Celebrating two First Nations psychologists and the future of a culturally strong psychology workforce
For Wakai Waian Healing, the achievement of general registration by psychologists Leah Munns and Jhai Bartley is about much more than two individual career milestones.
It represents something fundamental to the future of mental health care: creating genuine pathways for First Nations psychologists to develop professionally, practise within a culturally safe organisation and bring their own cultural knowledge, identity and lived experience into the healing space.
Both Leah and Jhai joined Wakai Waian Healing as provisional psychologists. They have now achieved general registration, marking an important milestone in two very different journeys into psychology.
For CEO and psychologist Ed Mosby, their achievement reflects the kind of workforce Wakai Waian Healing wants to nurture.
“We need more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychologists, but that means creating places where First Nations professionals can grow, be supported and know that their cultural knowledge is valued alongside their professional knowledge. Leah and Jhai achieving general registration is something we are incredibly proud of. We want other First Nations people considering psychology, or already working in the profession, to see that there is a place for them here.”
Two different journeys, one shared purpose
Leah Munns was born and raised in Rockhampton on Darumbal Country. Her mother’s heritage is Kuku Yalanji from Far North Queensland and her father’s is Gunggarri from South West Queensland.
Her journey into psychology came after decades working with community and government, including roles that exposed her to the effects of intergenerational trauma, disadvantage and the barriers experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
After years of balancing work and study, Leah completed her Bachelor of Psychological Science followed by Honours at CQUniversity. She later completed her internship with Wakai Waian Healing.
Today, she is a generally registered psychologist.
For Leah, psychology is about helping people recognise that their past and circumstances do not have to determine their future.
“What I love about working at Wakai Waian Healing is being able to work in a way that understands where our people come from. Culture, family, community and our experiences all matter. I can bring who I am into my work as a psychologist while continuing to grow professionally. I hope other First Nations people considering psychology can see that this is a career where we can make a real difference for our own communities.”
Leah Munns, Psychologist
Jhai Bartley comes from the Yiman people, originally from the Taroom region, and grew up with strong connections to family and community.
His decision to pursue psychology was deeply personal. Jhai lost his father to suicide during childhood following significant mental health challenges. That experience led him to question why suicide, substance use, trauma and mental illness continue to affect so many First Nations families and communities.
His understanding of psychology has continued to evolve throughout his professional journey.
Rather than seeing mental health purely through a Western clinical framework of diagnosis and treatment, Jhai believes effective psychology needs to understand the whole person, including culture, family, community, history, spirituality and connection.
“Wakai Waian Healing gives me the opportunity to bring culture and psychology together rather than feeling like I have to leave part of myself at the door. We can draw on evidence-based psychology while still recognising spirit, ancestors, family, community and culture. That makes the work more human, and for me it makes it much more meaningful.”
Jhai Bartley, Psychologist
Creating pathways into psychology
Wakai Waian Healing Workforce Lead Rosalyn Mann said supporting Leah and Jhai through provisional registration and into general registration demonstrates what can happen when emerging psychologists are given the right professional environment.
“Leah and Jhai have worked incredibly hard to reach this point and we are enormously proud of them. We want Wakai Waian Healing to be somewhere where First Nations psychology students, provisional psychologists and registered psychologists can see a future for themselves. That means providing strong supervision and professional development, but also creating an environment where culture and identity are respected and valued.”
Ros Mann, Workforce Lead, Wakai Waian Healing
That workforce is particularly important because of where Wakai Waian Healing works.
As a 100 per cent Torres Strait Islander-owned and Aboriginal organisation, Wakai Waian Healing delivers psychology, occupational therapy and social and emotional wellbeing services across regional and remote Queensland, including remote communities such as Palm Island and Zenadth Kes (the Torres Strait).
Working in these places requires more than clinical expertise.
It requires listening, relationships and cultural humility. It requires an understanding that social and emotional wellbeing can encompass family and kinship, Country, culture, spirituality, community and the experiences carried across generations.
First Nations psychologists bring an invaluable perspective to that work.
A place to build your career
Leah and Jhai’s achievement is therefore both a celebration and an invitation.
Wakai Waian Healing wants to see more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people entering psychology, completing their pathways to registration and building long-term careers within the profession.
For First Nations psychology students, provisional psychologists and registered psychologists wondering where their profession might take them, Leah and Jhai demonstrate what is possible.
A career in psychology should not mean choosing between professional practice and cultural identity.
At Wakai Waian Healing, the two can strengthen each other.
And as Leah and Jhai begin the next chapter of their careers as generally registered psychologists, they are helping create a pathway for others to follow.