Vision: The Promotion of Human Well-Being in Singapore
Mission: To Advance the Research and Practice of Psychology in Singapore

Introduction

Purpose
The Singapore Psychological Society Special Interest Groups (SIGs) exist to support professional development and deepening of networks in focused areas of psychological practice. As a Constituent Unit of the Society, a Special Interest Group’s primary purpose must always be to act in the best interests of the Society, including being integral to the pursuit of the Society’s mission and objectives.

Scope
Specifically the role of a Special Interest Group should include:

Promoting and encouraging the study, research and advancement of the science and practice of psychology in Singapore;

Fostering discussion, cooperation and debate among members of the Society, helping professionals, and the general public in the area of psychological interest.

Objectives

A Special Interest Group has four (4) further objectives:

To implement the strategic plan of the Society as it applies to the SIG;

To support members in pursuit of special interests within the Society;

To aid in forming and maintaining liaison among them;

To provide advice to the Society as needed on issues related to the SIG’s area of interest.

Target Audience

Beneficiaries of the Special Interest Groups may include:

Clinical practitioners of psychology, including clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, health psychologists, and neuropsychologists.

Counselling practitioners of psychology, including counselling psychologists, counsellors and psychotherapists.

Educational practitioners of psychology, including educational psychologists, school psychologists, school counsellors and allied educators.

Organisational practitioners of psychology, including I-O psychologists, occupational psychologists, work psychologists and business psychologists.

Coaching practitioners of psychology, including coaching psychologists, sports/exercise psychologists, coaches and mentors.

Forensic practitioners of psychology, including forensic psychologists and correctional rehabilitation specialists.

Other helping professionals, students in psychology, and the general public.

Membership Eligibility

Any Fellow, Registered, Full, Associate, Affiliate or Student member of the Society shall be eligible for membership of a Special Interest Group.

Accountability and Reporting Procedures

The SIG Chair may be elected at a Council meeting, by members of the Council.

The SIG Chair’s term is for 2 years, and they can serve a maximum of 2 terms.

The SIG Chair reports to the SIGs Chair and Public Education and Communications Chair, who is a member of the Council.

There is a secretariat support function provided from the Public Education and Communications team to provide updates on relevant SIG events and activities, including communications and publicity to committee members, Society members, and the general public.

SIG participants are required to declare potential or actual conflict of interests with SIG agenda items and the Chair manages these conflicts. In the case of conflict of interest involving the Chair, the Chair must temporarily pass the role of managing the meeting to the Vice-Chair or another participant with no conflict of

The activities of the SIG are coordinated and facilitated by a Chair and Vice-Chair appointed in accordance with SIG policy and
The SIG Vice-Chair acts as SIG Chair in the absence of, or at the direction of, the SIG Chair.

Meetings

Each SIG will meet a minimum of twice a year, taking into account budget implications. Both meetings should be face to face. Meetings are open to all members who are registered for participation or observation.

All SIG communications about meetings and discussion points must use the SPS collaborative space allocated to the SIG to ensure visibility to all interested parties.

All announcements of upcoming meetings are made 1 month ahead of the SIG meeting on the SIG collaborative space, except in unforeseen circumstances where a meeting is required at short notice.

Meeting agendas are posted at least 7 days ahead of the meeting.

Notes of discussion or minutes of each SIG meeting are published on the SIG collaborative space within 14 days of the meeting. These notes record the attendees present and any recommendations or actions agreed during the meeting.

Printed records of all SIG minutes of meeting shall be kept by the Public Education and Communications team.

Events

It is recommended that an event be given at least 6 weeks of marketing to maximise attendance rates. SIG Chair and Vice-Chair may liaise with the Public Education and Communications team to discuss suitable timeframes and viable ideas for event planning and execution.

Events should be included in a proposal or business plan at the start of the year.

Four (4) tiers of delegate charging for SIG events should exist as Society Member, SIG Member, Student Member, and Non-Member rate. Fees should be set incremental, with the Student Member rate being the least, and the Non-Member rate being the most.

Unless undertaking a role at the event (e.g., speaker, host, organiser), members of the SIG Steering Committee, Public Education and Communications team, and Council Members will be charged at the above tiers of attendance fee.

Revisions of Terms of Reference

These Terms of Reference may be periodically reviewed and revised as necessary and appropriate. All changes to these Terms of Reference must be formally approved in accordance with SPS procedures. Proposals for revision will usually only be considered for approval if supported by the SIGs Chair and Public Education and Communications Chair.