The Australian Psychological Society's Apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

• DOI: 10.1111/ap.12300
• Publication Date: 2017-07-19T12:38:12Z
• Authors: Timothy A Carey; Pat Dudgeon; Sabine W Hammond; Tanja Hirvonen; Michael Kyrios; Louise Roufeil; Peter Smith
• Keywords: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander; apology; reconciliation; social and emotional wellbeing; 390; 05 social sciences; culturally safe practice; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences; cultural responsiveness; Indigenous; 3. Good health

The gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander non‐Indigenous health, education, mental social emotional wellbeing remains a major concern. Bridging these gaps working in culturally safe responsive ways with people of descent presents considerable challenges, including for the discipline profession psychology. At Australian Psychological Society's (APS) inaugural congress September 2016, APS issued an Apology to people. apology was formal acknowledgment role psychology failing listen show respect Indigenous Australians. also commitment change. This paper provides background context to, motivation for, apology. received highly positive reactions across Australia internationally. However, further change work needs be undertaken as challenge now is demonstrate by supporting engaging practices.