Promoting quality care for all

Andrew Staniforth

I firmly believe in providing good public health services to individuals in our society who do not have the means to afford treatment

After graduating from his undergraduate studies, Andrew Staniforth had a clear idea of where he wanted his career to go. “I worked for a year in child protection and knew that I wanted to be a psychologist. I firmly believe in providing good public health services to individuals in our society who do not have the means to afford treatment and so set about getting the theory and skills I needed to do that.”

Andrew started the Master of Clinical Psychology at ANU in 2005. “I thought it would give me the theoretical underpinning that would set me on the right path and it has provided me with opportunities to become employed in the area I am passionate about.”

“The clinical academics were clearly very knowledgeable. They were enthusiastic about research, and the thesis supervisor I had was proficient, organised and motivating. He helped me finish on time and produce something I was happy with.”

“One academic in particular has been pivotal in my clinical development. He exposed me to a much broader world of clinical psychology and psychotherapy and inspired my passion for wanting to help the more severe presentations of mental illness.”

Beyond the classroom, Andrew took advantage of the benefits studying at ANU in Canberra affords. “ANU has a vibrant culture and I would encourage students to be part of that in addition to their university study. Canberra enables you to commit to studying: it is a lovely town and the ANU campus is delightful to be on. It has an emerging bar and café scene as well as being a great town to exercise in (particularly cycling) and has the benefit of minimal traffic compared with Sydney.”

Since completing his Masters in 2007, Andrew has enjoyed working in varied roles in the mental health area.  “I commenced full-time work in public mental health before graduating and I am still working there after six years. In the past couple of years I have also been working with a private practice at Canberra Clinical and Forensic Psychology in Canberra city, as well as teaching as a casual lecturer in the post-graduate Clinical Psychology program at ANU.