Regulation, Ethics and Standards
In Australia, the psychology profession is regulated by the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act. The Psychology Board of Australia is the National Board for the psychology profession that has been established under this Act.
The Psychology Board of Australia has adopted the Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics for the profession. All psychologists (including provisionally registered psychologists) are bound by these standards and ethical codes.
The Psychology Board of Australia has developed standards and guidelines to clarify the Board’s view and expectations and provide guidance to the profession on a variety of issues including currency of practice and professional development requirements.
Education and Training
The Board requires all approved training programs to be accredited. Accreditation for psychology programs is completed by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
To meet full registration with the Board, the minimum set of competencies that constitute a baseline for all psychology roles must be met. These are:
- Discipline knowledge
- Ethical, legal and professional
- Psychological assessment and measurement
- Intervention strategies
- Research and evaluation
- Communication and interpersonal relationships
- Working within a cross-cultural context
- Practice across the lifespan
Psychologists in training are provisionally registered and are required to undertake placements. In addition, they must be supervised by Psychology Board accredited supervisors, who have undertaken Board-approved training in competency-based supervision.
Useful Resources
- Supervisor Training and Approval Program (STAP) provide training and accreditation services for psychologists that meet the requirements for supervision training as set out by the Psychology Board of Australia
