Welcome to the Rehabilitation Psychology of Injury, Chronic Illness, and Pain Interest Group

The Rehabilitation Psychology of Injury, Chronic Illness, and pain Interest Group (RPICIPIG) is focused on bringing together psychologists with an interest in the principles, processes and practice of rehabilitation psychology in the context of injury, chronic illness and pain. Psychologists who are involved in the rehabilitation field may work in private practice or in public rehabilitation facilities as part of a multi-, inter- or transdisciplinary team, helping individuals affected by a chronic, traumatic or congenital illness or injury. This may involve contact not only with the injured or ill person but also their family, friends and support networks in order to help the individual achieve optimal physical, cognitive, psychological and social functioning. Psychologists contribute to collaboratively setting and achieving rehabilitation goals that encourage healthy beliefs and behaviours, using evidence-based practice. 

The Rehabilitation Psychology for Injury Chronic Illness and Pain Interest Group (RPIG) came into being at the 2007 APS conference with the purpose of developing a network of psychologists throughout Australia with an interest in professional practice, research, teaching and learning in the specialised field of rehabilitation psychology.

RPIG members are located Australia wide. Our members typically work with individuals who have suffered a transport or work-related injury or illness or have a longstanding medical and/or mental illness or physical disability (e.g. spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, neurological disease, chronic pain, orthopaedic injury, developmental disorders). Rehabilitation settings range from acute/subacute, inpatient hospital to transitional or residential to outpatient or in the home and community-based.

The RPIG executive committee is committed towards developing effective ways to provide support for psychologists working in rehabilitation. We achieve this by:

• Facilitating communication between psychologists working in the rehabilitation field. This includes providing support to those who are newly employed in the area and fostering the cross-fertilisation of ideas between sub-specialties
• Lobbying government and other organisations regarding processes and practice in rehabilitation psychology
• Assisting in the development of professional development activities
• Fostering research links
• Providing best practice resources.