Curriculum Vitae and Publications

Dr Joan Beckwith

(Last reviewed February 2021)

Academic Background

BA (Majors in Psychology and Media Studies) (SIT) (Completed 1978)

MA Preliminary (Psychology) (Melbourne University) (Completed 1979)

MA (Coursework, Women’s Studies) (Latrobe University) (Completed 2000)

Graduate Diploma in Education (Tertiary) (HIE) (Completed 1987)

PhD (Psychology) (Melbourne University) (Completed 1985)

Registered psychologist S1997 (1987-2010 inclusive)

Employment and Practice Background

1985-2003 Academic Psychologist

In 1985 I was a senior tutor at Footscray Institute of Technology (now part of Victoria University). I obtained a tenured lectureship at Phillip Institute of Technology (now RMIT) in 1986 and a senior lectureship in 1991. I resigned my tenured position in July 1993 because of family commitments. Between 1993 and 2003 inclusive, I lectured on a casual basis at RMIT and VU in a range of areas including gender issues, feminist theory, the intersection of psychological theory and social theory, counselling theory and practice, and research practice.

1990-2009 Psychologist/Counsellor in Community Settings

I joined Westadd Inc. drug and alcohol agency in 1990, working half time as a counsellor and half time as an academic (with leave of absence from my full-time academic position). This arrangement lasted six months, after which time I returned to my full-time academic position and continued to contribute time as an honorary counsellor/consultant. When I resigned as an academic in July 1993, I again took up a part-time position at Westadd with a time fraction varying between .5 and .8. In November 1997, following defunding of the Westadd service, I took up the position of psychologist at Moreland Hall (.6), finishing there in August 1999. Between 2003 and 2006 inclusive, I worked as a counsellor/psychologist on a casual basis in the student counselling service at Latrobe University, and between November 2003 and February 2009 I was a volunteer psychologist at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) in West Melbourne.

My counselling practice has involved work with clients and carers across the intersection of mental health and drug issues, including outreach to a psychiatric disability support service (1994 to 1997 inclusive) and a community mental health centre (1998, 1999), as well as work with university students, and with asylum seekers and their families. It has involved provision of individual and group debriefing and individual and group supervision to practitioners from a range of disciplinary backgrounds, as well as team-building processes, and initiation of a client participation process.

1998-ongoing practice

In 1998 I began administering a small business, and within that have provided supervision for psychologists and other health professionals, assessments for Red Cross, and debriefing for people working with asylum seekers and in other areas of community services. A shift in the formal nature of this work occurred when I discontinued my professional registration as a psychologist in 2010.

Other Activities

• Social Justice Is for Everyone … An Invitation in Essays from One Warrior’s Lifetime, Non-fiction collation of essays written for this website between 2012 and 2020, published 2021.
• Swimming with Sharks, Novel, 2012.
• Website including blog; Facebook page; Twitter, established 1 Nov 2012, ongoing.
• Involvement in reconciliation projects at Moonee Valley Council and Moreland Community Child Care Centres, commencing 2018, ongoing.
• Member of Exit International, commencing 2018, ongoing; coordinator of Essendon Coffee and Chat Group, ongoing; member of Victorian planning group 2019, 2020.
• Provision of supervision and debriefing ongoing.
• Commencing in first semester 2009 until end of 2014, volunteer Learning Partner in the Clemente Program, run by Australian Catholic University (ACU) in partnership with Mission Australia until end of 2011, and then with CatholicCare.
• Additional voluntary commitments to an Aged Care facility and the Community Safety Register, both in Moonee Valley, mentoring a PhD candidate at Victoria University in Footscray, and supporting asylum seekers and families.
• Volunteer mentor in Moonee Valley Youth Mentoring Assisted Pathways Program (YMAP) 2011.
• Community visitor to asylum seekers in Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre (MIDC) 2001-2009.
• Completion of two semester length units on novel writing in Professional Writing and Editing Program at the Centre for Adult Education (CAE) 2001. First two chapters of novel shortlisted and highly commended for an award by the National Federation for Australian Women (NFAW) 2004.
• Initiator of client participation process based on principles of partnership, collaborative decision-making and collective advocacy within a community-based drug service 1998, 1999.
• Member of the Drug Policy Working Group of the APS, 1999 – 2000. Spokesperson for APS at Community Campaign for Heroin Reform (CCHR) rally August 1999. Writer of APS press release in support of safe injecting facilities September 1999.
• Guest editor of a Special Feature on Power between Women for the international journal Feminism & Psychology, initiated 1996, published 1999.
• Peer reviewer for Feminism & Psychology, 1996 – 2008. Member of International Advisory Group 1999 – 2008.
• Supervisor of postgraduate research students, probationary psychologists, registered psychologists, and other health practitioners 1992 onwards.
• Member of the Australian Psychological Society (MAPS) 1987 – 2004.
• Joint winner APS Elaine Dignan Award for work with and for women 1998.
• Member of the Women and Psychology Interest Group of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) 1990 – 2004. National Convenor 1998, 1999.
• Professional member of ASCA (Association for Survivors of Child Abuse) 1996-2000.
• Advisory group for study on women with alcohol and bulimic problems (Turning Point) 1996.
• Women and Alcohol Study Group (Turning Point) 1995 – 1998.
• Family Violence Policy Working Party (Department of Human Services and the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association) 1994-1995.
• Service on RMIT committees and boards 1986-1993.
• Sexual harassment contact officer (RMIT) 1991-1993.
• Affirmative Action Grant support group (RMIT) 1992.
• Working party on eating disorders (Vic Health) 1991.

Publications, Discussion Papers, Submissions

Beckwith, J.B. (2008). Asylum seekers, social policy, and psychologists. APS Refugee Conference, Melbourne.

Beckwith, J.B. (2008). Human rights and the Kurdish minority in northern Cyprus. Unpublished discussion paper, Melbourne.

Beckwith, J.B. (2006). Comments on the document: Immigration information and interview: Requirements for IOM programme. Submitted to ASRC (Asylum Seeker Resource Centre), and IOM (International Organisation of Migration), Melbourne.

Beckwith, J.B. (2000). From counselling to client partnership in service delivery: Towards a feminist psychological practice. Unpublished thesis, Latrobe University, Melbourne.

Beckwith, J.B. (Ed.). (1999). Power between women. Special Feature for Feminism & Psychology, 9 (4), 389-430.

Beckwith, J.B. (1999). Power between women: Discourses within structures. Feminism & Psychology, 9 (4), 389-397.

Beckwith, J.B. (1999). (Under)Resourcing of CCCC activities at Moreland Hall: A position paper. Submitted to Management, Moreland Hall, Moreland, Victoria.

Beckwith, J.B., Loughnan, P, & Oke, M. (1999). Guidelines relating to recovered memories. Submission to the Executive Director of the APS on behalf of the Women and Psychology Interest Group, Australia.

Beckwith, J.B. (1998). Consumer participation in drug and alcohol services. Discussion paper distributed to all staff and Board members of Moreland Hall, Moreland, Victoria.

Beckwith, J.B., & Riggs, C. (1998). Drugs, alcohol and mental health: Changing connections in a community context. Proceedings of the National Conference on Problematic Drug and Alcohol Use and Mental Illness (pp.89-95). Melbourne, Australia: Jesuit Social Services.

Beckwith, J.B., & Turner, C. (1998). Towards a stronger primary health and community support system. Submission on the Victorian Government Discussion Paper to Department of Human Services on behalf of the Women and Psychology Interest Group of the APS, Victoria.

Baker, J., Beckwith, J., Gridley, H., Loughnan, P., & Vidler, H. (1998). Victorian Women’s Health Plan. Submission to the Victorian Government Ministerial Advisory Committee on Women’s Health prepared by a Working Group of the Women and Psychology Interest Group for the APS Directorate of Social Issues, Victoria.

Gridley, H., Beckwith, J., Strong, P., & Wisniewski, D. (1998). Regulatory review of the Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity for Women) Act 1986. Submission to the Federal Government Department of Workplace Relations and Small Business prepared by a Working Group of the Women and Psychology Interest Group for the APS Directorate of Social Issues, Australia.

Beckwith, J.B. (Ed.). (1997). Call for contributions for a special feature on Power between women. Feminism & Psychology, 7(3), 312.

Beckwith, J.B. (1997). Constructing and combining feminism and counselling. Unpublished chapter for an unfinished edited collection, Melbourne.

Beckwith, J.B. (1997). In different voices: On recovered memory. Psychotherapy in Australia, 3 (4), 36-40.

Beckwith, J.B. (1996). [Review of The mosaic mind: Empowering the tormented selves of child abuse survivors]. Australian Journal of Psychology, 48(1), 46-47.

Beckwith, J.B. (1996). [Review of Women’s experience of feminist therapy and counselling]. Australian Journal of Psychology, 48(2), 109.       

Beckwith, J.B., & Matthews, J.M. (1995). Measurement of attitudes of trainee professionals to people with disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 39(4), 255-262.

Beckwith, J.B. (1994). [Review of Feminism and addiction]. Australian Psychologist, 29(3), 221.

Beckwith, J.B. (1994). Prejudice, reverse prejudice, and positive attitude towards differences among people with intellectual disabilities. Psychological Reports, 74, 938.

Beckwith, J.B. (1994). Terminology and social relevance in psychological research on gender. Social Behavior and Personality, 22(4), 329-336.

Beckwith, J.B., & Matthews, J.M. (1994). Measuring comfort in interacting with people with intellectual disabilities. Australian Journal of Psychology, 46(1), 53-57.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1993).  Basics of SPSS on the VAX.  Unpublished manuscript, Department of Psychology and Intellectual Disability Studies, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1993).  [Review of Concerning psychology:  Psychology applied to social issues].  Australian Psychologist, 28(1), 67.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1993).  Gender stereotypes and mental health revisited.  Social Behavior and Personality, 21(1), 85-88.

Beckwith, J.B. (1993). Internal conflicts of a feminist, academic, psychologist, family member, person and counsellor. FemNews (Feminist Therapy Newsletter), 9(1,2), 13-14.

Beckwith, J.B. (1993). Preliminary question in modelling substance use. Unpublished paper,Melbourne.

Beckwith, J.B., & Matthews, J.M. (1993). Questionnaire on intellectual disability: Development, longitudinal and comparative data. Unpublished paper, Melbourne.

Clarke, V., White, V., Beckwith, J., Borland, R., & Hill, D.  (1993). Are attitudes towards smoking different for males and females? Tobacco Control, 2, 201-208.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1992).  Is feminism anti-science?  Feminist Therapy Newsletter, 8, (3/4), 2-3.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1992).  [Review of Motherhood: A feminist perspective].  Australian Psychologist, 27(3), 205.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1992).  Stereotypes and reality in the division of household labour.  Social Behavior and Personality, 20(4), 283-288.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1992).  Substance use, responsible use, and gender.  Drugs in Society, 1, 18-23.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1991).  Approaches to learning, their context and relationship to assessment performance.  Higher Education, 22, 17-30.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1991).  [Review of Working for change: The movement against domestic violence].  Feminist Therapy Newsletter, 7(4), 7-8.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1989).  Cognitive abilities.  In N.J. King & A.G. Remenyi (Eds.).  Psychology for the Health Sciences.  Australia:  Nelson.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1987).  Attitudes of adult women to drinking and smoking.  Social Behavior and Personality, 15(2), 145-159.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1987).  Developing a perspective on women’s drinking behaviour.  Australian Drug and Alcohol Review, 6, 227-231.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1987).  Psychological functions of eating, drinking and smoking in adult women.  Social Behavior and Personality, 15(2), 185-206.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1986).  Aspects of a survey of eating, drinking and smoking habits.  Proceedings of the 2^nd National Conference on all Aspects of Women’s Health, Vol. 2 (pp. 53-59). Adelaide, Australia: Organising Committee.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1986).  Eating, drinking, and smoking and their relationship in adult women.  Psychological Reports, 59, 1075-1089.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1986).  Personality variables and eating, drinking, and smoking in adult women.  Social Behavior and Personality, 14(2), 221-238.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1985).  Eating, drinking and smoking habits of adult women.  Doctoral dissertation, University of Melbourne, Australia.

Beckwith, J.B., Hammond, S.B., & Campbell, I.M.  (1983).  Homogeneous scales for the neurotic triad of the MMPI.  Journal of Personality Assessment, 47(6), 604-613.

Robinson, C.D., & Beckwith, J.B.  (1981).  Dimensions of self-regard.  Australian Psychologist, 16(3), 355-360.

Beckwith, J.B., & Barr, T.  (1980).  The Press’ unknown ombudsman.  Journalism:  2.  Melbourne:  Deakin University.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1979).  Aspects of business and domestic sampling for trial of new customer services.  Melbourne:  Telecom Customer Services Department, Market Research Division, Headquarters (internal publication).

Beckwith, J.B.  (1978).  Cable television – issues in evaluation. Melbourne:  Telecom National Telecommunications Planning Department (internal publication).

Conference Papers, Seminars, Workshops

Beckwith, J.B. (2008, September). Asylum seekers, social policy, and psychologists. Paper presented at 43^rd APS Annual Conference, Hobart, Australia.

Beckwith, J.B., and Bender, L. (2006, March). Asylum seekers and the Howard era. Workshop presented at the Overland Conference, Trades Hall, Melbourne.

Beckwith, J.B. (2005, October). Working with people seeking asylum (2). Paper presented at the Australian Counselling Association Conference, Melbourne.

Beckwith, J.B. (2005, August). Working with people seeking asylum (1). Paper presented at Community Psychology Workshop, Melbourne.

Barson, P., & Beckwith, J.B. (2004, November). Effects of policy on the health and wellbeing of asylum seekers. Paper presented at Researchers for Asylum Seekers Conference, Melbourne, Australia.

Beckwith, J.B. (2001, April). Client partnership in service delivery. Paper presented at the Community Psychology Conference, Melbourne.

Beckwith, J.B. (1999, October). The Declaration of Human Rights: Where are we now? Forum convened at the thirty-fourth annual conference of the Australian Psychological Society, Hobart, Australia.

Rickwood, D., Beckwith, J., Crowley, M., Fry, C., & Melrose, J. (1999, September). Psychological contributions to drug policy debates. Paper presented at the thirty-fourth annual conference of the Australian Psychological Society, Hobart, Australia.

Beckwith, J.B. (1998, December). Power between women. Paper presented at the ninth annual conference Women and Psychology Interest Group, Coolangatta. Also at Women and Psychology Interest Group meeting (August, 1999).

Beckwith, J.B. (1998, October). Women and power. Symposium convened at the thirty-third annual conference of the Australian Psychological Society, Melbourne, Australia.

Beckwith, J.B. (1998, March). Individual Treatment Plans and Case Coordination. Workshop presented at the Alcohol and Drug Service Providers Conference, Melbourne, Victoria.

Beckwith, J.B. (1998, March). Women, dual diagnosis, and power. Seminar presented for the SUMITT team, Western Hospital, Victoria.

Beckwith, J.B., & Riggs, C. (1998, February). Drugs, alcohol and mental health: Changing connections in a community context. Paper presented at the National conference on Problematic Drug and Alcohol Use and Mental Illness, Melbourne, Australia.

Riggs, C., Beckwith, J.B., & Recovery Group participants (1998, August). Personal Journeys. Paper presented at the VICSERV Conference, Melbourne, Australia.

Shopland, J., & Beckwith, J.B. (1998, January). Lesbians and counselling. Workshop presented at the second National Lesbian, Gay, Transgender & Bisexual Health Conference, Melbourne, Australia.

Shopland, J., Tonkin, J., & Beckwith, J.B. (1998, August). Lesbians, feminists and counselling. Seminar presented for the Women and Psychology Interest Group, Victoria.

Beckwith, J.B. (1997, October). Feminism and counselling. Seminar presented for the Interest Group on Gay and Lesbian Issues in Psychology, Victoria.

Beckwith, J.B. (1997, September). Mental illness, labelling, subjectivities, and feminist practice. Paper presented for the Women and Psychology Interest Group, Victoria.

Beckwith, J.B. (1997, September). Stress management and self care for workers. Workshop presented for orientation program at Carers Links West, Footscray, Victoria.

Beckwith, J.B., Beaumont, M., Epstein, M., & Read, R. (1997, June). Mainstreaming women’s services. Seminar presented for the Women and Psychology Interest Group, Victoria.

Beckwith, J.B., Bolyos, E., D’Arcy, C., & Strong, P. (1997, September). “They say you’re crazy”: Women, labelling and psychological practice. Workshop presented for the Women and Psychology Interest Group, Victoria.

Beckwith, J.B., Pham, H., & Strong, P. (1997, May). Generational issues within feminism. Seminar presented for the Women and Psychology Interest Group, Victoria.

Beckwith, J.B. (1996, September). Combining feminism and counselling. Paper presented at the thirty-first annual conference of the Australian Psychological Society, Sydney, Australia.

Beckwith, J.B., Crisante, L., & Pham, H. (1996, September). Researching and theorising feminist counselling. Symposium presented at the thirty-first annual conference of the Australian Psychological Society, Sydney, Australia. (Convened by Beckwith, J.B.)

Beckwith, J.B., Gridley, H., & O’Neill, M. (1996, June). Issues for counsellors and clients in relation to recovered memory. Professional development seminar presented for the College of Counselling Psychologists (Victorian Section).

Beckwith, J.B., & Shopland, J. (1996, February). Subversive dialogues. Seminar presented for the Women and Psychology Interest Group, Victoria.

Beckwith, J.B., & Oke, M. (1995, June). Trauma and recovery. Workshop presented at the Victorian branch State conference of the Australian Psychological Society, Bendigo, Victoria.

Beckwith, J.B. (1994, May). Issues for women making decisions about postgraduate study. Workshop presented at the Department of Psychology, Victoria University of Technology, Victoria, Australia.

Beckwith, J.B., & Harrison, L.J. (1994, December). Issues in working with the connection between substance use and childhood sexual assault in non-residential settings. Paper presented at the fifth National Women and Drugs Conference, King’s Cross, Sydney, Australia.

Beckwith, J.B., Hillier, L., & Rice, J. (1994, July). Women and power, feminism and psychology: Setting our agenda. Workshop presented for the Women and Psychology Interest Group at Westadd Inc., Melbourne, Australia.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1993, September).  Feminism & Psychology:  Challenge or contradiction?  Paper presented at the twenty-eighth annual conference of the Australian Psychological Society, Queensland, Australia.  Also presented at Women and Psychology Interest Group meeting (August), and LaTrobe University (June).

Beckwith, J.B., & Matthews, J.M.  (1993, March).  Questionnaire on intellectual disability:  Development of an attitude measure.  Paper presented at the conference of the Australian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

Matthews, J.M., & Beckwith, J.B.  (1993, March).  A review of the effects of training on attitudes towards people with disabilities.  Paper presented at the conference of the Australian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

Onyx, J., Gault, U., & Beckwith, J.B. (1993, December). Power between women. Workshop presented at the fourth annual residential conference of the Women and Psychology Interest Group, Sydney, Australia.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1992, December).  Feminist research.  Workshop presented at the third annual residential conference of the Women and Psychology Interest Group, Aldgate, South Australia.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1992, December).  Internal conflicts of a feminist, academic, psychologist, family member, person, and counsellor.  Workshop presented at the third annual residential conference of the Women and Psychology Interest Group, Aldgate, South Australia.

Beckwith, J.B., & Matthews, J.M.  (1992, October).  Attitudes of trainee professionals to people with disabilities including one-year follow up.  Paper presented at the twenty-seventh annual conference of the Australian Psychological Society, Armidale, NSW, Australia.

Beckwith, J.B., & Matthews, J.M.  (1992, April).  Measuring attitudes in trainee intellectual disability professionals.  Seminar presented at the Department of Psychology and Intellectual Disability Studies, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Victoria, Australia.

Matthews, J.M., & Beckwith, J.B.  (1992, October).  The effects of training on attitudes towards people with disabilities:  A review.  Paper presented at the twenty-seventh annual conference of the Australian Psychological Society, Armidale, NSW, Australia.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1991).  Substance use, responsible use, and gender.  Paper presented at the Alcohol and Drug Foundation Winter School, Brisbane, Australia.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1990).  Gender issues in practice.  Workshop presented at Westadd Inc., Melbourne, Australia.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1990).  Substance use:  Terminology.  Paper presented at workshop on women and substance use, Westadd Inc., Melbourne, Australia.

Beckwith, J.B., Clarke, V., White, V., Borland, R., & Hill, D.  (1990).  How different are male and female smokers?  Paper presented at the Seventh World Conference on Tobacco and Health, Perth, Australia.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1989).  Gender issues in substance abuse.  Workshop presented at Phillip Institute of Technology, Department of Social Work, Summer School for Human Services.

Beckwith, J.B.  (1985).  Aspects of a survey of eating, drinking and smoking habits.  Paper presented at the Second National Conference on all Aspects of Women’s Health, Adelaide, Australia.