Newsletter
Volume 31| 2008| Number 2
Australian Association for Cognitive Behavior Therapy
By Prof. Ross Menzies
The Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (AACBT) is a nonprofit organization which promotes the scientific approach to understanding and modifying behavior in applied settings. The AACBT is a multidisciplinary association for professionals with an interest in the application of the principles of behavioral and cognitive psychology. The Association encourages, organizes and supports professional development activities and the dissemination of published information about CBT. It also encourages and supports research in CBT. The AACBT consists of a National Executive and five State Branches (New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, and Queensland). A sixth State Branch (Tasmania) is currently being established. In sum, the AACBT aims to: promote the ethical practice of CBT; organize continuing education and training in CBT; promote research in CBT; publish and disseminate information about local and international developments in CBT; educate the community in the principles and ethical practice of CBT; organize the annual AACBT National Conference; and publish ongoing research in the AACBT national scientific journal, Behaviour Change.
The AACBT is a proud organization with a long history of sustained contribution to the development of CBT. The scientific journal of the Association is currently in its 24th volume. The Association has just held its 30th Annual National Conference on the Gold Coast of Queensland. The 31st National Conference will be held in Adelaide in September 2008, and the Western Australian Branch is well underway in its planning for the 32nd National Conference to be held in Perth in 2009. The success of the AACBT National Conferences over three decades has been assured by strong National Executive structures and continuity of involvement from key individuals in the Association.
Each State Branch of the AACBT is an incorporated body run by its own State Executive in accordance with its Articles of Association. The State President of each Branch is a member of the National Executive of the AACBT, reporting regularly to the national body about: 1) memberships, 2) finances and budgets, 3) seminars and workshops, 4) newsletters, and 5) future directions. All states have remained continually financially strong across the entire history of the Association.
Current Activities
The AACBT National Executive has been exploring options for a bid to host the 7th World Congress of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (WCBCT) since early 2005. In that year, the National President called for expressions of interest from State Branches for an Australian bid. Four States (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia) indicated their interest in hosting the WCBCT. The National Executive considered the following ten issues in evaluating initial bid proposals: 1) conference facilities; 2) social facilities; 3) accommodation; 4) government and financial support available; 5) other supports;6) access to the rest of Australia; 7) airport capacity/capability; 8) added value; 9) general appeal; and 10) availability of volunteers and other supports for the conference.
Full submissions were received from four State Branches in October 2006. In addition, each bidding State gave a 20-minute presentation to the National Executive of the AACBT at that time.
All four bids were deemed viable by the National Executive. Accordingly, a site selection subcommittee, with representatives from every State Branch, was established to visit each proposed site on a national tour in January 2007. This tour allowed: detailed exploration of the facilities and infrastructure available at each site; inspection of surrounding hotels, including a range of room types in each hotel; sampling of catering at each site; experiencing, through the eyes of a delegate, activities for the proposed social program at each site; inspection of other sites of cultural significance; meetings with staff associated with the Convention Centres and tourist agencies, including the key staff proposed by each State to be involved in the running of the WCBCT; and meetings with senior State Government Ministers offering support to state bids.
In addition to the site inspection National Tour, an independent agent was employed to provide comparisons between states on costs of: airfares from major cities across the globe; hotel rooms at all classes within a 10 minute walk of the proposed convention centers; exhibition space at the various centers; plenary halls and breakout rooms; and food/catering at each convention centre.
Following the collation of this material the Site Selection Committee met to recommend a host city and Congress Organizer to the National Executive. A clear consensus of representatives from across Australia strongly favored Sydney as the bid city, and this recommendation was unanimously supported by the National Executive of the AACBT. Principle reasons for the selection of Sydney included: recognition of the city in the international market; outstanding speaker facilities, plenary halls and other infrastructure at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre (SCEC); central location of the SCEC; outstanding range of hotel accommodation at all levels within a 5–10 minute walk from the SCEC; outstanding range of options for a social program; large number of volunteers available in the AACBT’s largest state branch; competitiveness of pricing at the SCEC; world-class airport, public transport and other infrastructure in Sydney; waterfront location of the SCEC on Sydney Harbor, a recognized icon in the world travel industry; and outstanding access to cafes, restaurants, and bars within meters of the SCEC.