Ros Knight FAPS FCCLIN FCCOUNS GAICD
President
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Australian Psychological Society’s 2019 Annual Report. This has been a year of significant change and progress for Australia’s largest member organisation for psychologists, and there are many actions and efforts worth highlighting.
It was a great honour to be appointed as President in September 2018. I serve on the 25th Board of a Society that has been a constant during my 27 years as a practicing psychologist and as an APS member. I have always been motivated and enhanced by the quality of the content and professional engagement that comes out of the APS. To be given the opportunity to make a lasting contribution at this level is both humbling and energising, particularly considering the opportunities and challenges ahead.
When I stepped into the role, I followed Mr Anthony Cichello’s term. Anthony oversaw a challenging time in the APS’s history. This included the introduction of a new governance structure to achieve greater representation across the member groups, and the search for a replacement of Lyn Littlefield who had expertly guided the APS as Executive Director for a remarkable 17 years. Whilst the end of an era, this also provided an opportunity for new beginnings, with the appointment of the APS’s first Chief Executive Officer, Ms Frances Mirabelli.
Frances and I, along with the Board, have worked closely to build a new approach and a new direction for the APS. Members will have noticed a clear and deliberate thread running through all of our communications – whether that be face-to-face at conferences and meetings, via our digital and print messages, or through our media appearances. The message has been quite simple: that now, more than ever, we must come together as a profession. Because a united voice is far more powerful than a fragmented one.
The development of the APS White Paper: The Future of Psychology in Australia has been pivotal in this shift towards unity. This submission was informed by wide consultation, including through the establishment of the Medicare Benefits Schedule Expert Committee and the Industry Advisory Group, the latter of which includes representation from the regulator and accreditor. I am resolved to ensure that the APS provides a coherent position to government and these bodies have been central to achieving that coherence.
The APS White Paper was not without its challenges and there were times when we all had to remind ourselves of the importance of placing our clients’ interests at the heart of all decision-making. Robust debate ensued, however it was through this process that the APS was able to develop a well-constructed and practical plan for the future of psychology in this country. It has been well received by members, the profession at large and external stakeholders.
This was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to APS advocacy to government this year. An immeasurable amount of hours and research went into the development of more than 50 submissions. Another highlight was the submission to the Mental Health Productivity Commission’s investigation into the social and economic benefits of improving mental health in Australia. The APS made a range of recommendations, with priority given to prevention efforts, access, addressing services gaps, and workforce issues. We have also been keenly focused on the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, and the national Royal Commissions into aged care and the treatment of people with disability.
The APS’s strength and success has manifested itself in many other areas across the organisation.
- More than 7,500 psychologists took part in continuing professional development webinars offered by the APS Institute.
- The Institute also ensured that through their completion of the relevant Supervisor Training, over 100 psychologists maintained their status as a Board Approved Supervisor whilst an additional 130+ psychologists successfully completed the training requirements to be granted this important status.
- More than 1,300 delegates took part in the four key APS conferences, along with over 1,400 of you who made the APS Congress in Sydney in September a huge success. It has been great to engage with members in person at all of these events.
- We cannot forget the incredible 417 member group events attended by 15,055 people, which once again highlight the enduring strength, relevance and popularity of member-driven activities.
Our member groups are integral to the APS’s relationship building, information sharing and consultation. Member groups have been involved in key discussions this year, including the development of the White Paper and the building of our Strategic Plan for 2018-2021. The Advisory Council – made up of a diverse cross-section of the membership – also played a big role in informing the priorities of the Strategic Plan that is currently being implemented by staff at the National Office. Two meetings were held over the last year and the Board is grateful for the time taken by members to share their views via these channels.
Our drive to educate the public on the purpose and benefits of psychology has not waned and in November 2018 our team, in collaboration with Swinburne University in Melbourne, produced the Australian Loneliness Report to coincide with Psychology Week. This report revealed that 1 in 4 Australians feel lonely – a statistic that chimes with the growing concern at a global level about the effects of social isolation. The report sparked considerable interest among the media and is still quoted in reporting many months later.
The APS has recognised the contribution of members and psychologists at the highest level through the breadth of our awards, from educational, science and practice awards through to branch and college awards, and more. These are an important part of highlighting the achievements of our colleagues and celebrating the profession, and I congratulate all recipients and nominees.
The APS’s reach and presence in the media has lifted, particularly since the start of 2019. Members will have seen, heard and read APS psychologists speaking to a range of issues, from the mental health of football players, to the impact of smartphone addiction, to the disturbing statistics around child and youth suicide. We aim to be relevant and timely in our response to social issues. I too have taken an active role in engaging with the media, and recently was proud to defend the role and expertise of organisational psychologists when their practice drew unfounded criticism. This is a deliberate strategy to clarify and amplify the role of psychologists, and will continue throughout 2019 and beyond.
I am grateful for the support and expertise that surrounds the role of APS President. I am incredibly fortunate to be joined by a Board of Directors who are passionate, driven and practical. Three new elected General Directors joined us after the AGM in September – Dr Sally Bradford as Early Career representative, Ms Kathrine Johansen as Division of General Psychological Practice representative and Mr Michael Di Mattia as College representative (excluding Clinical College) – whilst Dr Deborah Wilmoth completed her term. Ms Robyn Batten and Ms Mary Latham were reappointed as our independent non-executive Directors for Governance and Finance respectively. Ms Hannah Challis and Mr Geoff Gallas were appointed to the Board in early 2019 as non-independent non-executive Directors, following the conclusion of the terms of Mr Peter Zarris and Ms Ronita Neal.
A final word. Thank you to the staff at the APS for the energy, professionalism and fun that you bring to the task of supporting our members. Thank you to the thousands of volunteers who spend their precious personal time getting the APS message out to members through Branches, Colleges, Interest Groups, advisory groups and committees. And thank you to you – our members – for your contribution to this valued profession. We look forward to working with you to support and enhance your practice and studies, both now and well into the future.