ABOUT US

As one of the first associations of its kind, NZAPT has set the bar and is proud to serve its loyal, growing community. By providing invaluable resources, unique opportunities and a long-standing network of people who are committed to helping one another, we ensure our members have the tools necessary to succeed. We’re currently accepting new members so if you’re interested in joining, get in touch today.

Meet the Team

The NZAPT is fortunate to have two teams supporting Psychology teachers in Aotearoa. We have our NZAPT board members who look after the day-to-day running of the association and our Network of Expertise (NEX) committee members who support the professional development of our members.

NZAPT Board Members

Chairperson

Samantha Dudek

Sam graduated with a BSc (Hons.) in Psychology and Counselling in 2001 and PGCE in Social Science (Psychology) in the UK in 2003. After teaching Psychology in the UK for 10 years, Sam moved to New Zealand in 2013 and has been teaching at Tawa College until 2022.

NZAPT Chair since 2019 and part of the Psychology Network of Expertise Committee, Sam has presented at many NZAPT workshops and conferences.

Sam has a passion for making the teaching and learning of Psychology an active experience, developing trips and camps for students to apply their knowledge. Having supported the NZAPT throughout the UE process, she is excited to see Psychology in NZ flourish and develop. Sam is also part of the Network of Expertise Committee

Secretary &Treasurer

Gaye Bloomfield

Gaye graduated from Massey University with a BA in Psychology in 1995, gained a Post Graduate in Secondary teaching in 2000 and was awarded an M.Ed (e-learning) in 2015. She has taught Psychology, Health and English in New Zealand since 2003.

She has presented at many workshops and conferences. She is the author of a Level 3 Psychology workbook, published by ESA. She currently teaches Psychology at Nayland College.

Gaye was the Chair of the NZAPT from 2012-2016 and is a part of the Network of Expertise Committee.

NEX Committee Members

The New Zealand Association of Psychology Teachers has a Ministry of Education contract under the 'Networks of Expertise' initiative. Networks of Expertise are designed to provide subject-specific professional development support for teachers. The focus of the Network set up by NZAPT includes strengthening existing support such as our annual professional development workshop as well as developing new initiatives to provide resources, peer support and networks for new and experienced teachers of psychology in new Zealand.

Bailley graduated Waikato University in 2017 with a conjoint degree - Bachelor of Teaching and Bachelor of Social Science majoring in History and Sociology (a few Psyc papers were taken throughout this).

Bailley started teaching at Rototuna Senior High School in 2018 as a Social Scientist taking on a range of different subjects. In 2019 she took her first Psychology class which was extremely popular and the subject has been her main one ever since. She loves the diversity and relevance of it! Her school teaches popular psychology specialists at Level Two and Level Three. However, her unique experience is her collaborative and integrated teaching. She has taught Psychology with Biology, PE, Business, Statistics and English. This helps her to understand how Psychology connects to other disciplines, industries and careers.

Bailley West

Duncan graduated University of Canterbury with BA honours in Political Science and History and completed a Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching in 2007. After moving to Marlborough Girls' College in 2020 where he transitioned into teaching of Psychology. Currently based at Avonside Girls' High School in Christchurch, and introducing Psychology as a subject. Their favourite aspect of teaching Psychology lies in exploring Fields and Theories. A highlight is arranging guest speakers who provide real world scenarios and valuable insights into how Psychology is applied in practical, everyday life. Favourite documentary is 'Three Identical Strangers' and the book and podcast 'You are not so Smart'.

Duncan Bond

After graduating with a BSc (Hons.) from York in Experimental Psychology in 2001 and PGCE in Secondary Science in 2004, Eric taught Psychology in the UK for two years before taking an adventure to New Zealand in 2006, where he has been teaching psychology since 2007.An NZAPT member since 2007 and Secretary since 2013, Eric has been involved in many of the conferences and regional hub meetings and has presented at many workshops and conferences. Having taught both NCEA, CIE and IB Psychology, Eric is passionate to see the teaching of psychology in New Zealand continue to develop and flourish.

Eric Wheater

Megan graduated from Victoria University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in History, Geography and Art History. She then started teaching at Cambridge High School in 2013 and was pulled to the dark side of Psychology, with Sarah Monkley. After moving to Feilding High School in 2017, Megan saw there was a need for a psychology program and established this at Level 2 and 3. Her favorite topic to teach is Level Two Ethics as there are so many cool things to talk about. Megan's favorite psychology movie is Inside Out - which we link to an Emotions and Stress topic at Level 2. Megan has taught at Feilding High School since 2017, teaching Junior Social Studies and Psychology.

Megan Liddy

Sally graduated from the University of Auckland in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science (double majoring in Psychology and Sport and Exercise Science). In 2011 she did her Post graduate diploma in secondary teaching - specialising in Physical Education and Health. In 2012she secured her first Psychology teaching job at Avondale College where she taught for four years before moving to England to teach Psychology. In 2018 she returned home and has been teaching at Tawa college ever since. Psychology gives students the skills to understand themselves and others and helps students to become empathetic and collaborative citizens. Sally loves planning practical and hands on activities in all psychology areas to help students to learn! Her favourite movie is ‘Mindhunter’which looks at the development of the top down offender profiling method which is good for Forensic Psychology and her favourite book is ‘Elephants on acid and other bizarre experiments’ by Alex Boese. It is really good for the teaching of Ethics.

Sally Jackson

She graduated Waikato University with a Bachelor of Social Science and then did a Grad Dip in Secondary Teaching - initially thinking she would teach Social Sciences, History and Geography. However, she discovered her love for teaching Psychology when given the chance at Cambridge High School and has never looked back. I have now been teaching Psychology at Cambridge for 6 years and teach full programs at both Year 12 and Year 13. My favourite thing about teaching Psychology is the hands on activities and experiments that the students don’t experience anywhere else. Approaches is her favourite topic because she makes it really relatable to the students and she gets to see the “lightbulb” moment when they click with ideas in their own behaviour. This also connects with her favourite psychology movie “The Breakfast Club”, an oldie but a goodie.

Sarah Douglas

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Steph O'Brien

He uri tēnei nō te waka Takitimu. Ko Ngāti Kahungunu te iwi, ko Ōmahu te marae. Ko Rarotonga te ‘enua, ko Ruatonga te ‘oire.

Stacey graduated from Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and a Bachelor of Arts in Māori Studies and Criminology. She taught Te Reo Māori for several years before starting a senior Psychology course at Kāpiti College. Stacey is now in charge of the Psychology programme at Aotea College, Porirua, and is the Associate Head of Faculty Social Sciences there.

A special interest of Stacey’s is teaching Psychology (and the Social Sciences in general) from an Indigenous perspective, with particular emphasis on mātauranga Māori and Pasifika knowledge. A favourite topic of Stacey’s to teach is cultural bias - although her students come from a diverse and multicultural community, it helps them to realise that not all peoples’ experiences are culturally responsive. One of Stacey’s gp-to reads is Collaborative and Indigenous Mental Health Therapy: Tātaihono - Stories of Māori Healing and Psychiatry by Wiremu NiaNia, Allister Bush, and David Epston.

Stacey Morgan

Tim teaches Level 3 Psychology online through NetNZ to students around the South Island. Tim is an adjunct fellow at the University of Canterbury and his speciality is research. He can be of particular help in the fields of environmental, educational, sport and exercise psychology. His current research pertains mostly to values and norms in educational and environmental contexts. His qualifications include a PhD in quantitative psychology, an MSc in neuropharmacology, and a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science.

Tim Kelly