50 years of psychology at Swinburne: celebrating the people behind the science

Half a century of teaching, research, friendship and impact was celebrated at the Hawthorn Town Hall on Friday 6 November, marking 50 years of the Department of Psychological Sciences.

The Golden Jubilee provided an opportunity to celebrate not just how far psychology at Swinburne has come, but the generations of staff, students, alumni and collaborators who have shaped the department along the way. 

Professor Diane Sivasubramaniam, Chair of the Department of Psychological Sciences, identified two enduring strengths across those 5 decades in the anniversary publication: “excellent science and excellent people.” 

From 10 staff to five decades of impact 

Swinburne’s Department of Psychological Sciences’ began in 1976, when psychology became its own department in Swinburne’s Faculty of Arts, with just 10 ongoing psychology appointments. From the outset, the vision was to combine a strong understanding of psychological theory and research with an applied approach to education. 

Today, the department has grown to 43 staff, with undergraduate, honours, master's and doctoral pathways spanning psychological science, forensic psychology, cognitive neuroscience, clinical psychology, educational and developmental psychology and counselling.  

Across those 50 years, innovation in education has remained a constant. In 2011, Swinburne’s Bachelor of Behavioural Studies (Psychology) became Australia’s first online psychology program to receive professional accreditation. This year, the tradition of innovation continued with the launch of the Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental Psychology).

Research has also flourished. In 2025 alone, psychology researchers published more than 300 peer-reviewed journal articles and secured more than $8.5 million in competitive research funding. Their research spans areas including mental health, social and developmental psychology, forensic psychology, mood disorders and cognitive neuroscience.  

That impact reaches well beyond Swinburne.

Established in 1990, the Swinburne Psychology Clinic combines professional training with low-cost mental health services for the community. Mental Health Online, established in 2008, has enabled more than 130,000 people to access digital mental health support, while the Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults, established in 2011, brings together psychological care, research, professional training and community engagement. 

Celebrating the people behind the legacy

For Professor Sivasubramaniam, the department’s longevity reflects more than academic achievements alone. 

“Across 50 years, generations of staff and students have built something remarkable: a department defined not only by what it achieves, but by the values that underpin its work” says Professor Sivasubramaniam. 

“A commitment to excellence, generosity, and using psychological science to make a positive difference in the world has shaped this department throughout its history.”  

Looking to the next 50 years

The department enters its second half-century with a continued focus on research excellence, innovative teaching, professional training and applying psychological science to real-world challenges.  

Future plans include the SwinCare Community Clinic, which is being developed to expand psychology and counselling training, interdisciplinary collaboration and connections between research, teaching and community impact.

After five decades of transformation, the milestone is both a celebration of longevity and a foundation for what comes next.