The Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research (ASPR)

Abstract

In 1970, the late Professor Cecil Kidd and Scott Henderson discussed ways of strengthening psychiatric research in Australia. Being both from Aberdeen, the Scottish Society for Psychiatric Research was taken as a model. This model involved an annual forum for committed researchers, irrespective of discipline, and thus included psychologists, psychiatrists, statisticians, economists, basic scientists and so on. In Australia, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) was not regarded, at that time, as a suitable organisation for this purpose as it then had other priorities and included only psychiatrists within its membership. Thus, gathering together individuals from all relevant disciplines with an interest in psychiatric research would not have been possible under the auspices of the RANZCP.