Christian Cousellors Association of Australia

Current News

19 Sep - Latest advice from CCAA

  • by Rob Salmon, CCAA National Secretary

PACFA has also begun negotiations with ACA to begin a process of collaborating together, which will be one of the requirements of the Government in order to regulate the counselling and psychotherapy areas. This has been a wonderful step in being inclusive rather than exclusive and will pave the way ahead. It does not mean a watering down of requirements of counselling and training standards, but an understanding that, due to the diversity of counsellors and psychotherapists, there needs to be a structure which includes all persons. The numbers of people who call themselves these titles vary from no formal training to those with significant training in the Post Graduate area.

PACFA is also seeking, at Government request, to set up an independent register of all counsellors and psychotherapists, which will be part of the work with ACA. A working party will consist of a member from each section of the PACFA Register as well as delegates from PACFA and ACA and an independent Chair. The new organisation is called Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists Pty Ltd (ARCAP). How this register will look finally is still in the discussion stage, but it has been proposed that it would have four divisions –

  1. Clinical counsellors and psychotherapists (PACFA clinical level members);
  2. Professional counsellors and psychotherapists (ACA highest level counsellors);
  3. Other Affiliated division consisting of counselling supervisors, trainee counsellors and International counsellors; and finally
  4. Training division which have corporate members.

Those who are Clinical members will be able to call themselves ‘ARCAP Counsellor (PACFA), which will a registered trademark. PACFA believes this will be a great step towards recognition by the Government. The issue of Medicare rebates is further down the track, but they are moving towards this end.

Recently PACFA Registry has sent out a letter via email asking for some further details from each Clinical and Graduate member for inclusion on the Register. There are a few simple questions to be filled out and returned to PACFA as soon as possible. There maybe some hiccups with incorrect addresses, but PACFA are endeavouring to contact these people and find out the correct details. However if you have not received this letter from Caroline at PACFA, please contact me (rsalmon@adelaide.tabor.edu.au) and I will do the necessary follow ups.

Currently there may be some who have remained at the Associate level although they may have the necessary criteria to become a Graduate or Clinical member. We do have a cut-off with PACFA to have all our Graduate and Clinical details to them for entry - December 31st 2008, after which PACFA will charge a $99 fee for listing. Therefore you will need to complete your paperwork ASAP to ensure that this process can happen. Remember that it does take some time at State level to process applications, so we suggest that you contact your state membership representative if you intend to apply.

Insurance for members on the Register has been organised by PACFA with Rowland House at considerable savings at all levels of cover, there has been even further savings organised this year. It has been quite amazing that Insurance is costing up to 50% less than it was 5 years ago. Simply register online at www.einsurance.com.au (takes about 4 minutes). This will open a secure online account for you and you can then login and purchase (takes about 5 minutes). As soon as you purchase, Rowland House will email you a certificate, schedule and policy wording.

We trust that this information will keep you informed of some the exciting changes happening within our association, and we look forward to your continued involvement. The amount of change that is happening at this time makes writing a report difficult. Therefore do continue to check out both CCAA’s and PACFA’s website to gain the latest information as it comes to hand. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to Contact Us.

18 Sep - Sydney - Rooms for rent - Christian therapists

Professional rooms (each 4.7 x 3.2 m) for rent in Oatlands/North Parramatta in small shopping centre in quiet suburban street. Access by arterial roads is excellent. Generous parking in front of office. Clients can access a waiting room with private kitchen and toilets. Flexible rent. Enquiries via webmaster@ccaa.net.au.

20 June - A Government response to PACFA and ACA representations

In response to the recent discussions of PACFA and ACA with government representatives, a letter explaining the Government's position has been received. Read it here

May - Professional Status - Views from AARC

CCAA's views on professional status have been well echoed by a fellow PACFA Member Association.

  • by Eric Hudson, President of AARC (Australian Association of Relationship Counsellors) – May 2008

How do we together promote our professional status as counsellors and psychotherapists? How do we achieve this, not only in the minds of the community who use our services, but also in the minds of our governments who impact directly on the professional status of practitioners by acknowledging some professionals but discriminating against others?

One of the enduring inequalities that exists is the way that some practitioners are supported and acknowledged (e.g. by GST exemptions and Medicare provisions) and other equally qualified, experienced and skilled practitioners, are sidelined. But speaking honestly, sometimes I think, as counsellors and psychotherapists, we have been our own worst enemies in the important process of gaining professional recognition. We may think of ourselves as professionals who provide legitimate services, and we may complain that others fail to recognize us as professionals. But have we been guilty of sitting back in our workplaces, carrying on with our own counselling practice, and not being involved actively in advancing our own professional status or the status of our professional association.

It has been somewhat startling to me as I have conducted some ‘accidental research’ to discover that some counsellors do not in fact belong to a professional association at all. I find it difficult to understand why some practitioners consider membership of a professional association to be an optional extra. I also find it difficult to understand why some do not work to advance to the highest level of membership available to them within their association. It is also surprising that workplaces frequently recruit counselling staff without enquiring about, or insisting upon, membership of a professional association.

The oft-repeated cry ‘what does the Association do for me?’ is such a recurring theme from so many members. This too is surprising, as though a counselling association such as AARC or others like it exists like a club or social group, to provide services to its members. Surely, belonging to a professional association that establishes membership criteria and accreditation, minimum training standards, ethical guidelines, complaints processes, and provides opportunities for professional development, is doing what we most need it to do: working to establish the professional status and legitimacy of its members.

If we want to be considered professionals then we must act in a professional manner. We must consider a base level of training credentials as essential. We must be committed to ongoing supervision and professional development. We must be willing to be accountable for these processes. We must be willing to submit ourselves to rigorous and thorough complaints processes which establish, administer and promote our ethical standards.

I find it concerning that some counsellors and psychotherapists are prepared to practice without belonging to a professional body. Perhaps more disturbing still are those who are willing to practice without adequate supervision. People who consider themselves to be ‘highly qualified professionals’ who seem to believe they are so skilled that they no longer require the valuable opportunity to look honestly at their own work and the blind spots that could be operating. Supervision is most certainly not an optional extra, but an essential part of professional practice. It is also a fundamental requirement of all professional associations specifically because of the safety network it provides for practitioners and clients alike. With attitudes like this is it any wonder that as a group, counsellors and psychotherapists find it difficult to establish professional credibility with governments. This is essentially an issue of professional responsibility and accountability.

A professional association will ensure that members have met minimum training standards, maintain consistent supervision of their work, and participate regularly in professional development activities. These activities are fundamental requirements for ethical practice. This means that consumers can ask confidently about the professional standards of the practitioner they wish to use. How many people would be prepared to take their car for repairs to a backyard mechanic who has no evidence of training or monitoring of standards of workmanship? How many of us would employ the services of a trade specialist without wanting to see evidence of training and standards; or even go to a dentist, or a doctor, without wanting evidence of their professional competence?

If you are not a member of any professional body, then perhaps now is the time to take the important step of joining one. This is the first step to being a responsible and accountable profession.