International experts in school psychology will share their knowledge about successful school psychology programs operating in the USA when they speak at an Australian Psychological Society (APS) event being held at Swinburne University of Technology this week.
The APS Psychologists in Schools Interest Group is hosting the event on Tuesday 26 March, which will provide a valuable learning and networking opportunity for secondary school psychology practitioners and academics.
Research Fellow, Dr Monica Thielking, from Swinburne's Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, who is also national convenor of the Psychologists in Schools Interest Group, said speakers included Professor Bill Pfohl from European School Psychology Centre for Training, Associate Professor Mark Terjesen from St John's University New York, and Dr Carolyn Waldecker, Adjunct Professor of School Psychology at Queens College and St John's University and School Psychologist at The Hagedorn Little Village School.
"Professor Pfohl, who is a past President of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and past President of the International School Psychology Association, has a wealth of experience having trained school psychologists for 30 years," Dr Thielking said.
"Associate Professor Terjesen worked with the Vietnam Ministry of Education and the Hanoi National University of Education (HNUE) to establish the first formal school psychology training program in Vietnam."
"Dr Waldecker specialises in cognitive assessment and school neuropsychology, and works as a school psychologist at The Hagedorn Little Village School, which caters for children with special needs."
Dr Thielking said the program would cover strategies for enhancing success and promoting student wellbeing in schools, the implications for practitioners providing direct and consultative care, as well as the application of the emerging field of school neuropsychology within the educational setting.
"This is the first time that we have been able to bring a program such as this to Australia," Dr Thielking said.
"The visiting academics have had input into the program and will provide an opportunity for school psychologists in Australia to ask questions about programs that have been successfully operating in American schools."
"Whilst this event will be of particular interest to school psychologists, it will also be beneficial to those working therapeutically with children and adolescents in other settings and general school staff who support students with mental health and wellbeing issues."
Up to 300 psychologists from around Australia are members of the Psychologists in Schools Interest Group, which began 12 months ago.