13 June 2024
The first of the National Standards monthly meetings commenced on 5 June 2024. Johanna also continues to have regular meetings with representatives of the Department across a range of key projects and priorities.
"These monthly meetings represent crucial steps forward in achieving national standards for counsellors and psychotherapists," said Ms. de Wever. "PACFA is committed to working collaboratively with the Department of Health to ensure these standards are comprehensive, effective, and reflect the high level of professionalism within our profession."
Advocating for counsellors and psychotherapists
PACFA’s view is that the establishment of National Standards to address the entry-level requirements for Registered Counsellors is long overdue and will be critical in rebuilding sector confidence. This is essential to ensuring that counsellors, psychotherapists, and Indigenous Healing Practitioners can play their key role in the broader mental health workforce and provide important support for the community. PACFA is utilising the National Standards project to advocate for its registrants and to ensure that counsellors and psychotherapists are registered comparable to other Allied Health Professionals – not as a less trained or less valuable workforce.
PACFA is optimistic about the outcome of these monthly meetings and looks forward to continued collaboration with the Department of Health in developing a framework that benefits counsellors, psychotherapists, and the public they serve.
National Standards FAQs
What is the purpose of the National Standards project?
The purpose is to improve the utilisation of the counselling and psychotherapy workforce, both by employers and in private practice. This has led the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Division of the Federal Government’s Department of Health and Aged Care to develop National Standards for Counsellors and Psychotherapists, with the aim of providing a clear set of criteria for training and registration. Consultants Allen & Clarke have been funded to undertake this project.
What are the National Standards likely to be?
This is not yet known. The consultants are undertaking interviews and conversations with relevant experts, including PACFA and ACA, to inform recommendations.
When will the Standards be known?
Draft standards are expected to be released for discussion in the second half of 2024, with final standards to be provided to the Minister for Health for consideration in mid-2025.
What does ‘registration’ mean?
Registration means that an individual has been verified through a registration process to have the appropriate training and competency to work as a counsellor or psychotherapist. Registration ensures the specific educational and training requirements are met, including verification of qualifications, professional experience and adherence to ethical standards.
Currently, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) regulates 16 health professions under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (National Scheme), including Medical, Dental, Nursing and Midwifery, Optometry, Pharmacy and Psychology.
Self-regulated professions, like counselling, exists outside the National Scheme. PACFA is a member of the National Alliance of Self-Regulating Health Professions (NASRHP) and establishes standards (registration, accreditation, competencies) within the NASRHP framework.
Why is registration important?
Registration provides quality assurance, ensuring that counsellors and psychotherapists are properly trained and adhere to ethical standards. It also allows for accountability through professional conduct procedures.
PACFA registration signifies the practitioner's commitment to ethical practice as outlined in our Code of Ethics, and to working within our Scope of Practice.
- Public safety. Registration ensures public safety by verifying that registrants are safe and competent to practice, adhering to ethical guidelines and consequently safeguarding the public interest.
- Maintaining professional standards. Registration helps maintain professional standards by defining the scope of practice, ethics and codes of conduct, promoting a high level of professionalism and ensuring uniformity in the quality of care provided by PACFA registrants.
- Accountability. Registration ensures accountability via a complaints handling mechanism for those who do not meet professional or ethical standards, thereby assisting in upholding the integrity and reputation of the profession.
- Professional recognition. Registration provides professional recognition by enhancing a registrant’s credibility and employability through the recognition of their qualifications and competence.
- Legal and ethical assurance. Registration ensures legal and ethical assurance by requiring adherence to ethical guidelines and promoting responsible and lawful practice.
What is a ‘minimum standard’?
The minimum standard refers to the benchmark of training and other requirements that must be met for registration. PACFA’s minimum standard in terms of education and training, is set at an AQF Level 7 qualification.
Is this the same as Ahpra?
Ahpra oversees the regulatory functions across the professions registered under the National Scheme, which currently does not include counselling and psychotherapy. Self-regulated professions such as counselling and psychotherapy, that are not included in the National Scheme, are regulated by profession-specific associations like PACFA. Other self-regulated professions who are also members of NASRHP include speech pathology, social work, exercise physiology and dietetics.
What standard is PACFA advocating for?
PACFA is advocating for National Standards that match our registration standards. These are detailed in the standards on our website. Namely they include:
- All new registrants to hold AQF Level 7 or above qualifications in counselling or psychotherapy that meets our accreditation requirements.
- All registrants to meet our annual requirements including CPD and supervision.
- All registrants to complete our declarations and provide a Criminal History Check.
- All registrants to have appropriate insurance as outlined in our standards.
What will this mean for me?
This depends on individual qualifications and the final recommendations of the National Standards project. PACFA aims to ensure no disadvantage to its registrants and to increase opportunities for employment and rebates.
Overall, greater government confidence in the counselling and psychotherapy professions will potentially bring substantial opportunities for our registrants: greater employment through federal government (PHNs, Aged Care), greater employment in state government (schools, community health, hospitals, justice), increased rebates (NDIS, workers compensation, TAC, trauma, carer support), additional commercial rebates (Private Health Insurance) and much more.
Ultimately, the National Standards project has a lot to offer PACFA registrants and represents a tremendous opportunity.
What will this mean for counsellors with vocational training?
For many years, PACFA has not accepted counsellors with vocational training (AQF Level 5 and 6 Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas); however, we do have registrants who completed Diplomas before higher qualifications were widely available. We do not know how the National Standards will affect these registrants, however in similar situations, registrants with these qualifications and current registration have been ‘grandparented’ or given the opportunity to undertake ‘bridging training and practise’. PACFA will advocate for this treatment in recognition of their advanced skills and standing.
What is ‘grandparenting’?
‘Grandparenting’ allows for exemptions from newly introduced requirements for individuals with longstanding professional experience.
How does this relate to ‘regulation’ and ‘non-regulation’ and ‘self-regulation’?
The National Standards project will inform consideration of if any changes are required to the regulatory status of counselling and psychotherapy professions. PACFA is involved in discussions to inform and influence these developments.
How can I contribute to the development of the National Standards?
The consultation for the National Standards project has just opened. You can contribute in two ways:
- Complete the online survey. The online survey is a set of 21 questions that are a combination of multiple choice and open-ended.
- Send a written submission using the feedback form (email: [email protected]). The written feedback form has similar questions to the survey but allows respondents to complete the form offline and provide detailed written responses to each question.
These resources will be available until COB Friday 5 July 2024.
PACFA will continue to update its members on the progress and details of the National Standards project through various communication channels.