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The Australian Guidance and Counselling Association: Meeting the needs of our members and Australian students
Author(s) -
Robinson Pauline
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
international journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.75
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1464-066X
pISSN - 0020-7594
DOI - 10.1080/00207590544000158
Subject(s) - association (psychology) , publishing , georgian , professional association , mental health , medical education , psychology , public relations , library science , political science , pedagogy , medicine , psychiatry , law , psychotherapist , linguistics , philosophy , computer science
In this article the main work of the Australian Guidance and Counselling Association (AGCA) is reviewed. This review begins with a description of our organization and membership; namely, that the AGCA is a national organization comprised of various state chapters whose membership includes psychologists and counsellors who often hold teaching qualifications. Members tend to be employed by or attached to the education sector. The AGCA's international links, professional development activities, publications, and projects are also outlined. Specifically, the AGCA's international links include the International Association for Counselling, the International School Psychologists' Association, the Canadian Counselling Association, and the Georgian School Psychologists' Association. Professional development activities include a national conference held every 2 years and the sponsoring of national tours by eminent professionals in the field. A special conference is planned for 2006 in conjunction with the International Association for Counselling in Brisbane, Queensland. The AGCA is also active in publishing related research. Since 1991 the AGCA's journal, the Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling , has been publishing regular and special editions. The journal is presented in detail along with the regular newsletter of the organization. Additionally, the AGCA is involved with various special projects that are described in detail. These include the teaching prosocial behaviour to adolescents project, in which the AGCA engaged in the 1990s, and current involvement with the MindMatters Plus project, which focuses on students with high support needs in the area of mental health.