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Rehabilitation Psychology Special Interest Group

The Rehabilitation Psychology SIG was formed in the Autumn of 2004 and currently has 17 members. The Group had its first official meeting at the PSI Annual Conference in November 2004.

This group was formed to promote and give formal recognition to the area of Rehabilitation Psychology. The Rehabilitation Psychology Special Interest Group also want to define rehabilitation psychology and its parametres more fully within an Irish context and to collaborate with others for the development of rehabilitation psychology in Ireland.

Committee 2006/2007

Andrew Honeyman (Chair), Marie-Claire O'Brien (Secretary), Greg Stynes (Treasurer)
Ordinary Members- Shane Martin, Suzanne Allen, Tom O'Brien, Margaret Webb, Mary Hughes, Denise O'Dwyer and James Rickard.

There is representation on this committee from Eve Holdings, Health Service Executive, Headway, and the National Learning Network.

Membership application form for the Rehabilitation Psychology SIG

ANNUAL REPORT 2006-2007

We held eight committee meetings during the year and the general membership is twenty six (excluding committee).

We held our first AGM last May which was well attended. This involved a presentation by the Chair on rehabilitation and the broad aims of the group. Furthermore the nomination and election of a new committee as above.

At the PSI Conference in November we presented 3 Papers - Positive Psychology and rehabilitation; Recovery Orientated Health Service; and Diversity and Equality. In addition we had a poster presentation on Offending Behaviour and Addiction Characteristics. We also had a stand and an open-forum meeting to discuss issues pertinent to rehabilitation.

We had conversations with DWOP in relation to the possibility of some joint work in the future and developed links with M.Sc. in Rehabilitation Psychology at Nottingham University. We had representation at the PSI AGM and the PSI Forum for Divisions and Interest Groups.

We recently met with Dr. Joseph Duffy in his capacity as Director of Professional Development to discuss his role, our group’s development and future directions.

The size of the Committee became an issue during the year with regard to a consistent attendance by the same members. This slowed down the progress of the group during the year. In this respect it was decided (effective Jan 2007) to meet every two months and to consider the relevance of this issue when a new committee is being elected.

We are planning a CPD accredited event for September 2007 and intend to present a symposium under the auspices of the Interest Group at the PSI Conference in Killarney. We are developing a newsletter and recognise the need to post information on the PSI website along with increasing our article contributions to the IP with a view to promoting and engaging in a wider debate on rehabilitation. Being more involved with other relevant Divisions / Interest Groups is something we are very mindful of and intend to persue. Attending the PSI Forum will contribute to this. We are in the process of compiling useful websites to post on the PSI website.

We have asked for nominal contributions from members (20 Euro), but as we are an Interest Group there is no obligation on members in this respect and the response has been minimal to date.

I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Rehabilitation Psychology Special Interest Group to thank PSI and staff for their support during the year and for facilitating our meetings in the PSI Offices.

For and on behalf of the RPSIG,

Andrew Honeyman
Chairperson

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