Dr Tony McHugh

Tony McHugh is the manager of Professional Practice (Public Sector & Non-Government Organisations) for the Australian Psychological Society. Until early 2015, he was the manager and principal psychologist for trauma-related mental health services at Austin Health, a major tertiary level hospital in Melbourne for over two decades. In these roles, Tony has been responsible for the set up and development of comprehensive psychological treatment programs for severely traumatised Australian Defence Force personnel, combat veterans and community groups, including police and other emergency services personnel.

Tony has also acted as a psychological advisor to the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health and the Transport Accident Commission of Victoria. He has provided considerable leadership in the area of emergencies and disasters since the Bali bombing and was instrumental in the three-year delivery of assessment and treatment services from Austin Health for those affected by the 2009 Victorian Bushfires.

Tony has routinely provided workshops across Australia on the psychological treatment of post-traumatic reactions, with a special focus on PTSD and posttraumatic anger. In the area of PTSD and anger he has recently submitted a PhD, as well as completed a number of peer reviewed publications.

Early in his professional career, he held a number of significant appointments, including assistant director for the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre and senior project officer in the (then) Victorian Office of Psychiatric Services.