Western Australia

The Western Australian Section of the College contributes to the National Committee's management of the College and represents local members' interests within the APS. The Section is also active in the organisation of professional development activities for members.

State Committee

Chair Melissa Davis
 Email: m.davis@curtin.edu.au
Secretary Naomi Oliver
Email: naomi.oliver@health.wa.gov.au
Treasurer Rosie Rooney
Email: r.rooney@curtin.edu.au
Professional Development Melanie Newton
 Email: melanie.newton@health.wa.gov.au
General Committee Members

Debbie Hsu 
Immediate Past Chair, Ex-Officio
Email: debbie.hsu@health.wa.gov.au

Deborah Wilmoth
National Chair, Ex-Officio
Email: dwilm@iinet.net.au

Marilyn Barton
Email: mazzb@yahoo.com

Student Committee Member

Carly Reid
Email: Carly.Reid@curtin.edu.au
Public Relations Co-ordinator 

Carly Reid
Email: Carly.Reid@curtin.edu.au
Website Editor  Melanie Newton
 Email: melanie.newton@health.wa.gov.au

 

Latest News

The Clinical College WA Section AGM will be held on Saturday 14 November 2009 from 9 - 10am. This will be followed by a morning tea and Saturday Seminar presentation by Dr Rosie Rooney. PLEASE NOTE THAT ATTENDANCE AT THE SEMINAR IS FREE IF YOU ATTEND THE AGM.

We welcome any suggestions for presentations and possible presenters in 2010; please email Melanie Newton on melanie.newton@health.wa.gov.au.

Professional Development

The Western Australian Section runs an active program of professional development, including a series of seminars. We are presenting seminars on some weeknights in 2009 in response to member feedback. See below for details of upcoming events, and contact Melanie Newton for further information: melanie.newton@health.wa.gov.au  

Seminar Series Schedule, 2009
 14 November

POSTNATAL DEPRESSION ACROSS CULTURES

When working with mental health issues in different cultural contexts, it is important to incorporate individuals’ explanatory models (Bina, 2008; Kleinman, 1978; Rooney, Wright, & O’Neil, 2006).  Emotional and practical support have been associated with postnatal depression in women across cultures (Barnett, Matthey and Karatas, 2005) but few interventions have been specifically designed and evaluated for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) women in the year following the birth of their baby.

 

The aim of the workshop is to give an overview of current assessment and intervention issues with regard to postnatal depression (PND) across cultures. An outline of previous research on explanatory models for CALD women surrounding PND will be reviewed, and an overview of explanatory models for Iraqi women in particular, will be provided based on data collected by Dr Rooney and her colleagues. Key themes include the significance of motherhood, importance of traditions, physical and emotional difficulties confronted, postnatal health care experiences, negotiating motherhood in a new country and important components in a support group.  

 

Dr Rosie Rooney is a senior lecturer at Curtin University of technology in Western Australia and has obtained a number of large grants as well as co-written nationally funded texts in the area of CALD mental health. Along with her colleagues, she has been instrumental in writing guidelines for reducing the stigma of mental illness in CALD mental health as well as producing a cultural awareness tool for the management of mental health in CALD settings which is on its second print run Australia wide. She has carried out a wide range of research projects on CALD mental health including understanding explanatory models of Iraqi women’s experiences in the year following the birth of their baby and a support group for Iraqi women in the year following the birth of their baby in partnership with WA Perinatal mental health. She worked at King Edward Hospital in the area of prevention of Postnatal depression working with Associate Professor Sherryl Pope from 1992-1998 as well as working in the private and public sector as a clinical psychologist in areas such as postnatal depression, adult anxiety and depression and child clinical settings. With her colleagues she has received over 1 million dollars worth of grants aimed at the prevention of anxiety and depression in children.  She is a member of the ICSEY Groups and was a co-author in a  collaborative book on adaptation of CALD youth with a special interest in adaptation of Vietnamese youth across seven different countries.

CLINICAL COLLEGE MEMBERS ATTENDING THE AGM (9am - 10am) MAY ATTEND THE SEMINAR FOR FREE.

APS Endorsement for Level 2 Specialist PD Points is pending.

For recommended readings please contact Melanie Newton on Melanie.Newton@health.wa.gov.au

 
19 November 

Psychopathology and psychotherapy: The view from inside and outside the the brain 

Presented by Dr John Manners & Dr Marjorie Collins.

The last decade of brain research has shed new light on the neurological processes involved in psychopathology and its treatment.  These findings have important implications for professionals working with psychologically troubled people, and give insights into how we might work more effectively with people in generating change. Clinical Psychologists Dr John Manners and Dr Marjorie Collins will present a one-day specialist seminar on the neurological and psychological processes in some key aspects of adult psychopathology and psychotherapy.

  1. The various forms of dissociation, and their important role in emotional survival
  2. The neurobiological underpinnings of dissociative processes
  3. How the past replays in the present for adults with anxiety and depression
  4. Brain processes involved in past experiences which unconsciously impact in adulthood
  5. How implicit and explicit processes are involved in memories of past experiences;  and implications for psychological intervention
  6. The key psychotherapeutic processes in core change
  7. Applying an understanding of the neurobiology of learning to improving clinical interventions

 *FULLY BOOKED*

 

Proposed Future Workshops

Many of you will recall that Veronica Kallos-Lilly presented a 4-day externship in Emotion-Focused Therapy for Couples in 2008. The College are pleased to announce that due to the popularity of the training, we have invited Veronica to return to Australia and conduct follow-up training in November, 2010. The training models offered may include:

  • A Four-Day Externship - for those who missed out in 2008.
  • A Two-Day Advanced Training Workshop - a prerequisite for this course is having attended the Externship in 2008.
  • A One-Day Workshop
Professional Development Registration & Cancellation Policy
Professional Development Registration Policy

Registration at an event is not guaranteed until your registration form has been received and a written confirmation has been sent by email. The APS College of Clinical Psychologists - WA Section will not accept responsibility for correspondence that is delayed or for failure of delivery. The APS College will attempt to ensure a confirmation is emailed to the registrant within 5 working days of receipt (however, please keep in mind that Committee members volunteer their time and there may, at times, be unforeseen delays). Enquiries regarding registration can be forwarded to Melanie Newton at melanie.newton@health.wa.gov.au.

Professional Development Seminar Cancellation Policy

A refund of your payment will be issued if a cancellation is received in writing seven days prior to the event. Notice of cancellations must be given to the APS College of Clinical Psychologists - WA Section via email to Melanie Newton: melanie.newton@health.wa.gov.au. Melanie will respond by email to confirm your cancellation. The APS College will not accept responsibility for correspondence that is delayed or for failure of delivery. No refunds will be given for cancellations received within seven days of the seminar, on, or after the day of the seminar, however you may nominate an alternative attendee.

Please note that the Professional Development Registration and Cancellation Policy is subject to change.