Australian Psychological Society - Bendi Lango Bursary

Since 2006 the Australian Psychological Society (APS) has assisted six postgraduate psychology students facing financial hardship, initially with funds raised from the Bendi Lango series of art exhibitions organised by former President Amanda Gordon. In 2011 this initiative was formalised as a fund for tax-deductible donations. These member donations have exceeded $30,000 in both 2011 and 2012, providing strong endorsement for the Indigenous Education and Employment component of the APS Reconciliation Action Plan. The establishment of the bursary is one response to the need to boost the growth in the numbers of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander psychologists if we are to approach parity (2.5% of the Australian population and the profession) this century. Over the 20 years to 2007 an average of only 2 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychologists were added to the profession per year, but that rate has now begun to accelerate, bringing the current total to approximately 80 registered psychologists.