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- Media releases 2011
Media releases 2011
12 December 2011
APS congratulates Mark Butler and Tanya Plibersek on Cabinet positions
The Australian Psychological Society (APS), the peak body for psychologists in Australia, congratulates the Hon. Mark Butler, MP, on his promotion to Cabinet and welcomes the new Minister for Health, the Hon. Tanya Plibersek, MP, to her new role.
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25 November 2011Focus on strengths to beat learning disorders: expertAn emphasis on difficulties, without consideration of children’s strengths, may be undermining attempts to treat learning disorders, according to a leading educational expert from the US, who is presenting at the APS College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists Conference in Melbourne today. |
15 November 2011
New program to assist athletes with drug problems
Athletes with a drug problem will now have more psychological support, with the launch today of a new Government-funded program.
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2 November 2011
Urgent reversal of cuts to Better Access mental health initiative essential
Too many Australians with moderate to severe mental health problems will be left without appropriate psychological treatment unless cuts to the Better Access to Mental Health Care Initiative are urgently reversed as recommended in yesterday’s report from a Senate Inquiry into mental health funding, according to the Australian Psychological Society.
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6 October 2011Sleep deprivation linked to depression in new mothers 5 October 2011
Communities protected psychologically by help after disaster 5 October 2011Tall poppy syndrome hits ‘those who deserve it’ 4 October 2011New Indigenous mental health resource to be launched 4 October 2011Tax soft-drinks to reduce obesity, says leading psychologist 4 October 2011Young people missing health appointments can’t be lured by text |
14 September 2011
Changes to chaplains program a missed opportunity
Changes to the National School Chaplaincy Program are a missed opportunity to address the growing national mental health crisis among young people, according to the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
29 August 2011
Detention centres failing to meet minimum standards of mental health care, experts say
Health professionals such as psychologists and mental health nurses are under intolerable pressure trying to provide adequate care within the detention system, according to their professional bodies.
18 August 2011
Mental health costs of detention are too high, experts say
Psychologists, mental health nurses, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals have called on the Government to abandon the indefinite detention of asylum seekers, in light of comments on the policy from a leading civil servant in the Immigration Department and revelations of an explosion in self-harm and starvation among detainees.
11 August 2011
Aged care reforms must focus on improving quality of life
The quality of life of older Australians must be a key priority in proposed Productivity Commission reforms to the aged care system, according to the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
7 August 2011
Better services for mental health issues could help to reduce crime
Too many people with mental illness are ending up in police custody after reaching a crisis because of a lack of appropriate emergency care, according to a leading psychologist who spoke at the Australian Psychological Society College of Forensic Psychologists National Conference, in Noosa this weekend.
4 August 2011
Education for law enforcers on false confessions could reduce wrongful convictions
Law enforcement personnel, including police, should receive education and training about how to recognise false confessions to reduce the number of wrongful convictions in Australia, according to a leading psychologist speaking at the national conference of the Australian Psychological Society College of Forensic Psychologists in Noosa this weekend.
4 August 2011
Psychologists back Ombudsman’s inquiry into detainee distress and self-harm
The Australian Psychological Society (APS) welcomes the announcement by the Commonwealth Ombudsman Allan Asher of an inquiry into the alarming rates of detainee distress and self-harming behaviours.
4 August 2011
Social cost mounts as women in search of fun turn to alcohol
Young Australian women are now as commonly involved in alcohol-fuelled aggression as young men, according to a leading forensic psychologist speaking at the Australian Psychological Society College of Forensic Psychology National Conference in Noosa this weekend.
14 July 2011
Harness creativity to help people with bipolar disorder, says expert
Harnessing their creativity may lead to better outcomes and more fulfilling lives for people with bipolar disorder, according to a leading clinical psychologist, speaking at the Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Psychologists National Conference in Coolum tomorrow.
13 July 2011
Striving to be perfect may have mental health costs
The quest to be perfect is blighting the lives of many Australians, as they struggle to meet unrealistic expectations they place on themselves, according to a leading Australian expert, presenting at the Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Psychology conference in Coolum this week.
6 July 2011
Immigration detention endangers children, psychologists warn
Keeping children in immigration detention is unacceptable, as it worsens trauma, threatens family bonds and puts normal development and access to education at risk, according to the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
28 June 2011
Budget funding for chaplains program misspent
Federal Government funding allocated for school chaplains should be urgently redirected to programs to deliver professional mental health and well-being services in schools, according to the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
25 June 2011
Embrace uncertainty to become an effective leader, says expert
Leaders need to be able to face the unknown and not be afraid of it, in order to produce better products and run more effective organisations, according to a leading psychologist.
24 June 2011
Older workers – not just parents of young children – need flexible working hours
Companies must offer older employees flexible work hours and conditions to keep them in the workforce, according to a leading Australian organisational psychologist speaking tomorrow at the 9th Industrial and Organisational Psychology Conference in Brisbane.
23 June 2011
Employees urged to treat their workplace like a hotel
Companies wishing to reduce their costs are asking employees to book a desk, according to a psychologist speaking at the 9th Industrial and Organisational Psychology Conference in Brisbane tomorrow.
22 June 2011
Double-whammy effect for targets and observers of workplace bullying
Workplace bullying affects those who witness bullying as well as those who are bullied but those who are both observers and targets of bullying suffer the most, according to a new study.
22 June 2011
Research shows one ‘bad apple’ spoils the work of a team
One underperforming member, or 'bad apple', can spoil the work of a whole team, according to research being presented this weekend at the 9th Industrial and Organisational Psychology Conference (IOP) in Brisbane, hosted by the Australian Psychological Society College of Organisational Psychologists.
7 June 2011
Budget cuts will deny effective treatment to people with serious mental health disorders
People with serious mental health disorders will be left without appropriate mental health care under Budget cuts to the Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative, according to new research released by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) this week. The proposed cuts would have translated to a reduction in effective treatment for more than 260,000 Australians who received psychological services in the first three years of the Better Access initiative.
20 May 2011
Psychologists call for prompt end to restrictive practices in disability sector
Urgent action must be taken to ensure Australians with disabilities – including children and young people – are protected from unnecessary restrictive practices that put their lives and wellbeing at risk, along with those of the people working with and caring for them, according to the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
- Read media release
- Download PDF
- Download Evidence-based guidelines to reduce the need for restrictive practices in the disability sector (PDF, 208KB)
16 May 2011
Australian Psychological Society now a 20,000-strong voice for psychology
The Australian Psychological Society (APS) this month welcomed its 20,000th member, after an increase in membership of an average 1,000 psychologists each year for the past five years, underscoring its pre-eminent position as an authority on psychology in all spheres of Australian life, and an advocate for health and wellbeing throughout the community.
11 May 2011
Hidden cost in welcome investments in mental health
The Australian Psychological Society (APS) welcomes the Gillard Government's new investments in mental health in the Federal Budget but is concerned that crucial funds are being redirected from the Better Access initiative, the most successful mental health program in the last 30 years.
6 April 2011
Online treatments vital to meet mental health demand
Using online treatments will be essential if Australia is to meet the growing demand for mental health services, according to experts in the field.
24 March 2011
Put mental health on the agenda to ‘close the gap’
Psychologists are calling for more focus on the mental health and wellbeing of Indigenous people on International Close the Gap Day.
15 March 2011
Better Access: Yes it is
The evaluation of the Medicare-funded Better Access mental health initiative, released today by the Australian Government, shows that increasing numbers of people with moderate to severe mental illness are able to access affordable and effective psychological services that make a real improvement to their lives, says the Australian Psychological Society.
1 February 2011
Psychological preparations can help those facing cyclone threat
The Australian Psychological Society (APS) has urged those facing cyclone threats not to neglect psychological preparations when taking safety measures to ready themselves for the threat of natural disaster.
6 January 2011
How to help psychologically during - and after - the floods
Thousands of Queenslanders have been affected by the recent floods that have disrupted lives and created much distress. The Australian Psychological Society has prepared the following guidance for the many hundreds of professionals and volunteers who now want to know the best ways to support those affected to assist their recovery.
4 January 2011
Inform gambling policies with psychological knowledge, report recommends
More informed public health policy decisions and effective prevention and treatment programs to address problem gambling could be achieved with the application of findings from psychological research, according to a special report on the psychology of gambling published in the bulletin of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) last week.
