National Psychology Week speakers reinvigorate students

USQ psychology graduate Narelle O’Brien spends her days in prison and loves it. Narelle is a probationary psychologist with Queensland Corrective Services, based at the Maryborough Correction Centre.

She said it was a very diverse and rewarding job, for which she was well prepared after completing her degree.

Narelle was one of six guest speakers at a National Psychology Week information evening at USQ Fraser Coast on November 16. They spoke about their roles and careers to an audience of mostly psychology students.

Narelle told the group how she started off doing a Tertiary Preparation Program student, then did a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, followed by Honours, before starting a Masters. She then was offered a job as a program delivery officer delivering rehabilitation programs to prisoners.

Now she is part of the Operational Psychology Services team responsible for the delivery of psychological services to offenders at the Maryborough Correctional Centre. This includes diagnostic and assessment duties. The Maryborough team is the most experienced psychological team in Queensland Correctional Centres.

They are regarded as leaders in self-harm suicide prevention. In 2009 the team was awarded an excellence award for innovation and creativity in corrections related to suicide prevention initiatives.

The team’s senior psychologist, Steven Mitchell, also addressed the gathering at USQ Fraser Coast. He said correctional centres offered a very dynamic area for psychologists in which to work.

'It’s a wonderful environment to cut your teeth in as a psychologist,' he said. 'There is a very complex group of male offenders (at our centre) ranging in age from 17 to 80-plus. No two days are ever the same.'

Other guest speakers at the National Psychology Week information night were: Education Queensland psychologist and guidance officer Rob Symon, private practitioner Cleo Eshun-Wilson, Queensland Health psychologist Kim Ende, and Head of the USQ Psychology Department Associate Professor Tony Machin.

USQ Fraser Coast psychology lecturer and organiser of the evening Michelle Adamson said the students who attended had been reinvigorated in their studies after listening to the experiences of the speakers. She said it was wonderful that they had been able to enhance and inspire the learning experiences of the students.