Dr Tracy Westerman AM
@TracyWesterman
Followers
31,533
Following
1,919
Media
1,323
Statuses
28,438
Nyamal woman, MPsych/PhD Clin Psych; 2018 Aust of the Yr (WA);3 xMarathoner, Founder Jilya Institute for Indigenous Mental Health E:admin @indigenouspsych .com.au
Perth, Western Australia
Joined September 2011
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
Explore trending content on Musk Viewer
Mother's Day
• 1412736 Tweets
Arsenal
• 456182 Tweets
Feliz Dia
• 338335 Tweets
Mães
• 299534 Tweets
Moms
• 284650 Tweets
Manchester United
• 130319 Tweets
NAYEON
• 95776 Tweets
#MUNARS
• 82577 Tweets
Old Trafford
• 62977 Tweets
Man U
• 57399 Tweets
#KGvGS
• 51798 Tweets
Karagümrük
• 51311 Tweets
Casemiro
• 50693 Tweets
Saka
• 50421 Tweets
Tottenham
• 40487 Tweets
Garnacho
• 35716 Tweets
Amad
• 34199 Tweets
Arapça
• 30871 Tweets
Arteta
• 29386 Tweets
Evans
• 27422 Tweets
Trossard
• 27067 Tweets
Antony
• 27002 Tweets
Saliba
• 26031 Tweets
Gunners
• 22913 Tweets
Hojlund
• 21068 Tweets
Rashford
• 20744 Tweets
ارسنال
• 17965 Tweets
Berkan
• 17005 Tweets
Amrabat
• 16859 Tweets
Onana
• 16468 Tweets
Okan
• 16048 Tweets
Partey
• 15312 Tweets
Soulja
• 13875 Tweets
#COYG
• 12166 Tweets
Barış Alper
• 11983 Tweets
Mertens
• 11370 Tweets
Pinned Tweet
First look at my memoir cover! 🔥🔥 Coming soon in Sep 2024.
You can PRE-ORDER your copy now:
50
175
894
I think when you have 58 COVID deaths in one day across just 2 states, the “Omicron is mild” argument is pretty well done.
774
2K
10K
236
1K
9K
My mum as an Aboriginal woman had no human rights until Whitlam made sweeping social reform. Hawke did it again with Medicare; Rudd/Gillard the NDIS; Keating universal super. Labor has always made the big reforms.
So, when I get called a lefty like its an insult, I go “try again”
301
2K
9K
I’m not a Victorian; but I was in awe of Dan Andrews turning up for 132 pressers in a row during the worst days of the COVID pandemic. Answering every single question thrown at him. Never hiding from his responsibility. Never losing his cool. That’s leadership.
#VicVotes2022
579
934
8K
#puppykiller
is trending on Twitter for the reasons you would expect. A poor defenceless puppy was shot in the face by American Governor Kristi Noem and abandoned in a gravel pit.
This is Rusty-I got him at 18 months old-he was traumatised to the point that he literally was too…
233
768
7K
Speaking to my mum last night. She’s 83. This is her certificate of citizenship. She scrubbed floors and worked stations for no wage: just room and board. All for a better life for us kids
She walks around the Pilbara with her Yes shirt. Not one of her non Indigenous “friends”…
394
1K
5K
What Peter Stefanovic failed to bother to “investigate” about Keegan Payne over his desire to humiliate him on live TV.
Keegan was apparently 15 when this happened.
No criminal charges were laid.
He did free weekend work for his boss to repay the debt.
Is now offering to repay…
189
888
5K
Dutton has accused Penny Wong of “making a speech today that could have been written by Paul Keating”
I’m sure there’s an insult in there somewhere?
291
433
5K
In all the years
@AlboMP
has been in Parliament I don’t think I’ve heard a bad word about him. When you see the likes of Jason Clare, Tanya Plibersek, Penny Wong, Jim Chalmers the list goes on - you know that leadership is about the integrity you have & the talent you nurture.
166
993
5K
John Howard the only living PM who refused to attend the Governments Apology to the Stolen Generations for forcible removal of children.
Thats about all you need to know about his ‘character’
155
763
5K
“Jenny calls us The Morrison men; we just go in and fix things & sometimes we are not aware of the sensitivities around issues”.
I don’t even know where to start with this
436
428
5K
So good to see the Qantas Lounges with
@abcnews
on instead of Sky…makes stops between flights bearable
213
238
4K
I was accused again today of being a “textbook” academic & not being “grass roots” Aboriginal (that’s code for being an educated Aboriginal person; we don’t like “them”)
Mate, I grew up in the bush. Didn’t live in a house til I was 7.
An education doesn’t make me less Aboriginal
77
363
4K
In Aust. Ms Dhu died in custody for unpaid fines. A victim of Dom violence. Asked for medical assistance didn’t receive it. Mr Ward a respected elder, blew over the limit. Put in a police van & transported 4hrs without A/C. Was literally cooked alive, no charges 1/8
61
2K
4K
The miscalculation of doing a sit down with 60 minutes is that Australians are sick to death of seeing our PM being “marketed” to us. We want to see him front up to hard hitting journalists, & answer questions he has failed to answer over the last 3yrs.
129
662
4K
"I am a psychologist with a 100% Indigenous client base. I can tell you with 25 years of authority and expertise that the narrative that colonialism brought only 'positive changes' for Aboriginal people isn’t misguided, it is dangerous."
229
941
4K
After a long campaign I feel for our country today. I have regularly asked myself what are “no voters” celebrating. What in their minds is being achieved for our most disadvantaged & vulnerable Australians.
I have not been able to get an answer to that from any no voter which…
539
482
4K
What is wrong with no voters -now questioning the validity of the massive yes vote from remote communities-and it’s as high as 90% in many.
Hearing words like coercion etc
A major victory of the No vote isn’t enough.Questioning the legitimacy of the most important votes in this…
774
535
3K
This should break anyone’s heart. Our most vulnerable, highest risk
Remote Aboriginal communities clearly endorsing the voice. We will be working on this more
1. Heavily indigenous booths in Qld have voted yes as follows: Palm Island 75%, Thursday Island 74%, Lockhart River…
230
882
3K
Morrison, “God has a plan for Jenny”...
Has to be up there with the single most terrifying sentence ever uttered by a sitting PM.
182
530
3K
Jim Chalmers not only eminently qualified but, let’s face it, thoroughly likeable.
203
297
3K
Jacinta Price claiming "there is no ongoing negative impacts of colonialism". So, as a psychologist, and scientistic and an Aboriginal one at that; I thought I would just cut and paste some scientific data; as much as I would like to take her word for it.
Menzies, K. (2019).…
540
1K
3K
The royal family; playing the “let’s stay quiet & hope it goes away” strategy with Clarkson.
Like most enablers of psychological and emotional abuse.
692
606
3K
I am pretty stunned & more than a little scared by how many people think Morrison is doing a good job. I guess what this really means is that the Murdoch media is doing an even better job.
107
534
3K
Mr Ward respected elder, blew over the limit. Put in a police van & transported 4hrs without A/C. Was literally cooked alive. No charges. If you left your dog in a car & it was cooked alive you would be charged criminality. The AG decided there was no prospect of conviction 1/10
78
1K
3K
Jason Clare is ending the compulsory religious aspect of the $60 million a year National School Chaplaincy Program.
Now let’s bring Aboriginal history into the curriculum; teach teachers Indigenous learning style differences & bilingual education with Aboriginal students.
154
455
3K
Sorry headline; this is not a “reporter” it is Laura Tingle, thank you.
441
407
3K
That Lachlan Murdoch speech was actually pretty terrifying. Here’s an extraordinarily privileged man who has chosen to use that privilege to whip up a right wing, fear based sugar high about an imagined threat to our “way of life” for commercial gain. It’s nuts.
146
559
3K
My Aboriginality had ZERO to do with how hard I worked to get my 3 psych degrees or “A” av for my PhD. I passed the same exams as everyone else.This idea Aboriginal ppl have had a free pass or lower standard to our degrees has to stop!Its a racist narrative based on a bed of lies
50
412
3K
Quite a master stroke of
@AlboMP
going on
#RayHadley
to be screamed at for nearly 30 mins. We are now seeing the full tilt RWNJ reaction to the reality of a Labor Govt & finding it impossible to hide the bias thats enabled the Morrison Govt for years.
56
557
3K
The only people who will tell you to ‘snap out’ of depression are those who have never had depression.
109
272
3K
#QandA
Anne Ruston: "I don't believe we have a history of racism"
The denial of this country’s irrefutable racism always comes from those who have never personally experienced it.
Which you would think makes you reasonably unqualified to deny it’s existence.
173
563
3K
If someone says to me, “I’m Greek, or Italian or Chinese” I go “Cool” but when you tell ppl you’re Aboriginal theres invariably the “How Aboriginal are you?” Q. Theres a culture in this country that’s normalised this right to Q.
My answer is “Every.Single.Bit of Me is Aboriginal”
217
276
3K
A few weeks ago police cracked open a massive pedophile ring in a small town in NSW. I’m waiting for the racists and shock jocks to label that entire towns population of white ppl as being sex offenders & child rapists because, well, the offenders were white.
120
516
3K
This is quite the trifecta…!
“Roy Morgan can reveal that Scott Morrison is the most distrusted politician in Aust, with Peter Dutton & Deputy PM, Barnaby Joyce the second & third most distrusted sitting politicians across the country”
167
1K
2K
Marcia Langton-speaks words that echo many of us:
The “No” campaign & architects of it will have a political win that will only further entrench structural racism in our lives. They will gloat about it. They will go out of their way to make our lives worse simply because they are…
335
543
3K
I was a child protection worker for seven yrs-with a 100% Aboriginal caseload in the Goldfields. In that time I didn’t remove one child. I also didn’t leave a child in an abusive situation. That’s because EVERY Aboriginal family came to attention SOLELY due to struggling with…
123
596
3K
Personally, so not a fan of this “First Nations” term thats suddenly become airborne in the past few years in Australia.
I’m a proud Aboriginal woman.
Always was; always will be.
Okay. Got that off my chest.
140
116
2K
“Education is the most powerful weapon we have against disadvantage”
@AlboMP
Truly love this.
#BudgetReply
45
405
2K
Not gonna lie. I have tears of pride streaming down my face watching the size of these crowds in early images from Brisbane & Adelaide for the
#blacklivesmatteraustralia
marches. Black & white together saying enough is enough. Thank you Australia 🖤💛♥️
60
499
2K
If you start an apology with “I’m sorry you were offended…or took offence to what I said” that’s actually not a real apology.
It’s gaslighting 101
71
322
2K
“I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners & say we can now begin to fulfil the promise of the Uluṟu statement from the heart”
27
188
2K
We talk about cancel culture as if it is an exclusively left wing phenomena.
But nothing represents “cancel culture” more than the science denying right.
83
329
2K
I’m going to sound really lame here, but I just want a Govt & a leader who is kind.
This is a Govt without a soul.
110
264
2K
I will be proud to say in decades to come when I’m asked about this moment, that I stood on the right side of history. I stood for possibilities. I stood for hope.
#VoteYes2023
292
372
2K
When a non-Indigenous child dies by suicide we rightly look for deficits in systems &how we can do better as a society.When an Indigenous child dies by suicide we look for deficits in their culture & families.When are we going to have more empathy for bereaved Indigenous parents?
26
371
2K
Morrison:We don’t mandate ppl wearing sunscreen, so we won’t mandate masks.
McGowan: We don’t let ppl smoke in restaurants because it impacts on others.
Just a slightly better explanation of why, just sometimes, public health is not a personal choice
50
569
2K
My mum got citizenship of her own country by appearing in court. She had to prove 3 things.1.She could speak English;2.Was free of disease&3. Had severed ties with other “natives”.She kept it.Thankfully. Because ppl still deny it happened. It’s why we need critical race theory
80
806
2K
Horrifying events unfolding in relation to my leaked report into systemic racism in the Dept of Communities. This is tomorrows front page. When it knocks Putin off the cover you know it is big.
68
643
2K
You only have to watch the horror of the
#Jan6thHearings
unfolding to understand why we need a Federal ICAC
84
320
2K
7 yrs ago I was running a workshop in Perth with 70 ppl who had flown in from across Aust. 10 mins in I had the hotel staff interrupt to tell me my nephew had been crushed to death in a mining accident. I rang my family. Spent 30 mins trying to compose myself before I realised I…
Losing a parent is hard. Whatever age and however expected. But to me it’s a private grief. Making it public seems to cheapen it, make it marketable : Tim Minchin stuns audience with sad announcement via
@newscomauHQ
2K
16
103
97
261
2K
Absolutely rapt to see my “favourite” student Tex Garstone graduate with his Bachelor of Psychology!!! Texy is the first Aboriginal person from Halls Creek to graduate with a Bachelor of Psychology. He was one of the very few students we awarded the Dr Tracy Westerman Psychology…
113
249
2K
In Aust. Ms Dhu died in custody for unpaid fines. A victim of Dom violence. Asked for medical assistance didn’t receive it. No Charges. Mr Ward a respected elder, blew over the limit. Put in a police van & transported 4hrs without A/C. Was literally cooked alive, no charges 1/9
40
966
2K
I have been doing so much media of late but today was asked what I am grateful for
I’m a black kid from the bush. I educated myself through school of the air. No one expected me to do much with my life.
I can honestly say I have exceeded every expectation I ever had for myself
51
142
2K
“The point about the Morrison Govt was there was no point to it.”
Paul Keating. Always brings it
145
322
2K
Those dismissing
#BLM
in Aust by claiming we can’t compare issues here to the US because it is “not as bad”.
The rate of imprisonment for Aboriginal ppl is 2.5x’s more than the US black prison rate
WA is 4x’s higher. So. Correct. It’s not as bad. It’s significantly worse
36
644
2K
Just as Australians couldn’t quite comprehend Brexit, or the election of Donald Trump, it seems foreigners can’t get their heads around why we said ‘No’ to the Voice.
282
447
2K
Sociopaths are extraordinarily adept at cognitive empathy (manipulating emotions); but do not have the capability to feel the pain of others (empathic empathy). Send them to empathy training & you run the risk of teaching them to be better at it
50
378
2K
So Perrottet & Morrison think prayers will get us through this pandemic.
Silly me, I thought masks, vaccines, social distancing & listening to public health advice would.
51
291
2K
The reason WA voted the McGowan Govt back in with an absolute landslide, is because we feel grateful. Just 11 days of lockdown: business & economy largely unaffected; a handful of COVID cases since the pandemic started but mostly a premier who talks only about keeping ppl safe
99
377
2K
Aboriginal women 45 times more likely to be victims of domestic violence and completely excluded in a national report on domestic violence.
Is this a bad joke?
159
461
2K
Now this is a combo! Jason Clare & Paul Keating.
42
342
2K
The only people who tell people to “snap out” of depression are those who have never had depression.
65
202
2K
A man raised by a single mum on a disability pension who became Prime Minister.
♥️♥️
#AlboIsPM
28
189
2K
Still waiting for the day when a journalist breaks ranks & puts the blowtorch to the Prime Minister at one of his embarrassingly stage managed pressers
74
356
2K
This post on my linked in page represents why I have reluctantly chosen to address the comments made by Senator Jacinta Price last week. In a perfect world I would not have to speak publicly against another Aboriginal person-it’s not how I was raised. But it’s ultimately an…
181
475
2K
As a clinician of 25 yrs with 100% Aboriginal clients I will tell you this.
Many stolen generations ppl are outwardly successful & live with debilitating trauma everyday.
Trauma is internalised very often -flashbacks; Re experiencing trauma etc etc
Many trauma victims end up…
291
385
2K
Here's my mum
Mavis Westerman. On her way to see me in Perth to watch the vote count from the Pilbara proudly wearing her Yes shirt on the plane.
"All my life I've heard NO; for once in my life I want to hear YES"
#VoteYES23Australia
Speaking to my mum last night. She’s 83. This is her certificate of citizenship. She scrubbed floors and worked stations for no wage: just room and board. All for a better life for us kids
She walks around the Pilbara with her Yes shirt. Not one of her non Indigenous “friends”…
394
1K
5K
93
233
2K
Bob Cavanagh (Keegans Former boss)
"I was really happy for him, genuinely happy for him because he's a good kid, his family had actually contacted me and said he felt really bad what happend and he would like to repay me, to be honest, it nearly brought me to tears because I…
36
425
2K
So Morrison thinks the country needs “the church”
That worked out so well for Aboriginal ppl didn’t it? Here’s New Norcia mission where my sister was sent to so she could be taught to “act white”. She has never recovered.
83
543
2K
How good are these wonderful female journalists putting a much needed & overdue blowtorch to this shambles of a Govt. Saying what so many Australians feel at the moment. Thank you
@latingle
@samanthamaiden
@anneconnollyabc
@Lisa_Wilkinson
@Milliganreports
#March4Justice
34
362
2K
Meanwhile after
@AlboMP
announces significant social reforms incl gender pay equity; child care reform; increased housing affordability& support for First Nations voice, Morrison announces $4.5M grant to a whisky company in Tassie & stronger parental controls on smart technology.
58
463
2K
I’ve stopped calling myself an “Indigenous psychologist” -the racism you experience is constant. We passed the same degrees as everyone else. Just had to double learn in real time & translate everything culturally but once you are labelled as an “Indigenous” psychologist, your…
190
222
2K
The old “how Aboriginal are you anyway” Q was posed to me today for the millionth time in my life.
Followed by the person sitting with a look of pride that they have come up with such a culturally engaging question.
My answer -“completely Aboriginal. Every. Single. Part
🖤💛♥️
60
116
2K
Bill to abolish the cashless welfare card just passed in the House of Reps 86-56.The card pushed by Twiggy Forrest achieved no positive outcomes other than to punish & blame. Well done Labor for being so true to all of your election promises.
54
266
2K
Cashless welfare cards do not prevent violence. Violence prevention prevents violence.
125
245
2K
The hypocrisy of Credlin & Murdoch papers condemning anti semitism after spending months unleashing racism & hate on Aboriginal ppl during the referendum. Certain types of racism is ok apparently as long as it serves your interests.
Moral relativism at its finest.…
78
447
2K
I’m a fair skinned Aboriginal person. My connection has always been strong but I still get the “why do I ‘claim’ Aboriginality”Qu from white ppl who seem bizarrely offended by it. I don’t know why personal cultural identity creates anger in white Austs,but it’s quite pathological
121
164
2K
Such a sad reflection on my profession (psychology) that despite Aboriginal people having the highest rates of child suicide in the world; highest rates of incarceration; child removal; there is virtually no Indigenous curriculum embedded within psychology degrees across Oz
53
474
2K
I remember at 9yrs old my teacher saying to me “Tracy you are so smart you could be a doctor”
That never left me.
I was a kid from the bush with no educational or financial advantage who got a PhD in clinical psychology.
It’s why teachers are so, so important.
24
143
2K
Pretty emotional getting access to my grandparents native welfare files which I’m slowly getting through. Some pretty horrific stuff in there but..this..a pic in order of my great grandfather; my great grandmother Amy (who was 6ft tall-like me & mum); and my grandmother Kitty…
73
190
2K
I treat Indigenous trauma. These are clients who were abused in missions. Had families torn apart due to policies of assimilation and will never know their history because of it.
To now have a political narrative of assimilation being aspirational is too dangerous not to…
183
480
2K
Scott Morrison’s comments regarding the George Floyd murder
“As upsetting & terrible is the murder that took place & it is shocking. I just think to myself how wonderful a country is Australia”
A thread of just some of Australia’s George Floyd moments.Warning: its horrific 1/10
58
713
2K
And here it is. The daily garbage qualified Aboriginal ppl have thrown at us.
Answer;
Yes. I passed the same exams as everyone else. Was ranked
#1
across entry to clinical masters.
Received the VC award for my PhD
paid the same fees as everyone else does.
As all of my 55…
@TracyWesterman
@narlygraham
I’d be interested to know whether you met the University entry requirements and paid full fees for your PhD.
83
0
12
150
224
2K
Sam Newman exists because Australia can’t seem to understand the difference between freedom of speech & hate speech.
188
230
2K
Being a highly educated, self funded Aboriginal woman from a remote community with no educational, financial advantage & running my self funded charity challenges too many stereotypes.
So the best racists can do is attack me because of my fair skin & blue eyes; predictably making…
90
261
2K
Boy there’s a lot of people trying to “school” me on trauma in Aboriginal people today.
Might be worth looking at my Twitter handle.
The starting point would be ”PhD in Clinical Psychology”.
157
184
2K
Asked if he will be “weak on the international stage” as claimed by Morrison.
@AlboMP
“You know what weak is? Weak is leaking a private text message with an ally”
#NationalPressClub
16
352
2K
Those claiming we can’t compare issues with black Austs to the US because the issues are “not as bad”.
The rate of imprisonment for Aboriginal ppl is 2.5x’s more than the US black incarceration
The WA rate is 4x’s greater. So. Correct. It’s not as bad. It’s significantly worse
32
460
2K
1 of my most engaged tweets of 2021!
Scott Morrison comments re George Floyd’s murder
“As upsetting & terrible is the murder that took place & its shocking. I just think how wonderful a country is Aust”
A sample of some of Austs George Floyd moments.Warning: its horrific. 1/16
57
718
2K
For those who haven’t been into alcohol restricted communities; the extent to which it humiliates & degrades is beyond explanation & sets black & white on each other. Almost every banned drinker is Aboriginal.
You can’t humiliate ppl out of addiction
217
172
2K
Good morning beautiful Twitter followers! Due to your amazing efforts we have received $19k in donations yesterday and today to go towards starting the first national Indigenous Psychology Assessment and Treatment Centre. I cannot thank you enough. It’s very clearly vastly come…
68
248
2K