UC Psychology, Speech and Hearing

Huge congratulations to Dr Megan Eustace, whose award‑winning PhD research at the University of Canterbury is shaping aged care policy in Aotearoa New Zealand!

Dr Eustace’s work centres Māori perspectives on communication and connection for whānau living with mate wareware (dementia), weaving together mātauranga Māori, lived experience, and Indigenous knowledge from Aotearoa and beyond.

Her research challenges narrow ideas of “communication” and highlights the importance of whakapapa, storytelling, shared activities, and relationships in later life.

The research has earned the prestigious Jean Seabrook Prize and is already informing more culturally appropriate approaches to dementia care and policy, showing how kaupapa Māori research are influencing practice, policy, and wellbeing in our communities.

https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/news-and-events/news/2026/uc-graduate-s-award-winning-research-shapes-aged-care-policy-

Here are some of the highlights of our 2025 Potato Competition!

What a great way to close off the year, and congrats to all the winners!

After more than a decade as a beloved member of the School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing, Baxter the Robot is heading off on a new adventure.

From contributing to research projects, to challenging visitors to a game of Connect 4, to simply being the most conversation-starting colleague we’ve ever had. Baxter has made a lasting impression on us all.

We’re excited to share that Baxter will be joining Te Puna Wai o Waipapa | Hagley College Technology Department, where he’ll continue his journey and help inspire the next generation of innovators and engineers.

Thank you for the memories, Baxter. You’ve been more than a robot - you’ve been part of the SPSH whānau.

We’re excited to announce that we currently have two academic vacancies in our School!

• Lecturer / Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology — a fantastic opportunity to join our clinical research and teaching team.

• Lecturer in Human Factors Psychology — a chance to contribute to cutting-edge work at the interface of psychology and design/human–system interaction.

If you or someone you know is interested in making a meaningful impact through teaching and research, we’d love to hear from you! Both positions close in January 2026.

https://jobs.canterbury.ac.nz/search

One of our amazing psychology Master’s students is running a study on how the menopausal transition relates to attention and wellbeing, including for women with and without ADHD.

Who can take part? Women aged 30–60 who aren’t using hormonal birth control, haven’t had an oophorectomy, and haven’t had a child in the past year.

Participation is voluntary and anonymous.

If you're interested, check the full criteria on the poster and sign up here:
https://canterbury.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3F4KgjC9lJFMe8K

Ngā mihi for sharing or taking part!

Curious about what helps employees truly thrive at work? Studying Industrial-Organisational Psychology could be your path!

This scientific field uses research and data to solve real challenges in the workplace. In our MSc in Industrial-Organisational Psychology at UC, you’ll learn how to:

1) Help teams collaborate and communicate more effectively
2) Design work environments and systems that support employee wellbeing and performance
3) Make organisations fairer, safer, and more engaging for everyone

The deadline to apply for our MSc in Industrial-Organisational Psychology is coming up soon on Nov 30th, 2025. Follow the link below to apply and start exploring the psychology of work!

https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/study/academic-study/science/science-schools-and-departments/school-of-psychology-speech-and-hearing/postgraduate-psychology-speech-and-hearing/msc-in-industrial-and-organisational-psychology

Shout out to our very own, Tika Ormond, for being the speech therapist to the speech therapist to the king in The King's Speech at The Court Theatre here in Ōtautahi!

The School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing’s Dr Dwain Allan had the pleasure of chatting with some of UC’s Golden Graduates about the benefits, risks, and real-world applications of AI at the Golden Graduates Luncheon last week at the Christchurch Town Hall.

Following this, Dr Allan joined Elsamari Botha (UC Business School), David Dempsey (Faculty of Engineering), and Kathryn MacCallum (Faculty of Education) onstage for a panel discussion, where he argued that AI is less about technology and more about psychology — what we do, why we do what we do, and what we consider meaningful and valuable.

“It’s by deeply understanding the psychological forces underpinning AI that we can truly harness its potential and blunt its adverse effects,” he says.

To learn more about UC’s cutting-edge research on topics such as this, as well as our highly regarded courses in the field of psychology, go here: https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/study/academic-study/science/science-schools-and-departments/school-of-psychology-speech-and-hearing/psychology-research-






of Canterbury
Alumni Relations