Paul Stevenson Explained

Paul Joseph Stevenson OAM (born 12 September 1955) is an Australian psychologist.

Professional career – disaster intervention and support

Stevenson has wide experience in general and trauma counselling and is widely recognised as an international trauma psychologist.[1] [2] [3] [4] His experience includes on-site involvement with the Moura Mine Disaster in 1994, the Port Arthur Massacre (Australia) in 1996, the Thredbo landslide in 1997, the Bali bombings in 2002 and 2005, the Marriott bombing (Jakarta) in 2003, the 2004 Australian Embassy bombing in Jakarta, the Indian Ocean tsunami recovery in 2004–05, the Victorian Bushfires in 2009,[5] He received a Medal of the Order of Australia for his work following the 2002 Bali Bombings.[6] [7] [8] the 2010–2011 Queensland floods,[9] [10] Cyclone Oswald,[11] [12] [13] and support for the families of those lost in Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.[14]

Professional career – refugee support and advocacy

Stevenson has worked as a psychologist at the Manus Regional Processing Centre and the Nauru Detention Centre, providing support to both staff and detainees.[15] He maintains that the levels of psychological trauma at these Centres are the worst he has ever seen, and that Australia has an ethical responsibility to ensure these Centres are closed down.[15] As a result of speaking out, Stevenson had his contract to work on Nauru summarily terminated by PsyCare.[16]

Professional views

Stevenson suggests that the traditional method of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing needs to be used with caution, and suggests that an eclectic and humanitarian approach is necessary for stress and trauma response.[17] Stevenson believes that to some extent psychological trauma may be a natural reaction to extreme circumstances, and we need to de-stigmatize this, as indeed we need to de-stigmatize mental illness.

Politics

Stevenson was an Independent Candidate for the Senate (Queensland) in the 2016 Australian federal election.[18] [19] [20]

Critical recognition

Publications

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/article/lennon-call-for-ban-blasted/ "Lennon call for ban blasted"
  2. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-08/radio-station-suspends-ads-amid-royal-prank-backlash/4416636 ABC radio report
  3. http://www.calameo.com/books/000199795e6bf42802671 "No evidence for claim: psychologist"
  4. Interview (within current affairs report), "The Great Pretenders", by Damien Hanson, A Current Affair. Channel 7 TV. 11 March 2013, accessed 14 March 2013.
  5. Queensland Government. Psychosocial Response and Recovery Symposium, accessed 19 April 2010.
  6. 1044391 . 17 October 2003 . Mr Paul Joseph STEVENSON . Medal of the Order of Australia . OAM . For service through the provision of assistance to victims and their families following the bombings which occurred in Bali on 12 October 2002. . 19 February 2020.
  7. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-news/footage-of-the-aftermath-of-the-1996-port-arthur-massacre-has-appeared-on-youtube/story-e6freuzi-1226103044047 "Footage of the aftermath of the 1996 Port Arthur massacre has appeared on YouTube"
  8. http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/local/nightlife/post_traum_m2103727.mp3 ABC radio interview on the 10th anniversary of the Bali Bombings
  9. http://quest.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx "Selfless work recognized"
  10. http://quest.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx "Stress goes up at flood times"
  11. https://archive.today/20130410203308/http://www.4bu.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19010:wide-bay-todaywednesday-february-06-2013&catid=85:wide-bay-today&Itemid=172 Radio interview with 4BU
  12. http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/bundy-under-the-pump/1749307/ "Bundy under the pump"
  13. Interview, "Bundaberg Floods", with Damien Hanson. Today Tonight (TV current affairs programme, Channel Seven). 26 February 2013.
  14. Deutrom, Rian. 2014. "Trauma psychologist says family of Mary and Rod Burrows and Cathy and Bob Lawton 'unified and doing OK'". Brisbane Courier-Mail, 2 April 2014, accessed 4 May 2014.
  15. News: Doherty. Ben. Marr. David. The worst I've seen – trauma expert lifts lid on 'atrocity' of Australia's detention regime. 2016-06-21. The Guardian. 19 June 2016.
  16. News: Doherty. Ben. Offshore detention whistleblower loses job after condemning 'atrocity' of camps. 2016-06-21. The Guardian. 21 June 2016.
  17. Stevenson, Paul. Postcards from Ground Zero. Burleigh: Zeus Publications.
  18. Web site: Paul J. Stevenson OAM, Australian Democrats, Federal Senate Candidate Queensland Wide | Sunshine Coast Queensland 2010 Federal Election Queensland Senate Candidates . 10 May 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140502091325/http://www.mysunshinecoast.com.au/business/display/paul-j-stevenson-oam-australian-democrats-federal-senate-candidate,38277,2837 . 2 May 2014 . dead . dmy-all .
  19. http://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/…/australian-demo…/37896/
  20. Web site: Candidate keeps bastards honest. Sophie. Lester.
  21. http://www.margaretdewit.com.au/news.php?article=3673-Councillor-Margaret-de-Wit-presents-United-Nations-Awards Councillor Margaret de Wit presents United Nations Awards
  22. http://www.stylemagazines.com.au/filelib/emags/201209_BNE/emag.html "International Acclaim"
  23. http://www.thesenior.com.au/News/The-Senior-News/Go-to-guy-when-disaster-strikes "Go-to-Guy when Disaster Strikes"
  24. http://www.unaaqld.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Vol-8-No-8-October-Newsetter-..pdf "United Nations Association of Australia Queensland – Community Award Presentations"
  25. http://www.aapoz.com/ Australian Association of Psychologists
  26. Australian Democrats Queensland Division Newsletter, Vol.5, No.2, October, 2014. p2.

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