Overview

The Psychology Board of Australia is introducing a brand new Code of Conduct for psychologists, which will officially come into effect on 1 December 2025. The new code will be enforceable and admissible in legal proceedings, setting clear expectations for professional conduct, and it applies to all registered psychologists.

The College of Forensic Psychologists (SA Section) aims to support our members and colleagues in forensic and other areas of psychological practice to prepare for the transition, utilising specific expertise in regulatory law and practice.

• 1:00-2:45pm – Presentation on the new Code, including how it links in with the new competencies, followed by discussion & questions.
• 2:45-3:15pm - afternoon tea and networking
• 3:15-5:00pm - Presentation on how to minimise the risk of adverse outcomes if a complaint is made, with a particular focus on the forensic space (complexity of the cohort, increased risks around professional boundaries etc.), followed discussion & questions

Please let us know in advance if you have any specific questions you would like to raise, there will be ample opportunity for questions and discussion during the workshop.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this event, participants should be able to:

• Have an understanding of the new PsyBA code of conduct and its implications for their practice
• Be familiar with some of the most significant updates including cultural safety, clear expectations around professional boundaries and informed consent
• Be skilled to update documentation and audit your practice to check for compliance gaps in clinical, legal, and operational areas

Presenter(s)

Mr. David Gardner

About the presenter(s)

David Gardner is a solicitor with a special interest in health regulation. He began his career in commercial litigation before commencing with AHPRA, where he held a variety of positions including Senior Inspector for criminal prosecutions in NSW, manager of large investigative teams in SA and Victoria. A growing concern for how practitioners were dealt with by AHPRA led David to return to private practice, and in 2019 he started his firm Gardner Legal & Regulatory, with the aim of assisting health practitioners to navigate the regulatory space. Over a decade of witnessing the devastating effects a notification or complaint can have on practitioners pushed David to seek a more preventative solution. He identified a lack of CPD available for health practitioners on non-clinical topics, in areas where practitioners slipped up regularly. To help address that unmet need, he launched his education portal, Australian Health Professional Development (AHPD) in October 2024 and now provides both online learning, bespoke workshops and lectures for conferences around Australia.

Notes

Registration includes afternoon tea.

Parking: Please give yourself plenty of time for parking.

Target Audience

This event is aimed at all registered psychologists, particularly those working in complex areas where psychology and the law intersect.

CPD

It is up to attendees to assess and determine how learning from this event aligns with the requirements of their learning plan. The providers accordingly do not make any representation that the event counts towards attendees’ CPD learning requirements. If an attendee determines themselves that the learning they complete aligns to their learning plan, then they can decide to count those hours towards their CPD requirements for the registration cycle.

The information in this presentation has been prepared in good faith and for educational purposes only. Therefore, the information is general in nature and should not be relied upon in the treatment of any condition and you should seek your own independent professional and/or legal advice concerning any specific issue. The APS accepts no responsibility for any errors, omissions or decisions relating to the information. The content should not be reproduced without permission or unless permitted by law.

If you are experiencing registration difficulties please contact APS Events Support.