Australia & New Zealand ACBS Chapter Info (Mission, Description, Etc.)
Mission/Objectives
The purpose of the organization is to foster the development of functional contextual cognitive and behavioral science and practice within Australia and New Zealand, so as to alleviate human suffering and advance human well being.
Specifically, the organization shall
a) Serve as a scientific and professional reference group for those in Australia and New Zealand who identify themselves as scientists, students, or practitioners in disciplines which embrace the principles and practices of contextual behavioral science, or for the interested public.
b) Promote research and scholarship in Australia and New Zealand focused on the development of (i) a coherent and progressive science of human action that is more adequate to the challenges of the human condition that will identify and promote the development of useful basic principles, workable applied theories linked to these principles, effective applied technologies based on these theories, and successful means of training and disseminating these developments, guided by the best available scientific evidence; and (ii) effective prevention and intervention strategies.
c) Promote the development of a view of science that values a dynamic, ongoing interaction between its basic and applied elements, and between practical application and empirical knowledge;
d) Promote the development of a community of scholars, researchers, educators, and practitioners in Australia and New Zealand who will work in a collegial, open, self-critical, non-discriminatory, and mutually supportive way that is (i) effective in producing valued outcomes, (ii) effective in exploring the additional implications of this work, and (iii) emphasizes open and low cost methods of connecting with this work so as to keep the focus on benefit to others.
e) Advise political, legislative, and policy-making bodies with respect to matters pertaining to contextual behavioral science in Australia and New Zealand.
f) Organize and sponsor forums, conferences, newsletters, journals, websites, list serves and other such activities that accomplish the purposes of the organization.
