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Did You Know? Governing Bodies

Did You Know? Governing Bodies

by Howie Ng

Governing Bodies

In Australia, Organisational Psychology is associated with a number of professional bodies. Governing bodies make decisions that impact on the profession and serve as regulatory authorities. They include the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, Psychology Board of Australia and Australian Psychology Accreditation Council.

Representative bodies promote and advocate on behalf of the profession, represent member needs and provide continuing professional development (CPD). The Society for Industrial and Organisational Psychology Australia is a representative body. As we only represent the interests and needs of Industrial and Organisational Psychology in Australia, we are able to strongly advocate on behalf of the profession.

AUSTRALIAN HEALTH PRACTITIONER REGULATION AGENCY

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) supports the 14 National Boards in their role of protecting the public and setting standards and policies that all registered health practitioners must meet. AHPRA and the National Boards work together to register and renew health practitioners and, where required, investigate complaints or concerns regarding health practitioners.

AHPRA’s operations are governed by the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law which came into effect on 1 July 2010. This law applies in each Australian state and territory, and is sometimes referred to as ‘the National Law’.

PSYCHOLOGY BOARD OF AUSTRALIA

To practice as a psychologist in Australia, you MUST be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA), one of the 14 National Boards managed by AHPRA. All health practitioners registered to practise are included on the national register of practitioners.

The core role of the PsyBA is to protect the public. They make sure that only practitioners who have the skills and qualifications to provide safe care and psychological services to the Australian community are registered to practise.

The functions of the PsyBA include:

  • registering psychologists and provisional psychologists;
  • developing standards, codes and guidelines for the psychology profession;
  • handling notifications, complaints, investigations and disciplinary hearings;
  • assessing overseas trained practitioners who wish to practise in Australia; and,
  • approving accreditation standards and accredited courses of study.

AUSTRALIAN PSYCHOLOGY ACCREDITATION COUNCIL

The Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) is an independent, not-for-profit quality and standards organisation. APAC’s mission is to protect the public by conducting accreditation activities that ensure graduates of accredited programs receive a high quality education and are well equipped to employ their psychology knowledge and skills in the community.

REPRESENTATION INDUSTRY BODIES

The Society for Industrial and Organisational Psychology Australia (SIOPA) is an independent and incorporated association founded in November 2016. SIOPA is an industry group that represents Organisational Psychologists and the discipline of Industrial and Organisational Psychology in Australia. The purpose of SIOPA is to create growth, supervision and professional development opportunities for Organisational Psychologists in Australia.

You do not have to be a member of a representative industry body, such as SIOPA, or any other national industry group or association to be registered as a Psychologist with AHPRA. However, we recommend that you connect with your community and promote and support it where you can. The representative bodies provide many services including professional development and networking opportunities.

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