presentation on Indigenising psychology curricula closes a busy year for the UON Psychology-Led Aboriginal Equity and Diversity Working Party

Please come and join us for a presentation on Indigenising psychology curricula by Dr Mem Mahmut from Psychology at Macquarie University. This presentation is co-sponsored by the Psychology-led Aboriginal, Equity and Diversity working party and the Social and Organisational Research Group. It will encourage our school to think deeper about our own process of making the psychology curricula relevant and responsive to the needs and aspirations of individuals from varied Equity and Diversity groups.

Dr Mahmut was recently awarded a Churchill Fellowship which will allow him to travel overseas to discover the world's best practice for embedding Indigenous perspectives and teaching in psychology degrees.

WHEN: Tuesday 12th December, 12-1pm

WHERE: Keats Reading Room, Psychology Building, Callaghan (Video link to Ourimbah Science Offices Meeting Room).

WHAT: Presentation entitled “Indigenizing our psychology curricula by individual-led collective action”

An abstract and bio for Dr Mahmut can be found below.

This presentation, as part of our Equity and Diversity Series, marks the end of the activities for 2017 of the busy Psychology-Led Aboriginal Equity and Diversity Working Party. The Psychology-led Aboriginal, Equity and Diversity working party was established in February 2016 to educate staff, students, general public about Aboriginal and Equity and Diversity issues and ensure that teaching, research, service, and governance in Psychology, at UON, and in the local community are cognizant and responsive to the needs, sensitivities, and aspirations of Aboriginal peoples and other E&D groups.

Since its inception, with A/Prof Stefania Paolini’s headship, the AE&D working party has been instrumental in leading, coordinating, facilitating a host of important school-wide AE&D activities, initiatives, achievements towards cultural safety and cultural competence of students, staff, and the broader community. The AE&D working party’s efforts and achievements were recognised by the 2017 UON Faculty of Science’s Collaboration Award high commendation.

DR MAHMUT’S ABSTRACT: We all have the ability to contribute towards closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and the aim of this talk is to demonstrate the small role everyone can play to enact big changes. In this presentation, I will outline the process we have started to embed Indigenous perspectives into Macquarie University's psychology curriculum. I will also detail the international research I will conduct to discover the best approach for Indigenizing psychology curricula as part of my Churchill Fellowship and conclude with the support I need from you to ensure my findings translate into change.

DR MAHMUT’S BIO: Dr Mem Mahmut is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Macquarie University where he convenes an introductory psychology unit and is the co-director of the Food, Flavour and Fragrance lab. Mem's research investigates the impact a poor sense of smell and low level of empathy has on human behaviour, including the impact on romantic relationships. Mem was recently awarded a Churchill Fellowship which will allow him to travel overseas to discover the world's best practice for embedding Indigenous perspectives and teaching in psychology degrees.