Josephine Ratna, an Indonesian psychologist and positive behavior support practitioner based in Perth, Western Australia, has extensive experience in various areas of psychology, including postpartum depression and effective communication strategies for individuals with disabilities.
Her study and career are hardly independent of Australia-Indonesia relations in science sharing cooperation.
In addition to theory and experience, it is equally important for her to learn to take care of herself because, according to her, the application of psychological science is not just listening to the complaints of clients and giving advice.
Josephine currently works as a Senior Psychologist and Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner at the Autism Association of Western Australia, an organisation in Western Australia that provides services for those diagnosed with Autism.
In addition, she also teaches at Widya Mandala Catholic University, Surabaya and sometimes still conducts private consultations for patients in Indonesia. Josephine received an Australian Leadership Awards scholarship to undergo an S3 aka PhD, with the research topic of maternal depression aka postpartum depression.
According to Josephine, the effects of this postpartum depression are manifold, it can even be fatal.
“I see Indonesia needs this – How we can ensure that post-natal depression does not remain untreated. Because it turns out that their post-natal depression manifests itself in many forms.” The idea was also supported by the Ministry of Health.
After completing her PhD in Australia, Josephine also worked with various health professionals in Indonesia to train prospective mothers who display symptoms prone to postpartum depression to build resilience.
Josephine Ratna, Senior Psychologist and Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner at Autism Association of Western Australia. Credit: Josephine Ratna
In addition to her knowledge of psychology and leadership, Josephine also became involved with the world of disability and, as Western Australia and East Java are sister states, she also helped the two states work together in the field of knowledge exchange on ways to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities in the two locations.
“We need to be able to keep confidentiality pretty serious because it's their lives that they are entrusting to us,” she explained.
