Mr Chris Mackey
President's Award for Distinguished Contribution to Psychology in Australia

Award type: Showcase

Chris Mackey worked for over 45 years as a Clinical and Counselling psychologist across both public and private mental health sectors.

He served as Senior Clinical Psychologist at Geelong Hospital and the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, where he helped pioneer one of Australia’s early PTSD treatment programs for Vietnam veterans.

For 29 years, he was Principal Psychologist at the private practice, Chris Mackey and Associates in Geelong, initially contracting and then employing 60 psychologists over that time.

Chris was strongly committed to clinical research, collecting outcome data from thousands of clients to evaluate therapeutic innovations and the effectiveness of therapy. He presented his findings nationally and internationally.

He served on the scientific committee for the 2016 World Congress of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies. Chris also presented at conferences on topics including psychological trauma, therapeutic approaches to anxiety and depression, and the use of synchronicity in psychotherapy. His professional contributions were recognised with several research and business awards, including the 2019 Australian Allied Health Impact Award for his accomplishments. The practice was admitted to the Hall of Fame of The Geelong Business Excellence Awards.

Chris had a passion for exploring a deeper soul dimension within psychology. His interest in this area led to the publication of two books, including his most recent work, The Positive Psychology of Synchronicity: Enhance Your Mental Health with the Power of Coincidence, released in 2019 by Watkins Publishing, one of the leading international publishers on spirituality, self-help, wellbeing, and new thought.

Chris had a particular interest in positive psychology and promoting more optimistic and uplifting approaches to mental health. For a decade he wrote a monthly column for The Geelong Advertiser and delivered regular free talks to the Geelong community.

He was the resident psychologist for three seasons of the wellbeing television program Destination Happiness, which aired nationally on Channel 9 in Australia and internationally on the Discovery Channel. He also appeared in a radio segment, Talking Synchronicity, on 93.9 Bay FM Geelong and created over 130 podcast episodes of the podcast Psych Spiels and Silver Linings, which has been downloaded in over 120 countries.