I
migrated to Australia in 1989 after having completed a Bachelor of Philosophy (Hon) and a
Bachelor of Theology (Hon) from Urbanian University in Rome. My work as a Catholic priest
for 8 years in the Archdiocese of Colombo, Sri Lanka, gave me some first hand experience
in dealing with broken people and counselling the victims of torture and trauma. My
fascination with the human mind, thought and behaviour drew me to psychology, and I
completed my honours in psychology in the Adelaide University in 1995. I received a first
class for my Honours Thesis on occupational stress in mental health nurses. I worked for
the Northern Territory Employment and Training Authority as an Employment and Training
Consultant while offering psychological services at Darwin Community Care on a part-time
basis for 4 years, during which time I was able to complete my supervision to gain APS
full-membership.
My PhD research looks at the effects
of chronic work related stress on health. The first part of the investigation involves a
longitudinal study of occupational stress in university staff in 17 Australian
Universities, and the second part, a clinical study looking at the psychological,
physiological and biochemical parameters of chronic stress. I am employing a
multi-dimensional measurement approach using self-reports, behavioural, physiological and
biochemical measures. Cortisol, homocysteine, C-Reactive
Protein (CRP), Lymphocytic 5[prime] ectonucleotidase NT, (in plasma), IgA (in saliva) and
Vitamin C are some of the biochemical parameters I’ll be looking at. This clinical
study will commence in March-April 2001 using a small sample of volunteers from two
universities in Adelaide.
I’m doing my PhD research in the
University of South Australia with Prof. Tony Winefield as my Principal Supervisor. Apart
from compulsory Australian Rules Volleyball (ARV) on Thursdays, my after-hours activities
involve planning and setting up of a Medical and Counselling Centre with a team of GPs,
psychiatrists, psychologists and a social worker. My vision is to develop a health care
setting that takes into account the physical, psychological as well as the spiritual and
cultural aspects of clients.
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