Society Spotlight – UC Psychology Society
By Peter Searles
UC’s Psychology Society has been re-established this year and is once again offering its members a range of engaging events. I spoke with the current president, Taylor, who believes in making space for socialising within the itinerary of academic clubs.
“Though we hold academic events like study sessions (with free snacks!) and are having some guest speakers come in, our main focus is to create social spaces where students can come and enjoy themselves outside of study,” Taylor said.
The opportunity to bring psychology students together was, in fact, a key reason that Taylor decided to revive the club. She told me that her first year as a UC student was quite a lonely one and she hopes to avoid other students having the same experience.
“Because I was working full-time at the same time, I found it really hard to meet people. I wanted a space where I could be around people who got what I was going through. I was also amazed that a degree with a cohort as large as ours didn’t have its own society,” Taylor said.
Feelings of isolation can be a common among students and Taylor commented that these are often piled on top of other pressures. Students may experience heightened financial strain from having to work and study at the same time. And our lives outside of uni present further competing priorities, whether it is finding the time to spend with friends and family or, in the case of older students, responsibilities such as parenthood.
“I think as a university we need to make the supports more seen by students struggling and there are a million things we could be doing better at all levels. I’d love to have all the answers but I don’t have the answers to most of the pressures. It’s something I’m passionate about working through, with other students, and finding solutions too,” Taylor said.
The Psychology Society has plenty of events still to come in semester two. These include regular study sessions, student dinners and social drinks. There is also a trivia night on the 8th of October, followed immediately by a psych panel on the evening of the 9th of October. At the panel, students will have a chance to meet psychologists and professionals who have found their way into other careers using their psychology degrees. To finish up the semester, there will be an ‘Op Shop Ball’ on the evening of Friday the 25th of October.
“The Op Shop Ball is going to be a fun take on the normal ball, where students are expected to buy their outfits from an op shop and come together for a night of fun in the name of fundraising for a good cause. There will be raffles, food and more with all money from the raffles and a percentage of ticket sales going to charity,” Taylor said.
It’s a great time to join the Psychology Society, with more events in the works including a psychology specific jobs expo in semester 1, 2025. Visit the Psychology Society’s UCX page to become a member and to secure your tickets to the end of semester fundraising ball. And follow the society on Instagram - @uc.psychsociety.