Centre Director/ Mental Health therapist/Community Psychological Counsellor/ Mithrah Holistic Services
Dear Ministers Matt Keogh and Mark Butler, Attn: Hon PM Anthony Albanese and Hon MP Bill Shorten Concerns Regarding the Regulation of Counsellors in Australia I want to address concerns about the qualifications and regulation of counsellors in Australia, especially regarding self-regulating bodies like PACFA and ACA. While these associations are important, their standards may not align with those of regulated professions like psychology. Some members of PACFA and ACA seem to have only two years of qualifications, such as a direct Master's degree in counselling or psychotherapy, without a prior Bachelor's degree in the same field. In contrast, entry-level psychologists require a minimum of six years of accredited training. This raises concerns about the qualifications of clinical counsellors in these associations, as they may lack the clinical training required for psychologists. Currently, members of PACFA and ACA can become clinical counsellors without a specific degree in clinical counselling, unlike clinical psychologists who must complete a degree in clinical psychology. This situation raises questions about the integrity of the titles awarded by these associations, as some members may claim expertise without the necessary qualifications. My personal experiences highlight the need for clarity. I was supervised by an ACA member who was not actively practising at the time of questioning and had an exemption from the association for her OPD hours and supervision. This resulted in significant issues in my practice due to her lack of adherence to professional standards. Despite this, the ACA continued to list my supervisor as a registered practising counsellor. Issues like this could mislead clients about the status of the profesionals. These discrepancies raise serious concerns about the self-regulatory nature of associations such as ACA and their responsibility to ensure that members meet professional standards. Clients cannot fully trust the services offered by these self-regulating associations due to these inconsistencies. I urge the establishment of an independent regulatory body for counsellors and psychotherapists, similar to AHPRA. This would ensure that practitioners are evaluated based on qualifications rather than membership in self-regulating associations, enhancing public safety and service quality. While professional associations are important, their dual role as regulatory bodies can create an anti-competitive environment. Evidence shows that effective regulation enhances service quality and public trust (Baldwin & Cave, 1999). When associations hold too much power, it can lead to imbalances and anti-competitive behaviour. References: Baldwin, R., & Cave, M. (1999). Understanding Regulation: Theory, Strategy, and Practice. Oxford University Press. Websites: www.theaca.net.au www.pacfa.org.a www.psychology.org.au www.ahpra.gov.au www.psychologyboard.gov.au Healthcare agencies such as Medicare and Bupa to take note.
Business Owner/Air Traffic Controller/Board Member/Clinical Counsellor and Play Therapist/Mentor and Peer Supporting Officer/Human Factors Expert and Safety Specialist/Facilitator and Educator
Dear Ministers Matt Keogh and Mark Butler, Medicare does not recognise Australian counsellors because they are not considered regulated. However, PACFA and ACA have changed that. Social workers, for example, are approved as counsellors by Medicare. However, a Master of Social Work covers much less counselling theory and practicals than a Master of Counselling (Monash University, 2024). According to Vet Affairs, veterans could access counselling from a psychologist or psychiatrist. However, counsellors are not allowed to treat veterans. Fortunately, various major health funds allow membership rebates for PACFA and ACA-registered counsellors, covering other emergency services (PACFA, 2024). Why not Defence Health? As a counsellor, I have been forced to treat troubled veterans without compensation. The senior mental health advisor to the Department of Vet Affairs admitted that counsellors could be effective by offering a range of evidence-based interventions. TF-CBT, CPT, CT, prolonged exposure, and EMDR are all therapies that reduce PTSD. Counsellors effectively treat interpersonal and relational difficulties, parenting, mood, and transition issues that may affect veterans (Poerio, 2022). The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2023) found that barriers to veterans accessing mental health care, such as long waiting times, lack of availability, cost, and quality of care, were evident. The Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme examined the impact of military service on the mental, physical and social health of serving and ex-serving Defence Force members and found that veterans had higher rates of mental disorders than the general population. It also found that veterans experienced difficulties in accessing mental health services, such as long waiting times, complex processes, and limited options (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2020). Then why not use the long list of capable and experienced counsellors to address the crisis? There is a need to improve the mental health care of veterans. Under Medicare, counsellors could be an immediate solution, offering more flexibility and choice for veterans by improving the accessibility and availability of mental health professionals. I would like you to recognise this highly skilled workforce. Kind regards. References: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Health of veterans. (2023). https://lnkd.in/eeVWiZxp Department of Veterans Affairs. (2020). Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme. https://lnkd.in/ecqZn9cB Monash University. (2024). Retrieved January 22, 2024, from https://lnkd.in/emz_g5zp PACFA. (2024). Private Health Funds. Retrieved January 23, 2024, from https://lnkd.in/eyi8ssmP Poerio, L. (2022). Let’s talk about posttraumatic stress disorder. https://lnkd.in/ebJ8BKhd.
Shyamala Dhamarla
10mo
Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA) Australian Psychological Society (APS) Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPi) Australian Counselling Association Bringing transparency and truth. #social_justice #SayNotoOrgansiationalBullying "Professionals should work in mutual respect. Professionalism must be an extension of humanity."
Dear Shyamala (Part 2), The ACA states that a member must ensure their supervisor complies with minimum ACA requirements. Therefore, I would argue that the unqualified supervisor was an oversight on your end. As for the bullying you experienced, I am sorry if it happened, and I hope that you found the appropriate support to get through your ordeal. The ACA has a new CEO, and I got along with both CEOs without issues. However, I cannot speak on anyone else behalf, and I do believe that experiences can be different. My experiences with the ACA and PACFA have been very professional, and I will have difficulty believing that they don’t take any actions against members who do not comply with their requirements. Have you taken any issues up with their management? In my experience, both these organisations know that they are under heavy scrutiny now and will take swift action if there is any transgression of their requirements. Kind regards. References: ACA. (2024). Membership. Retrieved January 29, 2024, from https://www.theaca.net.au/becoming-a-member.php PACFA. (2024). Eligibility criteria. Retrieved January 29, 2024, from https://pacfa.org.au/portal/Portal/Membership/Join-PACFA/Eligibility.aspx
Dear Shyamala (Part 1), My original post never stated that PCFA and the ACA are not self-regulated. As counsellors, there is no choice other than self-regulation because the government is not accepting counsellors as a treatment option for those struggling with mental health-related problems. Thus, nothing in my letter was inaccurate. I am afraid that your observation about not qualified members is incorrect. The ACA (2024) states, “All levels of AQF qualifications must be in counselling/psychotherapy or an ACA Accredited course to be eligible to apply for ACA membership”. These qualifications range from a Diploma in Counselling to a PhD (academic membership only). That excludes the hundreds of hours of supervision and counselling that are required. PACFA (2024) stated that they need a member to have completed a bachelor’s degree or above in counselling and have completed at least within the course, a minimum of 400 hours of instruction in counselling/psychotherapy-specific subjects and at least 40 hours of client contact, and 10 hours of supervision. Thus, I challenge you on the first statement.
Centre Director/ Mental Health therapist/Community Psychological Counsellor/ Mithrah Holistic Services
10moDear @ACA members, this post is not against you. This is to educate what self-regulated professional associations can do if they do not agree with someone. They may use their power and bureaucracy to harm the individuals and professionals who may challenge them without any involvement of any legal system. I advocate for equity for all counsellors and firmly oppose the idea of bullying and harassment that I was subjected to. Please raise questions to the ACA and ensure the ACA is safe for all counsellors to join. I hope the ACA members bring transparency and respect to every counsellor. Thank you.