13 December 2023
On 1 December 2023, PACFA NSW Branch members gathered at The Oaks hotel in Neutral Bay for the state’s end of year networking event. During the evening, longstanding members mingled with newer members, and the group discussed what members want from PACFA. Connections were built during the course of the evening between members in different stages of their careers, and shared opportunities for learning.
PACFA NSW LG Branch Convenor Dr Diana Sands led a sociometric exercise whereby members split into groups according to how long they had been a part of PACFA. Most of the event’s attendees were generally within their first five years of PACFA membership.
Diana talked about research, stressing the essential role of networking in improving quality of work, job satisfaction, and the importance of a strongly networked PACFA community, in assisting the work being undertaken to advocate on behalf of PACFA. Those gathered networked together discussing plans and aspirations for their work in 2024. Words and symbols capturing the essence of these hopes were written on leaves and attached to the PACFA tree.
The event saw the introduction of PACFA Registered Clinical Counsellor Riccardo Ingle, who will be the PACFA NSW Branch Leadership Group Convenor for 2024.
PACFA’s President Nigel Polak and CEO Johanna de Wever were also in attendance, and both presented to the group. Nigel’s presentation discussed the magic of therapy and the importance of effective counselling and psychotherapy in making a difference in people’s lives. Johanna spoke about PACFA and its role in taking the profession forward, new opportunities emerging in the current mental health policy climate, and answered questions about Medicare.
Interest groups and Colleges were strongly represented at the event and spoke about PACFA. Francis Voon from the Gender, Body, Kinship and Sexuality (GBKS) Interest Group, College of Supervision Convenor Kate Mikhailouskaya, Loren Weber from the College of Experiential and Creative Therapies (CCET), and Caroline Romeo from the Older Persons Interest Group all spoke at the event.
To learn more about the PACFA NSW Branch Leadership Group, please click here.