Postgraduate Diploma in the Practice of Psychology - Community Psychology The University of Waikato - Hamilton Campus, New Zealand

The Postgraduate Diploma in the Practice of Psychology is designed to meet the requirements for registration as a psychologist under the Health Practitioners Competency Assurance (HPCA) Act.



Community Psychology

Community psychology as an applied social science encourages inter-disciplinary approaches to learning, including sociology, community development, education and the policy sciences.


Why study Community Psychology?

Community psychologists contribute their expertise in a number of health and social services to encourage healthy people and communities. They develop, support and evaluate interventions that enhance health outcomes for individuals, wh?nau and communities.

Community psychology as an applied social science encourages inter-disciplinary approaches to learning, including sociology, community development, education and the policy sciences. Training involves awareness of the social and cultural positioning of the practitioner, critical perspectives on knowledge creation and the development of analytical skills in research and practice. Experiential knowledge is valued, along with knowledge derived from empirical studies.

Informed by an understanding of the Social Determinants of Health, community psychologists develop, support and evaluate interventions that will enhance health outcomes for individuals, wh?nau and communities in Aotearoa. With a focus on social justice, te Tiriti o Waitangi, and sustainability we are skilled in analysing how the complex array of policies, systems and structures in society are developed and organised and the impact they have on individuals and communities especially those who are oppressed, stigmatised or marginalised.

Community psychology is a specialty subject taught in several universities across Aotearoa. At the University of Waikato, we offer an accredited programme that leads to registration with the New Zealand Psychologists Board in the psychologist scope of practice.