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College of Organisational Psychologists SA – AGM/Networking Night
Alexandra Stillwell
Associate Member
More than 60 affiliates, members, associate members
and students attended the SA College of Organisational
Psychologists (COP) Annual General Meeting (AGM) and
Networking event in March 2012. Judging by the evening’s
excellent turnout and spirited discussion, we are a dynamic
and dedicated group of professionals and students who
mean business (no pun intended!) when it comes to
organisational psychology.
Chair Shelley Rogers opened the AGM with a review
of the Committee’s work in 2011. She also spoke about
the ongoing challenge of finding willing and qualified
supervisors for our Associate members, mainly due to
the restrictive eligibility criteria to become a supervisor.
Planned relaxation of these criteria by July should
hopefully expand the pool of talented and inspirational
psychologists eligible to supervise Associates to full
membership.
Attendees at the College of Organisational Psychologists AGM 2012
Prizes were then awarded to the top all-round students
graduating from university Masters programs in
organisational psychology in 2011. Alexandra Stillwell was
the top student from the University of Adelaide’s Master
of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) degree
and Kerry Rosser was the top student from the University
of South Australia’s Master of Psychology (Work and
Organisational) program. Each was awarded a certificate
and $300 to go towards APS and College membership fees.
Business then turned to farewelling our retiring Committee
members, acknowledging the continuing members and
welcoming some new faces. A huge thank you was made to
retiring Secretary Jodie Shoobridge who has demonstrated
energy, enthusiasm and exceptional organisational skills in
this role for the past three years. Warren Rerden has also
retired from the Committee, after doing an excellent job of
coordinating the Associate group.
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The South Australia Newsletter
Shelley Rogers, Chair COP SA, Peter Zarris chair National COP, Prize winner
from the University of Adelaide Alexandra Stillwell.JPG
The 2012 Committee consists of Shelley Rogers (Chair),
Oriana Nofi (Treasurer), Karen Osborne (Secretary),
Sophie Holdstock (Associates Coordinator) and general
committee members Alexandra Stillwell, Vashti Wallace
and Mark Douglas. Student representatives will be Anna
Booth, Danielle Chant, Adele Valladares, Dana Michalski
and Kristina Dorniak-Wall.
National Chair of the College of Organisational
Psychologists Peter Zarris then addressed the audience,
talking about the challenging process of seeking
endorsement as a member of any College within the APS
and the importance of making this membership more
than a symbolic naming right. Peter also spoke about the
launch of a national marketing committee and campaign
and a survey of organisational psychologists who are APS
members but not COP members, to determine how best to
market our profession.
Peter also addressed the unfortunate loss of many
Masters programs in organisational psychology, as
universities around the country tighten their belts. This
has been particularly felt in SA where there is now only
one university (Adelaide) offering a Masters program in
organisational psychology. Peter acknowledged that the
College will need to think strategically about how best
to support universities who still offer these programs, to
ensure their continued survival.
The key message from the evening’s proceedings was
“onwards and upwards”, as organisational psychology – part
of what Peter Zarris calls the “second force in psychology “–
demonstrates just how powerful a force it can be.
News and views for APS Members in South Australia