Prize creates lasting legacy
An inaugural recipient of the Alicia Rose Doherty Memorial Fund Prize, Dr Burford-Rice has completed her Master of Clinical Psychology/PhD and is giving back in remote and regional areas of South Australia.听听
鈥淚 initially became interested in psychology during my final years of high school. Throughout my undergraduate degree this interest was reinforced by the wide range of courses that were available and meeting lecturers that would eventually become my PhD supervisors,鈥 Rose said. 听
鈥淭hrough volunteer work with Lifeline and the Australian Refugee Association from 2013-2019 I realised that I wanted to pursue a career in mental health and work with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
鈥淚 was further inspired to pursue working with Aboriginal populations and in regional and remote areas following a placement at the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress with the Social and Emotional Wellbeing team in Alice Springs throughout 2019.鈥
Career highlights
鈥淚 enjoy the challenge of working with families and children. Every day is different, and I enjoy the adventure of travelling to remote and regional areas, meeting new people and hearing their stories.听
鈥淧resenting my PhD research to local and international audiences in 2020 is also a highlight. I presented the results of my PhD work at the Australian Refugee Association in April 2020, and at a seminar on Culture and Communication for Utah State University via Zoom in October 2020.听
鈥淢y PhD research investigated barriers to help-seeking for mental health services among women from refugee backgrounds living in South Australia. My research also explored resettlement stressors and challenges faced by women from the South Sudanese community including the detrimental impact of negative media and political depictions of the South Sudanese community upon mental health and psychological wellbeing.鈥
A message for our donor community
鈥淭his prize听enabled me to accept an opportunity to complete a clinical placement in a remote area. This experience sparked my interest in providing psychological services in remote and regional areas. It also opened the door to career opportunities.
I am very grateful to all those who donated toward the prize. Thank you鈥
Make a gift today
In 2018, alumna Alicia Rose Doherty听sadly passed away at the age of 39. A strong advocate for empowering people through education, Alicia wanted to see more Indigenous people studying psychology and working, like she did, as a practitioner.听
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In memory of her life and passion, a Prize was established by donations to the University from Alicia鈥檚 family and friends including her husband, Aaron James Doherty, and parents, Professor Anthony Thomas AC and Dr Joan Thomas.
The Alicia Rose Doherty Prize supports people of indigenous background to complete their studies in psychology, with the ultimate goal of enabling them to become professional psychologists.
A gift in memory is a meaningful way to pay tribute to a loved one, or to celebrate a special occasion. For more information, please contact听our Planned Giving Officer听on +61 8 8313 5800听or听development@adelaide.edu.au