Faculty Research Magazine – Edition 2
MY EXPERIENCE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Dr Claudia Psaila Senior Lecturer Department of Social Policy and Social Work When I was asked to write about my experience of community engagement, I experienced mixed emotions. I was happy to be asked while also humbled. I see community engagement as an intrinsic aspect of my life. The reason is that I believe that I have always been ‘engaged’ in the ‘community’, which for me is an inevitable part of being fully human and an active citizen. To me, engaging with people around us in a way that is influential, impactful and being of service reflects the reality that as human beings, we are all interdependent. My first forays into community engagement began in my adolescent years with my involvement in my parish and various experiences of voluntary work. During my student and early adult years, this engagement was complemented by my involvement in different committees and leadership roles. These experiences were an essential element of my journey of ‘becoming’ that led me to my chosen career paths: social work and psychology. I am both a warranted social worker and counselling psychologist. I am a full-time academic with the Department of Social Policy and Social Work, and also work with the Departments of Counselling and Psychology. Being both a psychologist and social worker, I find myself in a unique position with regards to being an academic and to my experience of community engagement. I understand ‘community engagement’ to be an intrinsic, multi-faceted dimension of what it means to be an academic within the Faculty for Social Wellbeing. Broadly speaking, my community engagement activities may be grouped into: 1. 2. 3. 4.
My role on Boards and Committees Training workshops/seminars and conferences Practicing as a counseling psychologist and providing supervision Presence in the media
BOARDS AND COMMITTEES Over the years, I have been a board member on various committees including interviewing boards. I have also been an evaluator of different courses for the National Commission for Further and Higher Education. Furthermore, in the early stages of my career, I was the Executive Secretary of the previous Malta Association of Psychologists for approximately seven years. In the past two years, I have returned to this role in the more recently formed Malta Chamber of Psychologists. I view this role as important in that the purposes of the MCP are to promote the discipline of psychology; to represent psychologists practicing in Malta; and to foster good relations among psychologists, between psychologists and other professionals as well as between psychologists and clients. Apart from being a union that represents psychologists, the MCP also focuses on ensuring ethical standards and practices of psychology in Malta. Another important role of the MCP is that of establishing links with similar unions, societies, associations and federations on the local and international scene. As Council member, I form part of a team that ensures that the MCP reaches these objectives. I experience this as a great responsibility but also an exciting one. Two most recent examples of our work relate to helping our members adapt to the recent COVID-19 situation, which is challenging for all. We did this by offering
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