AIPEP Framework
The Australian Indigenous Psychology Education Project (AIPEP) is delighted to introduce the AIPEP Framework for Cultural Safety, Anti-Racism and Indigenous Leadership in Psychology Education, Training and Professional Practice (Selkirk et al., 2026).
Building on the landmark AIPEP Frameworks (Dudgeon et al., 2016a, 2016b, 2016c), developed by Professor Pat Dudgeon AM and colleagues, the revised, expanded and integrated AIPEP Framework (Selkirk et al., 2026) reflects a decade of Indigenous-led advocacy, research and progress. It advances the original Frameworks’ focus on embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges in psychology education, supporting student participation and success, and developing a culturally responsive workforce, providing Indigenous-led guidance for whole-of-discipline transformation.
Let's Work Together Supporting Transformation Across Psychology
The AIPEP Framework (Selkirk et al., 2026) provides an Indigenous-led roadmap for advancing a psychology discipline that is culturally safe, anti-racist, and accountable to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
We encourage all members of the psychology profession, including education providers, educators, students, practitioners, supervisors, employers, professional bodies, and regulators, to engage with the Framework as a whole. Its guidance recognises the interconnected nature of education, student experiences, workforce development, supervision, professional practice, and organisational reform.
The AIPEP Framework (Selkirk et al., 2026) supports curriculum development, accreditation, professional development, student support, institutional planning, and organisational change. Implementation should be guided by place-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership and partnerships, with shared responsibility across the profession.
Meaningful and enduring systemic change requires sustained, coordinated action, critical reflection and accountability.
About the AIPEP Framework (2026)
Since 2016, significant reforms across psychology education, professional regulation and accreditation have strengthened expectations for cultural safety, anti-racism, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights and health equity. These include the Psychology Board of Australia’s (PsyBA) revised Code of Conduct and Professional Competencies for Psychologists, and the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council’s (APAC) 2025 Accreditation Standards for Psychology Programs.
Despite these developments, significant cultural safety gaps persist across psychology education, training and practice, including systemic racism, the marginalisation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges and the continued underrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within the profession.
The revised, expanded and integrated AIPEP Framework (Selkirk et al., 2026) responds to these challenges by providing Indigenous-led guidance for translating commitments to cultural safety, anti-racism and self-determination into meaningful systemic change. It recognises that transformation requires more than isolated curriculum content, individual goodwill or compliance with professional standards, calling for sustained action across the institutions, systems and professional structures that shape psychology education, training and practice.
“The transformation of psychology requires sustained commitment, personal, organisational and institutional courage, and ongoing partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”
Professor Pat Dudgeon AM (Bardi)
Director, Kwop Boorn Djenara
From the Foreword to the AIPEP Framework Selkirk et al.,
The revision and expansion of the AIPEP Framework (Selkirk et al., 2026) was undertaken as part of the AIPEP–APAC Cultural Safety Project, a collaboration between AIPEP and the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), funded by the Psychology Board of Australia.
The Original AIPEP Frameworks (2016)
Published in 2016, the three original AIPEP Frameworks (Dudgeon et al., 2016a, 2016b, 2016c) – focussing on psychology curriculum, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student engagement and success, and psychology workforce capabilities – have provided a foundational guide for both AIPEP and for psychology education and practice. These documents have formed the basis from which to transform the sector, and have been brought together and expanded in the AIPEP Framework (Selkirk et al., 2026).
The original Frameworks (Dudgeon et al., 2016a, 2016b, 2016c) remain highly relevant and useful guides and are referenced throughout the revised and expanded AIPEP Framework (Selkirk et al., 2026).
AIPEP acknowledges the significant contributions of the authors of the original AIPEP Frameworks (2016) and the leadership of the first project. The impact of the first AIPEP Frameworks (2016) has been significant in structural and cultural change in psychology.
Original Framework Documents
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References
- Dudgeon, P., Darlaston-Jones, D., Phillips, G., Brideson, T., Cranney, J., Herbert, J., Homewood, J., Newnham, K., Harris, J., Hammond, S., & Page, S. (2016a). Australian Indigenous Psychology Education Project (AIPEP): Curriculum Framework. Commonwealth of Australia. https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/publications/australian-indigenous-psychology-education-project-aipep-curricul/
- Dudgeon, P., Darlaston-Jones, D., Phillips, G., Newnham, K., Brideson, T., Cranney, J., Hammond, S. W., Harris, J., Herbert, H., Homewood, J., & Page, S. (2016b). Australian Indigenous Psychology Education Project (AIPEP): guidelines for increasing the recruitment, retention and graduation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychology students. The University of Western Australia. https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/publications/australian-indigenous-psychology-education-project-aipep-guidelin/
- Dudgeon, P., Harris, J., Newnham, K., Brideson, T., Cranney, J., Darlaston-Jones, D., Hammond, S. W., Herbert, H., Homewood, J., Page, S., & Phillips, G. (2016c). Australian Indigenous Psychology Education Project (AIPEP): Workforce Capabilities Framework. The University of Western Australia. https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/publications/australian-indigenous-psychology-education-project-aipep-workforc/
- Selkirk, B., Wepa, D., Kamminga, J., Newnham, K., Clark, Y. Darnett, E., McMullen, S., Smith, P., & Murrup-Stewart, C. (2026). The Australian Indigenous Psychology Education Project: Framework for Cultural Safety, Anti-Racism and Indigenous Leadership in Psychology Education, Training and Professional Practice. The University of Western Australia. https://doi.org/10.26182/aa2n-be48
