• About the College
• College Structure
• Who we are and what we stand for
• Benefits of membership

About the College

Our Members

There are around 400 members and affiliates in the APS College of Health Psychologists. Membership of the APS College of Health Psychologists is restricted to psychologists who have completed training, have experience in the field and undertake a program of continuing professional development, with a particular focus on health psychology. 

Social Media

Please link in with Health Psychologists through FaceBook or Twitter the following links:

https://www.facebook.com/auspschp/

https://twitter.com/APS_HealthPsych

Membership by College Grade:

Courses:

Post-graduate courses in each College specialisation are listed among the APAC-accredited Australian university courses in psychology.  Go to the APAC website.

Maintained by Dr Allison Clarke ([email protected]). 

College Structure

The College has a National Committee, and a number of States have a State Committee.

National Committee

The National Committee is responsible for the development and implementation of national policies that affect the College, and liaison with the APS National Office and input into the APS National Conference. The National Committee may seek assistance from individuals or committees from the State Branches from time to time as required. For more information or to contact members of the National Committee, please see Office Bearers.

State Committees

State Committees are responsible for the implementation of College polices and for undertaking College activities at the local level. Membership of the APS College of Health Psychologists is restricted to psychologists who have completed training, have experience in the field and undertake a program of continuing professional development, with a particular focus on health psychology.

Who we are and what we stand for

Vision

To advance excellence in knowledge and practice relevant to health promotion and clinical health psychology.

Mission

To provide a leadership role in the development and application of evidence-based psychological solutions to improve the health and wellbeing of the community. 

Statement of strengths

Our strengths for improving the health and wellbeing of the community include:

• We are Australia's largest professional grouping of health psychologists working across the individual and community level
• We are Australia's largest network of health psychology researchers and practitioners
• A commitment to excellence and innovation in training and accreditation standards
• A commitment to excellence to professional development in health psychologists and other health professionals
• the use and dissemination of evidence-based health-related behaviour change strategies to avoid preventable conditions and better manage existing health conditions

Our group includes many internationally recognised leaders in Health Psychology.

Values

We have a commitment to: 

• Leadership - to provide national leadership in the development and application of evidence based psychological solutions to improve the health and wellbeing of the community.
• Service - providing resources to our members and advocating for the core interests of our membership and the wider community
• Professionalism - to provide a strong foundation for the growth of careers in health psychology
• Beneficence - to provide benefit to people affected by chronic and acute health conditions and the community generally by promoting health and reducing the impact of chronic conditions through evidence based practice and research.
• Innovation - development and dissemination of innovative solutions, that are evidence-based, to improve the health and wellbeing of society and reduce the burden on the health care system.
• Education - to educate psychologists, other health professions, and the general public about effective evidence-based solutions for preventing and managing major health problems and to oversee the education of specialist training in the area of health psychology
• Responsiveness - to respond rapidly to the changing health needs of the community.

Contributions to physical health and illness

The large number of areas of research and service delivery activities in health psychology illustrate the richness of this field. Reports by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare indicate that the leading causes of mortality in Australia have substantial behavioural components. These reports recommend that behavioural risk factors (e.g., smoking, diet, a sedentary lifestyle, stress, drug and alcohol use, and high risk sexual behaviour) be the main focus of efforts in the area of health promotion and disease prevention.

Both the impacts of behaviour on health as well as the influence of health and disease states on psychological factors are being explored. For example, psychosocial and physiological linkages in chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and respiratory disorders, are being defined. Additionally, strategies to enhance patient adherence to recommended medical and lifestyle health-related changes are an area of speciality of Health Psychologists. Further, health psychologists play a role in the training and supervision of health and allied health professionals in basic health behaviour change techniques. This may involve work with diabetes educators, primary care practitioners (i.e. Lifescripts), and staff in cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Current directions

This is a period of rapid change in health care delivery. The college, as part of the Australian Psychological Society, is working to disseminate knowledge of effective health psychology practice and establish liaisons between legislators, researchers and psychologist practitioners to ensure access to health psychologists as part of quality health care. Health psychologists are in increasing demand in health and medical settings. Health psychologists have become vital members of multidisciplinary clinical and research teams in rehabilitation, cardiology, paediatrics, oncology, endocrinology, anaesthesiology, family practice, dentistry, community health, and other medical fields. Despite substantial progress, there remain many areas where effective health psychology interventions remain underutilised.  

Maintained by Dr Mike Shelley ([email protected]). 

Benefits of membership

1. Exclusive access to APS College of Health Psychologists Resources page
   
   • Tip sheets
     - Interventions important to consumers and health providers
     - Interventions addressing health priorities
     - Interventions to achieve optimal health
   • College activities
   • Publications pertaining to evidence-based research and practice in health psychology
2. Exclusive access to information about College of Health Psychologists' Professional Development activities
3. Members belong to a professional organisation that facilitates professional standards in health psychology training, practice, promotion, and research throughout Australia.
4. Members can become involved in a dynamic and innovative group of psychologists through networking and organizational activities in the Australian health care system.
5. Involvement in developing opportunities to facilitate the employment of health psychologists in a wide range of physical and mental health areas spanning public health and clinical health settings
6. Members belong to a professional organisation that facilitates collaboration on research projects in areas of health psychology such as clinical health, health promotion, and public health.
7. Members belong to a professional organisation that offers support in the education and training of health psychologists through activities such as the sharing of course curricula and student resources.

Maintained by Dr Mike Shelley ([email protected]).  

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