Dr Alistair Campbell

Head of School

My background is in Clinical Psychology. I have been a psychologist since 1986 when I graduated with a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology from the Australian National University. Prior to that I had completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psycholoy at Adelaide University. Following my Masters degree I worked in Child Development and Assessment in regional NSW for a number of years before moving to Darwin (NT) to take on a role as the Director of Family Court Counselling. After a couple of years there I moved to Launceston, Tasmania as a Senior Psychologist in Mental Health. Whilst there I worked in Adult Mental Health and then became the manager of ‘Oakrise’, the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service for the Northern Region of Tasmania. In the last few years of my time with ‘Oakrise’ I also worked for the University of Tasmania, University Department of Rural health, on a project looking at the delivery of Mental health Services to rural areas of Northern Tasmania. I began my PhD with the UDRH in 1999 based on this project. I then moved to Brisbane (QLD) as the Director of Psychology for the Mater Hospital but only stayed there for 12 months before taking up a position as a Senior Lecturer at James Cook University teaching into the Postgraduate Program in Clinical Psychology. I completed my PhD at JCU in 2004. I stayed at JCU for 8 years before moving back to Brisbane to take up the role of head of School for the Australian Institute of Psychology.

My clinical approach is foundationally systems oriented and I have worked in family therapy for many of my clinical years. I was an Editor with the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy from 2000 until 2010. I identify with post-structuralist positions in psychotherapy and feel very comfortable with a somewhat discordant mix of therapeutic discourses. I can identify a lot of the Narrative project in my clinical work but I also strongly associate with a Strategic perspective. Much of my research has been focused around broad themes of assessment of outcome in psychotherapy and the development of therapists as practitioners. I intend to extend and expand these aspects of my research as part of my general interest in reconstructing the discourse on what confers legitimacy on therapists and therapeutic practice – an area which is currently dominated by positivist assumptions about knowledge and truth generation.

Professor David Fryer

Head of Research & Academic
Program Development (Psychology)

Professor David Fryer B.A. Hons., M.A., Ph.D., C.Psychol. F.B.Ps.S., F.S.C.R.A. read psychology as an undergraduate and then philosophy as a postgraduate at London University and later did his Ph.D. in Psychology at Edinburgh University. After a brief spell at Plymouth University, England, David was appointed Postdoctoral Fellow at the UK Medical Research Council's Social and Applied Psychology Unit at the University of Sheffield, England. David then moved to the University of Stirling, Scotland where he was appointed as lecturer in Psychology but was subsequently promoted to Senior Lecturer then Reader (equivalent to Associate Professor) in Psychology. In 2009 David was appointed Professor of Community Critical Psychology at Charles Sturt University, New South Wales. He joined the Australian Institute of Psychology in November 2011 where he is currently Head of Research and Academic Programme Development. In 2012 David will be the senior academic responsible for CO3036 (Counselling and Mental Health). His teaching contributions to teaching psychology at AIP are yet to be announced. In addition to his position at the Australian Institute of Psychology, David simultaneously holds honorary positions as: (a) Professor Extraordinarius at the University of South Africa; (b) Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Stirling, Scotland; and (c) Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Queensland.

David is co-principal supervisor of three PhD students at the University of Queensland, all three of whom are also involved in teaching and research at the Australian Institute of Psychology, Seonaid Linn; Charles Marley; and Carlos Rivera. David is also supervising a postgraduate student at the University of Stirling, Emma Scott Smith, and David was also until recently the Ph.D. supervisor of Bróna Nic Giolla Easpaig, who is a new lecturer at AIP.

David is internationally renowned for his research and scholarship in 'community critical psychology' especially that in relation to: unemployment; psychologically destructive labour markets; poverty and inequality; disabling practices; gendered and racist oppression; and related theoretical and methodological matters. In recognition of his research and scholarship David was elected a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and was also elected a Fellow of the Society for Research and Action (Division 27 of the American Psychological Association) "for outstanding and meritorious contributions to the field of community research and action". Amongst other honours David has held Visiting Positions at the University of Adelaide, Flinders University, The University of Waikato and the University of Sussex. David has also served as: Editor of the Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology; Chair of the British Psychological Society College of Fellows and President (2009-02011) of the European Community Psychology Association.

If you are interested in finding out more about David's approach to and work in psychology you might like to read:

Fryer, D. (2011). Inequality and Research from a Community Critical Standpoint. In Serdar Degirmencioglu (Ed.) (in press). Some Still More Equal than Others? Or Equal Opportunities for All. Brussels: Council of Europe Press. ISBN 978-92-871-6746-0.

Downloadable for free at: http://youth-partnership-eu.coe.int/youth-partnership/documents/Publications/Others/Some_still_more_equal__web.pdf

Fryer, D. & Laing, A. (2008). Community Psychologies: What are they? What could they be? Why does it matter? A Critical Community Psychology Approach. Australian Community Psychologist, 20, 2, 7-15.

Downloadable for free at: http://www.groups.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/20(2)-Fryer-Laing.pdf

If you are interested in reading something published recently by new lecturer, Brona, and David you might like to read:

Brona Nic Giolla Easpaig and David Fryer (2011). Dismantling dominant sexual violence research without using the master's tools. Gay and Lesbian Issues and Psychology Review. Volume 7, No. 2, August, 168-175.

Downloadable for free at: http://www.groups.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/GLIP%20Review%20Vol%207%20No%202.pdf

David is married to Christina, has two daughters, Bridget and Bernadette, and a cat called Nigel. In his spare time David enjoys spending time with his family and friends, going to films, reading novels and listening to classic and contemporary jazz.

Professor Richard Hicks

Academic & Research Consultant

Richard Hicks brought extensive experience in the management and teaching of applied psychology when he arrived at Bond University in 1998. Beginning with training in mathematics and psychology from the University College of Newcastle, NSW he continued his training as a secondary school teacher in Africa, and in due course received masters and doctoral degrees from the University of South Africa.

His career has taken him from Zambia to Papua New Guinea and back to to Australia, eventually becoming Head of the Faculty of Social Science, Queensland University of Technology. Aside from his time at Bond and QUT, Richard has taught at several universities including The University of Queensland and San Jose State University in California. He has extensive experience in research supervision and is a member of the California Psychology Association and the Society for Industrial and Organisational Psychology.

Carlos Rivera-Santana

Lecturer

Carlos Rivera-Santana is a Lecturer with the Australian Institute of Psychology. From Aguada in Puerto Rico, Carlos is an early career academic that is mainly interested in Critical Psychology, Critical Methodologies, Social Movements, Community Psychology, Colonization, Critical Theory, Cultural Diversity, Social Theory, Psychoanalysis, Postmodern Thought and other topics that are emerging as his research practice unfolds.

Carlos acquired his Bachelors Degree in Psychology at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) after being in the United States Armed Forces. Later he earned his Research Masters Degree in Social-Community Psychology in the UPR. He has been involved in Public Policy and Psychology, Social Movements with underrepresented communities in Puerto Rico, in Critical Methodologies such as Discourse Analysis, Action Research with the Dominican community in Puerto Rico, and social action through Amnesty International Puerto Rico Chapter. Carlos has been an active member of the Puerto Rican Psychology Association (was a Board Member), Amnesty International and is part of the Steering Committee of Psychology for Social Responsibility. Carlos has published in local publications in Puerto Rico, United States, Turkey and internationally. At the moment, his main topics for publication are Colonization and Critical Methodologies.

Carlos is currently completing his PhD in the University of Queensland about “The Notion of Colonization and its Manifestations in Puerto Rico and Australia”. His supervisor is Dr. David Fryer the Head of Research in the Australian Institute of Psychology. He is heavily influenced by his Critical Psychology framework and also the works of Michel Foucault, Critical Theory and the Frankfurt School, Linda Tuhiwai Smith and her Decolonizing approach, Giogio Agamben, Ignacio Martin Baró, Dolores Miranda, Walter Mingnolo etc.

Katrina Travers

Lecturer

After graduating from University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of Science (honours) in Psychology in 1993, Katrina commenced her career as a psychologist within the NSW Department of Correctional Services, working in all levels of security (minimum to maximum). During this time, Katrina was supervised in the use of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for issues such as anger problems, anxiety problems, and acute stress reactions. She was also involved in the assessment of inmates soon to be released, as well as the assessment of serious offenders for the annual review board of these inmates.

In 1996, Katrina moved to Brisbane where she gained employment within the health system, working for private general and psychiatric hospitals. Within the general hospital setting, Katrina was involved in helping elderly inpatients with anxiety, healthy behaviour change, and mood again using cognitive behaviour therapy, in order to improve their recovery. Within the psychiatric hospital setting, Katrina was involved in the developing and implementing of drug and alcohol dependence programs to outpatient populations of all ages, including those with comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder.

Between the years of 2001 to 2009, Katrina chose to concentrate her time raising her family and undertake her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Griffith University, Gold Coast campus. Her research area within her PhD is an investigation into the validity of the reformulated learned helplessness theory when applied to variables of interest including depression, achievement, and ill health. Katrina is coming to the end of her PhD, having successfully improved the common measure of pessimism/optimism (known as the Attributional Style Questionnaire), such that it returns results with improved reliability and validity. Katrina’s PhD has also involved using this improved measure of pessimism/optimism to re-investigate the reformulated learned helplessness theory postulate that individuals who are pessimistic in their style of thinking are also at risk of suffering depression, less achievement, and are at risk of suffering increased ill health. Katrina has also extended this research to other variables that have not yet been investigated within the published literature, including investigating the hypothesis that women who are more pessimistic in their thinking also report suffering increased premenstrual stress.

In 2009, Katrina decided to return to work, and commenced working as a consultant psychologist in a division of general practice, accepting referrals from GPs under the Better Access initiative. Katrina helped individuals with a wide range of issues including mood disorders and adjustment disorders.

In March 2011, Katrina was successful in gaining employment as a lecturer for the Australian Institute of Psychology and the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors. During this time, Katrina has been successfully lecturing on the Ethics, Law and Counselling course, the Relationships Counselling course, and the Domestic Violence and Abuse course. She has also been involved in the upgrading of these courses, as well as the writing of new courses for the Bachelor of Psychology degree. In 2012 Katrina is also lecturing on the Introduction to Psychology 101 course.

Other tasks that Katrina is involved with includes being involved with the course advisory committee of the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors, as well as heading a research group in the area of adult learning theory and the use of technology in distance education models.

Seònaid Linn

Course Development

Seònaid obtained her BSc in Psychology (Hons) from University of Stirling, Scotland in 2008. Having completed her final year dissertation thesis on the linguistic phenomenon of ‘grapheme-colour Synaesthesia’, Seònaid developed a keen interest in phenomenology and subjectivity. Following her undergraduate degree, Seònaid spent the next three years working in a mixture of administration, marketing, community arts, and the employment sector as well as travelling in South East Asia and Australia. After falling in love with Brisbane, Seònaid is now enrolled at University of Queensland in a Research Higher Degree programme carrying out participatory action research on peer support and subjectivity with a particular focus on women and ‘artivism’. Seònaid has a passion for community critical psychology, qualitative methodologies and working from social constructionist and feminist standpoints. At the Australian Institute of Psychology, Seònaid is currently working on course development for the new undergraduate Bachelor of Psychological Science degree incorporating critical perspectives and innovative teaching practices into subject material. Free time is now a rarity for Seònaid but in its occurrence, she enjoys trips to the beach, music festivals and photography.

Ms. Brona Nic Giolla Easpaig

Lecturer

Brona commenced as a new Lecturer at the Australian Institute of Psychology in January 2012 from Charles Sturt University, NSW. Brona is highly passionate about the issues that affect accessibility to higher education and is looking forward to applying this to her participation in the ongoing development of the Bachelor of Psychological Science degree at AIP.

Brona studied psychology at the University of Stirling, Scotland and was awarded Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Honours) first class in 2008. Brona moved to Australia in 2009 after being awarded an International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) and Charles Sturt University Postgraduate Research Studentship (CSUPRS) to facilitate her undertaking of doctoral research at Charles Sturt University. Under the supervision of Prof. David Fryer, Dr. Rachael Fox and Prof. Ben Bradley; Brona submitted her PhD “Gazing Back: Collectively Resisting Gendered Power, Heteronormativity and Cisgenderism” in January 2012.

While studying at Charles Sturt University Brona taught on a range of psychology subjects including introductory psychology, the psychology of language and qualitative methodologies. In addition to this, Brona was also involved in examination and assessment, subject redevelopment and honours research supervision. Brona is very passionate about working collaboratively in the community and as such has worked in the areas of residential support, student counselling, advocacy and community event organization.

Brona’s research has centred on the topics of gender, sexuality, violence and critical methodologies while working from poststructural feminist and community critical psychology approaches. Brona’s honours research analysed gendered constructions in relation to texts on children’s moral development. Brona’s PhD work developed this theoretical framework, and involved a participatory research project in which community experts collectively engaged in uncovering and contesting gendered power, heterosexism and cisgenderism. Currently Brona is interested in developing a critical theorisation of qualitative methods and analysis as well as community psychology approaches to mental ill-health.

Stephanie Malone

Stephanie obtained her BSc (hons) Psychology from Lancaster University in 2006 where her research focused on the ability of children with autism to learn words. Many questions relating to the language skills of children with autism were raised by this research project which led Stephanie to continue this research during her Masters in Psychological Research Methods at Lancaster. This experience consolidated her love of working with people with learning disabilities and developmental disorders and applying knowledge of Psychology to offer support. Upon completing the Master course, Stephanie took a year out from academia and undertook the role of Assistant Clinical Psychologist at a further education residential college for 18-25 year olds with cerebral palsy and additional needs in the UK.

In 2008, Stephanie was awarded a Teaching Studentship at Lancaster University to conduct her doctoral research into the word learning of children with autism within non-ostensive contexts. Over the course of the next three years, Stephanie examined word learning within a variety of non-ostensive contexts demonstrating that children with autism have an unexpected degree of word learning ability in these contexts. Her doctoral research teased apart the mechanisms that these children may be using to learn words rather than drawing upon social pragmatic skills (including gaze following and understanding others’ intentions) alone.

During the final year of her PhD, Stephanie was offered a permanent lectureship at Edge Hill University, England. Here she specialized in teaching Educational Psychology and Research Methods and Statistics. In 2012, she moved to Brisbane where she starting working with Australian Institute of Psychology.

Stephanie’s research explores the impact of social pragmatic skills on word learning in typically developing children and children with autism. Additionally, her research has explored the mechanisms which underlie the word learning constraint of mutual exclusivity.