Our History

Professor Wendy Harding is conferred as NIODA’s first Dean. Professor Emerit Susan Long is honoured during a fitting celebration of a life-time of achievement. Sally Mussared is appointed CEO.

Approval to offer a Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Management (Organisation Dynamics) extending students study options.

Approval to offer a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). An important milestone for systems psychodynamic work in Australia. Live interactive online classes enabling global student access.

Dr Judy Kent is appointed Board of Governance Chair as Seth Thomasson retires to join the academic staff.

Professor Emerit John Newton conferred – a fitting tribute to an extraordinarily gifted career that has profoundly impacted organisations.

NIODA’s first Master of Leadership and Management (Organisation Dynamics) Graduation Ceremony.

Approval of registration as an Institute of Higher Education and accreditation of Master of Leadership and Management (Organisation Dynamics) course. This is testament to the value of systems psychodynamic work and the begining of another exciting journey.

Establishment of NIODA Consulting, led by Dr Brigid Nossal.

The very successful three year professional development program ‘Leadership, Management and Organisation Dynamics’ began.

NIODA delivered a range of organisation dynamics workshops and seminars. Hosted the Annual ISPSO Symposium in Melbourne.

Established NIODA to ensure continuity of systems psychodynamic education in Australia into the forseable future, including program development, research and discipline growth. RMIT shifted the organisation dynamics programs to the School of Management which favoured a more generic Master of Management course. The programs at the time were fully enrolled and their reputations high amongst students, alumni and their organisations.

Dr Wendy Harding became Director of the RMIT organisation dynamics master course.

Swinburne shifted focus to entrepreneurial business education and the programs moved to RMIT. The Creative Organisational Systems Group was founded at RMIT. This group included the organisation dynamics masters, led by Associate Professor John Newton, the Professional Doctorate program, led by Professor Susan Long, and the Innovation and Service Management program led by Associate Professor Mike Faris. Links with the global community of systems psychodynamic educators and practitioners developed. International program visitors, and strong representation in internal bodies culminating in Susan Long’s presidency of the International Society for the Psychoanalytical Study of Organisations (ISPSO).

Formal education in systems psychodynamics was founded in Australia at Swinburne University, Melbourne by Associate Professor John Newton. Over the next 20 years John, and from 1990, Professor Susan Long developed a suite of organisation dynamics postgraduate degrees ranging from a Graduate Certificate through to Professional Doctorate and PhD level.