Prof. Sandy McFarlane

Speaker

Sandy McFarlane is currently the Director of The University of Adelaide's Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies. His area of specialty is the effects of traumatic stress and he is an international expert in the field of the impact of disasters and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He is a Past President of both the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies and the Australasian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. He is the recipient for the Robert Laufer Award for outstanding scientific achievement in the study of the effects of traumatic stress. In 2008, he was awarded the Organon Senior Research Award for the most significant contribution to psychiatric research in Australia during the preceding 5 years. He was also awarded the 11th recipient of the Founders Medal of the Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research awarded to individuals who have made a contribution of significance to psychiatric research over their entire career. He has held to role the Senior Adviser in Psychiatry to the Australian Defence Force, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health. He holds the rank of Group Captain in the RAAF specialist reserve. He has acted as an advisor to many groups in post disaster situations, including the Kuwait Government, and the United Nations. Professor McFarlane has lectured and run workshops in Europe, United States of America, Asia and South Africa. Apart from his interest in disaster victims, military personnel and other civilian accidents, he has significant experience in the provision of care to emergency service personnel. His research is supported by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the NHMRC program and partnership grants. He has published over 350 articles and chapters in various refereed journals and has co-edited three books. In 2011, he received the Officer of the Order of Australia award, which recognised his “outstanding contribution to medical research in the field of psychiatry, particularly posttraumatic stress disorders, to veterans’ mental health management, and as an author”. In 2012, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies. This award recognises years of service and leadership in the field of traumatic stress. In 2016, he became one of three Australians to be awarded on Honorary Fellowship of the American Psychiatric Association in recognition of his contributions to the field of traumatic stress.