The Humanitarian provides psychological support services, facilitation and training for predominantly Australian organizations and personnel undertaking humanitarian focused work.
The Humanitarian’s clients are mainly international humanitarian staff and managers of organizations who are responsible for the deployment of humanitarian personnel overseas. Australian organizations and staff who work on the humanitarian front line (such as COVID medics and paramedics, emergency, military and remotely based staff) also access The Humanitarian’s psychological support services.
A range of integrated psychological services encompassing workshops & tailored training; coaching & facilitation services; deployment and post-deployment support; staff care systems support; and support with recruitment & induction processes are designed to enhance resiliency & wellbeing and to assist the adjustment and adaptation responses associated with working in an humanitarian environment.
Confidential psychotherapy and counselling services that help mitigate the inevitable personal and sometimes traumatic impact and challenges of both working in the humanitarian context and of returning to or integrating the values and stresses of a material world environment are also offered.
The dragonfly is the emblem of The Humanitarian.
Dragonflies are considered to be symbols of change, adaptability and transformation. Dragonflies are adept at adapting to changing environments.
They spend many years in their development and only fly for a fraction of their life.
Sight is their great strength – the capacity to look beyond the limits of what others see. Their wings represent the duality that is required to exist and transition between significantly contrasting humanities.
Staff
The Humanitarian is owned and operated by Amanda Allan (MAPS), an Australian registered psychologist and the primary provider of The Humanitarian’s (and Esse Psychology’s) services.
Amanda has undertaken research and consulted and conducted training related to humanitarian staff support in Australia and internationally (Banda Aceh, Myanmar, South Sudan, Bosnia, Vanuatu and Thailand) over the past 23 years. Founder of the Mandala Foundation, Amanda led its development and growth when it operated as a not-for-profit service for international aid agencies and their personnel, supported by the Australian Government, AusAID, in the period 2003-2012.
A member of Médecins Sans Frontières, Amanda has a special interest in the adjustment challenges faced by medical workers who work in theatres of humanitarian action overseas, this being the subject of her long suffering PhD being undertaken at the University of Melbourne. Amanda is also a member of the Australian Psychological Society and the EMDR International Association. Amanda is trained in trauma informed practices including Brainspotting.
Contracted and casual staff
The Humanitarian engages both casual and contracted staff on a regular basis to undertake project work in the roles of e-learning support, research, development, marketing and administrative assistance. Please email The Humanitarian at psy@thehumanitarian.com.au to be alerted to any current project or casual support roles.
Network
Psychologists, pastoral carers or allied health professionals interested in learning more about the psychology of supporting international humanitarian staff are welcome to contact The Humanitarian.