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GANZ developed from the coming together of existing Gestalt groups; the Gestalt training centres in Australia and New Zealand. These geographically distant and largely disconnected groups began a dialogue together about how to build support, encourage connection and foster a greater sense of community. From the very beginning of GANZ there has been the desire for the development of a lively, diverse, connected and welcoming community of Gestalt practitioners. Inclusion and a respect for difference continue to be core and guiding values of GANZ.
It is a challenge to manifest community across six states, two territories and two countries. The most tangible gathering of the GANZ community is the biennial GANZ Conference; but even this only involves some of the many members of GANZ. One tangible way aspiring and graduated Gestalt practitioners gather is around the centres that provide accredited GANZ education and training courses. In these places Gestalt is taught and practiced, trainees and trainers come face to face and graduates return for ongoing professional development.
These education and training centres are duly acknowledged as the heart and soul of GANZ; they are the meeting places, the centres of activity and the breeding grounds for the next generation of practitioners. Ably led by a dedicated and generous group called the DOTS (Directors of Training) and training faculty they are understandably the places of affinity and loyalty to which many GANZ members primarily identify.
A challenge for GANZ is to compliment these centres of activity and affinity, which are independent of GANZ and primarily gathering places for students, with community groups, which are more directly connected to GANZ and gathering places for Gestalt practitioners. There are several initiatives being strengthened and implemented to achieve this goal:
- To more directly identify professional development activities in centres with GANZ approved courses, with PD hours for GANZ membership renewal (look for the new GANZ Approved Professional Development logo on courses you attend).
- To establish and reenergise geographical groups that provide a place of gathering and PD activities directly under the GANZ banner (i.e. country, state and territory based GANZ groups).
- To advertise and facilitate the development of specific interest groups for GANZ members (see community groups).
- To encourage the development of role based groups related to specific professional activities (see community groups).
- To increase the immediacy and amount of interaction between GANZ members (see electronic newsletter “Connect” and member forums).
The GANZ council has establishment a dedicated Chair of Community Development and Liaison with a committee to advance to goals of the GANZ council in these areas. This work is in a developmental phase and any ideas or feedback that you have is welcome; maybe you would like to become involved in the committee?
Committee Community Development and Liaison:
Chair: Gabe Phillips gabephillips@ganz.org.au
Sally Brooks
Brenda Levien