Find a Balint Group
Balint groups meet in many places in Australia and New Zealand, including Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Hobart, Perth, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Nelson, Dunedin.There is also a growing network of online groups, a boon for practitioners in remote areas. Over fifty groups are known to be meeting throughout Australasia. Group leaders of all groups listed on this page are all accredited Balint leaders or experienced leaders enrolled in the Balint Society Leadership Accreditation Pathway.
Note: When you are ready to list your group please contact this page’s editor at hilarya@netspace.net.au
Online groups – Join from any country
Tuesday morning
Meeting times: Tuesday, 8am to 9.40am AEST – second Tuesday each month, Feb-Dec inclusive
Leaders : Chel Quinn & Kerrie Collings-Silvey from Brisbane
Group participants: Rural or remote mental health clinicians
Vacancies: Spaces available in 2020
Flyer: Tuesday morning group
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Tuesday evening doctors group
Meeting times: First Tuesday each month, 7:30 to 9:30 pm NZDST 5.30 – 7.30 pm AEDST 4.30 – 6.30 pm AEST
Vacancies: 2 spaces
Contact: Dr John Barton john@johnbarton.net.nz
Current membership: GPs, psychiatrist, an O&G doctor
More info: opportunity for doctors in places where there is no Balint group
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Wednesday evening
Meeting times: Second Wednesday each month – 7.30-9.30 pm NZT 5.30 – 7.30 pm AEDST, 4.30 – 6.30 pm AEST
Leaders: Dr Di Nash drdinash@gmail.com Amanda Garland amanda.garland@gmail.com
Flyer: NZ and Australian Online Balint group
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Thursday early evening (starting 2020)
Meeting times: Thursday, 5-6.30pm AEST/AEDT – monthly meetings
Vacancies: yes – new group
Leaders: Kerrie Collings-Silvey kcollings.silvey@bigpond.com & Hilary Ash hilscounselling@gmail.com
Group participants: Principally for practitioners in remote areas or in solo practices
Info flyer: Thursday evening online
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Thursday evening medical students group
Meeting times: Thursday, 7pm, fortnightly from March 2020
Vacancies: 1 or possibly 2 places
Leader: Alexa Gilbert-Obrart
Contact: alexagilbertobrart@gmail.com
More info: Previously established Zoom group 2018, face-to-face group 2019
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Face to Face groups
Australia
NSW
Kiama
Meeting times: Wednesday 7.30-9pm monthly
Vacancies: yes
Leader: Dr Andrew McKensey
Contact: https://www.mind-works.com.au/balint-groups
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Sydney – St Leonards
Meeting times: Thursdays, Weekly 2.30 -3.30pm
Vacancies: 2 places in an established group of 7
Leader: Leonie Sullivan
Contact: lesull@optusnet.com.au
Group members: mixed group mental health professionals (medical and non medical)
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Sydney – St Leonards
Meeting times: Saturdays, Monthly 9.30-11.am
Vacancies: group of 8 has been running for 5 years and would welcome other members
Leader: Leonie Sullivan
Contact: lesull@optusnet.com.au
Group members: Mental and other health professionals, (Psychiatrist, registrars, psychologists, social workers)
Other info: If oversubscribed another group can be arranged, face to face or online. Leonie as been running online groups since 2010, and is always happy to start another.
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Queensland
Brisbane
Meeting times: Monthly meeting on Saturday, 9 – 11 am AEST
Address: Suite 16, Ground Floor, Ballow Chambers, 121, Wickham Terrace
Vacancies:
Leaders: Kerrie Collings-Silvey & Chel Quinn
Contact: kcollings.silvey@bigpond.com
More info: Brisbane Case-Based Reflective Practice Monthly Group
Group members: Mental Health Professionals
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Victoria
Elsternwick
Meeting times in 2020: 5.50-7.30pm – 3rd Tuesdays, Feb-Nov (10 meetings)
Vacancies: 1 or 2 spaces
Leader: Hilary Ash
Contact: hilarya@netspace.net.au
More info: Elsternwick 2020 flyer
Group members: mental health practitioners
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Elsternwick
Meeting times in 2020: Wednesday 12.50-2.30pm – 10 meetings, Feb-Nov
Vacancies: yes, 2 or 3 spaces
Leaders: Ruth Dunn & Hilary Ash
More info: Elsternwick 2020 flyer
Contact: hilarya@netspace.net.au
Group members: Mental health practitioners
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Footscray
Meeting times: Monthly, Monday/Tuesday lunchtimes.
Leader: Ruth Dunn
Group members: COHEALTH GPs.
Contact: Ruth Dunn at ruthdunn@ozemail.com.au
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Frankston
Meeting times: 1st Tuesday of the month 8-9.30 a.m. – Feb to Dec
Vacancies: waiting list only for new members
Contact: Dr Sue Boucher sue@genn.com.au
More info: group running for over 10 years
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Geelong
Meeting times: Monthly on Wednesdays 10-11.30am
Leaders: Dr Joy Humphreys & Ruth Dunn
Group members: Mental Health Professionals.
Contact: Dr Joy Humphreys at joy@humphreysgroup.com.au
Other info: Auspiced by MHPN
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Hawthorn
Meeting times: Monthly on Tuesdays 5.30-7pm.
Leaders: Dr Bill Betts & Ruth Dunn
Group participants: GPs, psychologists and other health professionals.
Vacancies: Currently no vacancies.
Contact: Ruth Dunn at ruthdunn@ozemail.com.au
More info: Auspiced by MHPN
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Hawthorn East
Meeting times: Monthly, first Friday, 12.30-2.00pm
Vacancies: Can usually accommodate new members.
Leaders: Ethel Tillinger & Dr Michael Fitzgerald
Contact: Ethel Tillinger ethelt@ithacainstitute.com.au
Group members: Multidisciplinary group including GPs and other mental health practitioners
Fees: $350 per year
More info: Auspiced by MHPN
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Heidelberg
Meeting times: monthly on Tuesdays from 12.30 – 2 pm preceded by a light lunch.
Vacancies: Can usually accommodate new members.
Leader: Marion Lustig,
Contact: Marion Lustig on 0407342882 or marion-lustig@bigpond.com
Group participants: multi-disciplinary group of 9 including GPs and a variety of mental health professionals.
More info: Eligible for RACGP small Group Learning points. Group running for 16 years, affiliated with MHPN.
Marion, a psychiatrist and psychoanalytic psychotherapist, formerly a GP, has been leading Balint groups for 21 years, She is available for new groups in Melbourne area and via Zoom.
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Kensington
Meeting times: Monthly on Tuesday lunchtimes.
Leader: Ruth Dunn
Group members: COHEALTH GPs
Contact: Ruth Dunn ruthdunn@ozemail.com.au
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St Kilda
Meeting times: second Friday of each month from 9.30 – 11am
Leader: Joy Humphreys
Group participants: Organisational Consultants’ Balint group
More info: joy@humphreysgroup.com.au
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Western Australia
Perth
Meeting times: third Monday each month, 7.20 for 7.30 pm start
Vacancies: yes
Leader: Judy Griffiths
Contact: judygriffiths@gmail.com
Group participants: General Practitioners
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Perth
Meeting times: fourth Monday each month, 7.20 for 7.30 pm start
Vacancies: yes
Leader: Judy Griffiths
Contact: judygriffiths@gmail.com
Group participants: doctors and mental health practitioners
New Zealand
Auckland – Mt Albert
Meeting times: Second Tuesday of the month 7.30 – 9.30 pm – 11 sessions per year
Vacancies: 2 spaces
Leaders: Dr John Barton & Dr Renske van den Brink
Contact: Renske renske42@gmail.com 021 101 3224
Group members: multi-disciplinary (inc physios, podiatrist, GPs, psychotherapist)
Cost: $60 per session
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Auckland – Mt Eden
Meeting times: First Tuesday of the month 7- 9 pm – 11 sessions per year
Vacancies: 2 spaces
Leaders: Prue Bonifant & Dr Renske van den Brink
Contact: Renske 0211013224 renske42@gmail.com
Group members: multi-disciplinary (inc physios, homeopath, GPs, social worker, hypnotherapist, psychotherapist)
Cost: $60 per session
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Christchurch – Spreydon
Meeting times: Tuesday 7.30 – 9pm 4 weekly
Vacancies: One space available for 2019
Leader: Jayne Hubble, Registered Psychotherapist
Contact: Jayne Hubble jayne.hubble@gmail.com 021 150 5169
Flyer: YES
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Dunedin – Otago
Meeting times: Friday 0800-1000, every 4 weeks
Vacancies: currently none
Group Leaders: Hamish Wilson & Richard O’Neill-Dean
Contact: Hamish Wilson Hamish.wilson@otago.ac.nz 021 267 6994
Group members: Mixed heath professional group: GPs, psychiatrist, therapists