Institute of Community Psychology Aotearoa (IComPA)
Mission
The Institute of Community Psychology promotes the application of psychology and related knowledge to enhancing social and cultural justice within Aotearoa.
Aims
These aims form a broad statement of intent for members of IComPA:
- To promote developments within the profession and discipline of psychology that will enhance the status of Māori as tangata whenua.
- To promote developments within the profession that will enhance the ability of ethnic and cultural communities to become self-determining in a manner consistent with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
- To promote the use of psychology and social science in the pursuit of social justice for individuals, groups, and communities.
- To promote high standards of competency and safe practice among practitioners of community psychology through advising on training in community psychology, and through continuing education, workforce development, and networking.
- To promote knowledge of the discipline of community psychology.
- To undertake activities consistent with the values and principles of community psychology.
Values and principles
Values are inextricably enmeshed in all forms of human behaviour, including psychological research and practice. Values help frame the way we see the world and play an important role in determining our priorities. In this sense, values help set our agendas. Community psychologists believe it is important to make explicit the values guiding their practice.
Core values and principles that have been identified in community psychology are:
- social justice
- empowerment and competence enhancement
- diversity and cultural pluralism
- cultural awareness and biculturalism
- social innovation and social change
- evaluation
- community development and participation
- collaboration and partnership
- an ecological approach
- systems perspective
- a preventive approach to social problems.
These values are consistent with those of the Code of Ethics for Psychologists Working in Aotearoa New Zealand (2002).
The IComPA committee
Hayley Lord (Chair)
Heather Hamerton (Treasurer)
Sherida Davy (Secretary)
Rebekah Graham
Danielle Diamond
Abigail Webbon
Anita Trappett Smith
Esmae McKenzie-Norton
Lucy Thomas (student rep)
Mikaela Walsh (student rep)
How to join
click here for the online application
It is free for NZPsS members and students to join the Institute. Please note that NZPsS student subscribers can become Institute student subscribers only. To become a full member of an Institute you need to be a full member of NZPsS first.
Contact
Contact the membership administrator on for more information.
