Culturally Responsive Psychology & Consultancy
Dr. Victoria Hovane is an Ngarluma, Jaru, Gooniyandi psychologist with over 40 years of experience working in legal, justice and social services including providing front-line services, cultural consultancy, program development, and research and evaluation services. She has been working in psychology for the last 20 years providing psychological services, research, assessments and reports for courts.
PhD, BA (Hons), RegPsych
Over the past two decades she has been at the forefront of leading a national paradigm shift in understanding and responding to family violence in Aboriginal communities. She is a national leader in conceptualising and articulating Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing in relation to the causes and key drivers, and effective responses to family violence.
Victoria is a leader in Aboriginal ways of working-based co-design methods with communities, and innovation in research materials design, data collection methods, and supporting data sovereignty principles.
She has extensive knowledge of Aboriginal cultures, extensive experience engaging and working with Aboriginal communities across Australia and has delivered high quality projects with Aboriginal communities, e.g., National First Nations Elder Abuse project, WA Aboriginal Safety Strategy, WA Department of Justice Aboriginal Family Safety Strategy, WA Department of Justice Aboriginal Safety Strategy prisoner consultations, Aboriginal Family Safety Healing Framework, Co-designing healing framework with koorlangka with complex trauma, two ANROWS projects, and the FaCtS Study.
Her work is highly regarded in social, community, government and academic circles, and in informing practice, programs and services that embeds Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing, in effective responses.
Our Services
Tjallara recognises the importance of applying an Aboriginal worldview when working with Aboriginal people and communities. Victoria embeds approaches and strategies in all her work that respects and reflects Aboriginal concepts, experiences, and ways of knowing, being and doing. She skilfully traverses Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing to support non-Aboriginal workers and organisations understand how to work effectively with Aboriginal people, and how to support Aboriginal worker retention.
Tjallara brings these deep insights into providing psychological assessments, training and workshops, cultural consultancy, and research and evaluation.
Psychological Assessments
Expert assessments and reports for individuals and families, including current functioning, trauma-related issues including suicide, parenting capacity evaluations, criminal injuries compensation and other legal matters, e.g., coronial inquiries.
Cultural Consultancy
Working with government agencies and community organisations to develop policies that are informed by Aboriginal cultural perspectives and experiences.
Research & Evaluation
Leading and participating in research projects that support Aboriginal communities and create positive, lasting change.
Training & Workshops
Offering workshops in Aboriginal intergenerational trauma and responsive practice, understanding family and sexual violence, and parenting capacity, that are tailored to the unique needs of Aboriginal communities.
Tjallara recognises the importance of cultural understanding
A Culturally Grounded Approach
Dr Hovane uses assessment tools and strategies that respect and reflect Aboriginal concepts and experiences, especially when mainstream tools fall short.