APS Member Groups

APS Melbourne Branch News, August/September 2007 

The Melbourne Branch Committee has several initiatives underway as well as some significant achievements to note since the new state structure. Thank you to our former Chair Simon Harvest, who steered the ship manfully through the first 10 months, and to the committee members who have continued to uphold the work ethic traditionally expected from and provided by this group. Our committee members are: Wendy McDonald (Acting Chair), Linda Scott (Treasurer and Deputy Chair), Sophie Bibrovska (Secretary), and Committee Members Monica O’Kelly, John Karamanos, Simon Kinsella, and Patricia Strong. Our co-opted members are students Olivia Clayton, Christopher Benjamin, Sarah Mitchell (Minute Secretary) and Ai Tran, and co-opted committee member Paula Teggelove.

It is a small committee, necessarily limited by the APS’s Rules for Branches.  However, we intend to reach out to all sectors of the profession operating in our area.  We will invite spokespersons to present issues of concern or relevance at our meetings and then assign them to specific committee members for action.   Interested APS members may then form working parties/ task forces outside the committee for the purpose of gathering information and passing it to us so that we can report to National Office, where appropriate.  Information may be communicated from top down by the same means.  Task forces will have set goals and defined time frames for their activities. The first of these invitees is Dr. Christopher Duffy, who works in the Education sector.  He will be presenting to our committee in October.

We have a brand new look to our website, thanks to the marvellous energy of one of our student members, Christopher Benjamin.  This website will be fully utilized to keep everyone up-to-date with activities and news.

We have also established a new professional development initiative- one that is aimed at being decentralized, affordable, relevant and accessible.  It follows the model established in the very successful Peer Consultation Network that operates throughout Victoria, which was also a Melbourne Branch initiative. This PD network is intended to supplement the Peer Consultation Network, not to replace or compromise it.  In fact, if established Peer Groups wish to use our resources to provide focused PD modules for members, they will be fully encouraged to do so. Jill Wright has developed this program with Wendy McDonald. To date Jill has coordinated two pilot groups: one on DSM-IV and ICD10, and one on evidence-based treatments.  Dr. Trevor Corran (clinical psychologist) was engaged as the presenter.  The network already has several prospective Coordinators and Presenters and it will be spread across the Melbourne Metropolitan area.  More information on this can be found elsewhere on this website, and in the State Newsletter.  Anyone interested in participating may contact Wendy McDonald or Jill Wright.  We would especially appreciate interest from the growth areas of the city’s west.

Student members Olivia Clayton, Sarah Mitchell and Christopher Benjamin are coordinating the Psychology Careers Information Evening and Psychology Course Information Day for secondary students and post-graduate students. They are also assisting with our plans for Psychology Week in November. We are very fortunate to have their energies and input.

The Professional Development working party recently held a weekend workshop entitled “Myth, Dream and Psyche” with Peter O’Connor and Brian Clark. It was hailed by all participants as an inspirational weekend and an outstanding experience.

The Committee is working together to bring members an information sharing session on Wednesday 31st October entitled “Medicare 12 Months On”.  This will take the form of a sit-down dinner, with speakers Professor Lyn Littlefield and Dr. Penny Brabin.  Questions and information from the floor will be welcomed.  Please refer to the separate advertisement on this website for further details.

Psychology Week this year (November 11-17) has the theme of Ageing, so we are preparing events that recognize the changing face of age, as well as acknowledging the challenges it brings to some. If you have any ideas or activities which may be incorporated into this event, please contact a Melbourne Branch Committee member. If you are employed in the provision of services for the aged, or have a special interest in that sector, please come forward if you want to be involved. Our contact details are on this website.

Best wishes
Wendy McDonald (Acting Chair)