1. Psychology in Aotearoa New
Zealand – Shaping the Future
Dr Pamela Hyde
Executive Director
Jack Austin
Immediate Past President
Department of Psychology
University of Otago
7 March, 2011

2. About the New Zealand Psychological
Society
• Established 1947 and later as a stand alone
incorporated society in 1967
• 1200 members and subscribers
• Governed by an elected Executive
• National Office in Wellington
• Branches and special interest institutes and
groups

3. The NZPsS Executive
President Director of
Professional Past President
Frank O’Connor Jack Austin
Development and
Training
Dr Kerry Gibson
President – Elect Director of Social
Peter Coleman Issues
Kaumatua
Iris Fontanilla
Huata Holmes
Director of
Director of Bicultural Issues
Scientific Affairs Dr Rose Black
Dr Mei Williams
Director of Bicultural
Issues
Director of
Moana Waitoki
Professional Affairs
Joanne Cunningham

4. NZPsS National Office
Heike Albrecht
Dr Pamela Hyde
Professional
Executive
Development Co-
Director
ordinator
Donna Macdonald
Debra Ridgway
Membership
Executive
Administrator
Officer

5. NZPsS Institutes & Divisions

6. The Society’s Objects
Promoting
• Psychology as a science and profession
• Psychological knowledge applied to social justice
issues
• High standards of ethical and professional
service
• Research, teaching and practice
• Responsiveness of the Society to the Treaty of
Waitangi
• The interests of the profession by being
responsive to its members

7. Who belongs
The Society represents psychologists from a diverse range of sub-disciplines and work
environments e.g.
These include
• Student psychologists
• Academic and research psychologists
• Postgraduate students studying psychology and intern psychologists
• Clinical psychologists
• Community psychologists
• Criminal justice/ forensic/ Family Court psychologists
• Counselling psychologists
• Developmental and child psychologists
• Educational psychologists
• Health psychologists
• Industrial and organisational psychologists
• Kaupapa Māori psychologists
• Neuropsychologists
• Social psychologists
• Sports psychologists

8. Why members belong
• Collegiality/ networking
• Communication/ information
• Professional development/ resources
• Representation/ Advocacy
• International links
• Encouraging ethical practice
• Awards, scholarships and prizes
• Bicultural partnership with Māori
• Referral database
• Indemnity insurance

10. Helping to shape the future of
psychology
Being visible and being heard through
• Position statements
• Submissions
• Media releases/ media inquiries
• Website postings
• Representation
• Meeting with ministers, ministry
officials
• Publications

11. Being visible and having a voice on
professional and social justice issues
• Ministry of Health – role of psychology in
primary mental health care, mental health
staffing issues, HPCA issues, incentives for
health professionals in hard to staff areas, non
pharmaceutical treatment of depression
• Ministry of Education – number and restricted
role of educational psychologists

12. Being visible contd.
• Department of Corrections – boot camps –
youth crime needs a qualified workforce
• Health Workforce New Zealand – intern
psychologist training places
• ACC – operational issues and strategic issues –
sensitive claims clinical pathway, supervision
for branch advisory psychologists

13. Being visible contd.
• Ministry of Justice – Sec 59, Rehabilitation,
care and protection of child offenders,
approaches to youth crime, qualifications for
counselling children through the Family Court
• New Zealand Guidelines Group – input into
guidelines e.g. ASD
• Te Pou – Psychologist workforce issues

14. Being visible contd.
• Psychologists Board – scopes of practice,
workforce issues, translation of the Code of Ethics
into Māori, issues relating to the continuing
competence audit
• Select committees – Alcohol Reform Bill
• Linking with the Mental Health Commission,
Mental Health Foundation, New Zealand College
of Clinical Psychologists

15. The Society
• Is proactive as well as responsive
• Hears the concerns of members and voices
these
• Recognises and uses the considerable skills of
its members
• Comment and advice on a range of issues now
sought
• Forms alliances when this important e.g.
NZCCP, annual social event etc.

16. In summary: What the Society offers
academics
• Peer reviewed publishing opportunities
• International connections
• Annual conference
• Honours and Awards
• Networking opportunities
• Advocacy and influencing

17. In summary: What the Society offers
Students
• Two subscriber options
• Collegiality and networking
• Reduced rates for conference and
professional development opportunities
• Access to professional publications and opportunities
to contribute
• Free indemnity insurance whilst intern psychologist
• 50% reduction in first year of NZPsS membership
• Being part of an organisation which represents your
interests

18. In Conclusion
• The Society is a proactive, collegial and professional
organisation. Our aim is to be responsive to our
members and provide quality services and benefits.
• We have developed an excellent reputation for
providing sound opinion and advice on professional
and social justice issues
• Our aim is to grow and develop our strengths in
supporting and advancing psychology in Aotearoa New
Zealand