About the College of Organisational Psychologists

 

What is the College of Organisational Psychologists?

The APS College of Organisational Psychologists (COP) is the professional association of psychologists who specialise in working with organisations, teams and individual employees to improve their motivation, effectiveness and productivity.

The College represents and promotes organisational psychology as a discipline. The College:

  • Represents the needs of organisational psychologists to the APS, Psychologist Registration Boards and Government in relation to the legislation, regulation and policies applicable to organisational psychologists
  • Promotes in the media and publications the many ways that organisational psychologists add value to businesses and their people
  • Provides professional development activities for keeping organisational psychologists up to date with the latest advances in science and practice
  • Provides access to research, information and tools which build the credibility and expertise of College members
  • Provides networking opportunities to organisational psychologists to help them accelerate their careers, enhance their practices, and build a more interconnected organisational psych community
  • Advances the scientific study of organisational psychology by encouraging research, and fostering closer relationships between academics and practitioners
  • Ensures members demonstrate high standards of professional ethics and practice
  • Maintains the standards and quality assurance process for organisational psychology qualifications and accreditations
  • Acts as a contact point for queries about the profession of organisational psychology

With over 450 members, the College operates at both a State and National level. In 2009 the College is continuing to transform itself, with the key goals of lifting the profile of organisational psychology and increasing the value of College membership.

 

Benefits of Membership

The College invites psychologists who practise, research, teach and/or simply have an interest in organisational psychology to join. Being a member of the College has numerous benefits. By joining the College, you will:

  • Enhance your professional profile; to be part of the College signifies professional standing, recognition of your specialist expertise and your commitment to ongoing professional development
  • Receive a free subscription to ILLUMINATIONS, the College’s quarterly eMagazine for business (value $80)
  • Receive the members-only bi-monthly eNewsletter, REACH, provides timely College updates, keeping organisational psychologists up to date with the latest issues impacting the profession
  • Be given exclusive access to the College’s audio-visual library, which contains recordings of the recent professional development presentations (topics include employee surveys, feedback skills, accelerating leadership development, ACT as a coaching model, the skills of an organisational psychologist)
  • Receive discounted entry to any of the College’s professional development events to help you keep up to date, and deepen your specialist organisational psychology knowledge and practical skills
  • Be able to network with other psychology professionals at College events, and learn about opportunities for career development and professional support
  • Enhance your personal and professional development through volunteering for committee activities and team-based projects
  • Belong to a professional association that offers support in the education and training of future organisational psychologists, through provision of supervised placements, mentoring, conferences and publications
  • Belong to a professional association that facilitates professional standards in organisational psychology training, practice, promotion, and research throughout Australia
  • Be part of a coordinated approach to raising the profile of organisational psychology as a value-adding profession. With more members, the College has a stronger voice in the APS and greater visibility in the media

Click on the following link to find out how to join the College.

 

Our Committee

The National COP Committee sets the overall strategic direction for the College and represents COP’s interests at a high level, particularly within the APS, with Government, and in the media.

State-based Sections in ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, VIC and WA organise professional development activities, host networking and social events, sign up new members and support early-career organisational psychologists through initiatives like Careers Fairs and professional supervision assistance.

If you wish to contact a committee member, please refer to the page for the relevant State Section or National Committee.

 

Our Membership

There are 470 members in the College of Organisational Psychologists (COP). Membership of COP is restricted to psychologists who have completed specialised training, have experience in organisational psychology and undertake regular professional development activities in the area of organisational psychology*.

The breakdown of College membership is as follows:

By State and Territory:

State or Territory # Members
Australian Capital Territory

14
New South Wales

159
Northern Territory

3

Queensland

61

South Australia

56

Tasmania

2

Victoria

132
Western Australia

36
Overseas 7
Total 470

 

 

Membership Grade:

Membership Type # Members
Member

269
Associate Member

14

Affiliate Member

74

Student Subscriber

106

Total

463

 

All information is current as of 5 May 2009.

* Please note: Full membership of the College requires a minimum of six years of university training in psychology (including two years of postgraduate studies in organisational psychology) plus 80 hours of College-related activities comprising supervision and professional development. Members are required to maintain a program of on-going professional development. Associate, affiliate and student memberships are also available.