The Australian and New Zealand ROC commenced during 2023 under the leadership of Kate McMaugh (Chair), Susie Luchetti (Secretary) and Valerie van Loggerenberg (Moderator). We have slowly grown to a little group of 33 people. While we might not be big in numbers, we think we take the prize for the geographically biggest ROC in ISSTD, covering an area that is more than 3,320 miles (5,350 km) across and a similar distance from top to bottom! We also have to juggle multiple time zones for our meetings!
Our first task was to conduct a survey of members to identify what they wanted from a ROC. The group agreed that it was a great space to discuss issues or referrals, but the most popular options was to hold online meetings, and we scheduled four during 2024, with a rotating system of times to accommodate the considerable time differences between the east and the western edges of the ROC.
We have had several interesting presentations – Graham Pringle presented on adventure therapy and the links between some practices of the ‘troubled teen industry,’ trauma and dissociation. I (Kate McMaugh) presented on assessment and diagnosis. We have also held more general ‘Bring your clinical question’ meetings which have generated some great discussions and valuable information sharing.
We are really fortunate that our last online meeting of the year will be a presentation by Mary Anne Kate and her students on 23 November. They will be discussing their research across three cutting edge topics: The intersection between dissociation and ADHD; Dissociation and Eating Disorders, and a nuanced exploration of Dissociation and Adverse Childhood Experiences.
This year myself, Valerie and Susie will be retiring (from ROC leadership, anyway!) and we hand the reigns over to a new team: Graham Pringle from Brisbane, Australia (Chair), Summer Benton from Wellington, Aoteroa/New Zealand (Secretary) and Scarlett Franks from Sydney Australia (Moderator). I am sure the new team will have some great things planned for us.
If you are from Australia or New Zealand and would like to meet other local colleagues and belong to a safe place to discuss, debate, question and learn about complex trauma and dissociation, then please join us. Contact me on katemcmaughpsychology@gmail.com for more information.