Australian Centre for Psychoanalysis
| Australian Centre for Psychoanalysis | |
|---|---|
| Organization details | |
| Type | Psychoanalytic association and training institute |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Orientation | Freudian-Lacanian |
| Institutional context | |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| Relation to IPA | None |
| Operations | |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Geographic scope | National |
| Training function | Seminars, supervision, personal analysis |
| Website | https://psychoanalysis.org.au |
The Australian Centre for Psychoanalysis (ACP) is a not-for-profit incorporated association established in 1986 and dedicated to the practice, study, and teaching of psychoanalysis.[1][2] Headquartered in Australia, it is committed to the psychoanalytic field established by Sigmund Freud and extended by Jacques Lacan, facilitating the training of analysts through rigorous study, supervision, and personal psychoanalysis.[1][2]
The ACP maintains independence from major international bodies such as the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA), distinguishing it within the Australian psychoanalytic landscape, which includes IPA-affiliated societies formed earlier in the 20th century.[3] It operates a register of practising analysts and promotes research, seminars, and international cooperation.[1]
History
The ACP was established in 1986 amid a broader history of psychoanalysis in Australia dating back to the 1930s, when pioneers such as Dr. Roy Winn introduced Freudian ideas in Sydney and Dr. Clara Geroe established training in Melbourne.[3][4]
Precursors
Psychoanalysis arrived in Australia in the early 20th century, with informal interest noted by Freud as early as 1909. Formal efforts began in the 1930s–1940s: Winn founded the Sydney Institute of Psychoanalysis in 1931, while the Melbourne Institute of Psychoanalysis was established in 1940 to support Geroe's arrival in 1941, authorized by Ernest Jones as a branch of the British Psychoanalytical Society.[3][4][5] The Australian Society of Psychoanalysts formed in 1952 but lacked IPA recognition. By 1967, the IPA sponsored an Australian Study Group, leading to the Australian Psychoanalytical Society's full IPA membership in 1973.[3]
The ACP emerged later, in 1986, as an independent entity oriented toward Lacanian extensions of Freud, contrasting with the IPA's classical framework dominant in earlier Australian groups.[1]
Founding
Specific founders and the precise founding event are not detailed in available sources; the ACP was incorporated as a not-for-profit association in 1986 to advance Lacanian psychoanalysis in Australia.[1][2]
Organizational Structure
The ACP functions as an incorporated association with a focus on non-hierarchical psychoanalytic practice, maintaining a register of practising analysts who have completed its training.[1] Governance details, such as a board or directorate, are not specified in primary sources.
Membership
Registered practising psychoanalysts undergo rigorous personal psychoanalysis, study, and supervision. The treatment preserves the singularity of each patient, aligning with core psychoanalytic principles.[1]
Training and Formation
Training at the ACP emphasizes a program of personal psychoanalysis, supervision, and study in the Freudian-Lacanian tradition.[1][2] The Centre holds regular seminars, conferences, and workshops to support ongoing formation and research.[1]
Specific devices such as the cartel or pass—hallmarks of Lacanian schools—are not explicitly documented for the ACP in available sources, though its Lacanian orientation suggests compatibility with such transmission mechanisms.[1]
Key Concepts / Theoretical Orientation
The ACP prioritizes the field established by Freud and extended by Lacan, focusing on the investigation of inaccessible mental processes and the singularity of analytic treatment.[1] This orientation informs its commitment to research and training beyond IPA standards.
Publications
Publication details, such as official journals, are not specified in primary sources, though the ACP promotes the distribution of psychoanalytic research.[1]
See also
- History of psychoanalysis
- Jacques Lacan
- Sigmund Freud
- Australian Psychoanalytical Society
- Lacanianism
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 "About - Australian Centre for Psychoanalysis". Australian Centre for Psychoanalysis. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Australian Centre for Psychoanalysis". Australian Centre for Psychoanalysis. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "The History of Psychoanalysis in Australia". Psychoanalysis Downunder. 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "About – History of AIP". Adelaide Institute of Psychoanalysis. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ "The Early History - Psychoanalysis Downunder" (PDF). Retrieved 2026-01-31.