We advance the discipline and profession of psychology for the benefits of the communities we serve.

Setting psychology ethics

This work begins with the APS Code of Ethics, the gold-standard in psychological ethics, which protects the public by defining the professional expectations for all psychologists working in Australia. An Ethics Committee oversees a complaints process relating to breaches of this Code by members.

The APS supports the Code of Ethics with a growing range of ethics resources, including 28 up-to-date ethical guidelines on a range of important professional issues and 11 other ethical resources. These provide expert guidance to psychologists to ensure best practice in their work and this year included a new ethical guideline on working with men and boys.

Improving access to psychology

The APS works actively to increase access to psychological services in Australia. This year the APS continued to make the case for broader access to psychological services through primary health networks, community-based mental health services, the aged care and disability sectors, business and non-for-profit entities.

Promoting best practice psychology

The APS negotiates with organisations that work with or employ psychologists in Australia to facilitate greater access, raise awareness of the role of psychology, promote best practice use of psychology and influence policy. This helps to ensure psychologists are empowered to provide evidence-based care in line with their robust ethical obligations for the benefit of the community. This advocacy encompasses work with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, the Department of Human Services, Departments of Education, Centrelink, health services, workers compensation schemes, the private health insurance industry and other organisations.

Contributing expertise

The APS puts the expert insights provided by psychology and psychologists at the disposal of the community by serving on important committees and organisations. In 2018 this included the Mental Health Reform Stakeholders Group, Mental Health Research Roundtable, Australian Allied Health Forum, National Health Performance Authority and the National Aged Care Alliance. Through its close involvement with the Mental Health Professionals Network and Allied Health Professions Australia, among other organisations, the APS continues its leadership role in the mental health and allied health sectors.

Advocating for quality regulation

As an association with unrivalled insights into the work of psychologists the APS advocates with the Psychology Board of Australia to promote regulatory arrangements that support the diverse psychology workforce and ensure excellence and client safety. This year the APS provided input into consultations relating to the national psychology examination, supervisor training and the retiring 4+2 pathway. 

Influencing education standards

The APS works actively to ensure the quality and sustainability of psychology education in Australia. Through its work with the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), the APS has contributed to the successful review of accreditation standards for psychology programs. These standards will unlock greater flexibility and opportunities within psychology education and training.

Pioneering innovative training

Our own Professional Development is a trusted education provider which devises and delivers innovative training online and around Australia. As well as offering a range of supervisor training, the Professional Development offers innovative modules that upskill the psychology workforce in areas of key need, including practice certificates on sleep psychology and disaster support.  The Professional Development facilitated 28 webinars over the course of the year, which brought interactive, professional development within reach of psychologists and all other health professionals.

Supporting aspiring psychologists

The APS also supports the new generation of psychologists with free or reduced price APS membership for students and a range of events for students and early career psychologists. Our information hubs Student HQ and the APS Early Career Hub provide guidance for those seeking to navigate their way through education and training to full registration as a psychologist.

International recognition

Australian psychologists enjoy a global voice and recognition among international peers through the APS’s active membership of organisations such the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP) and the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS).  The APS also works closely with other national bodies globally including the British Psychological Society and the American Psychological Association to ensure the voices of Australian psychologists are recognised globally.

Supporting Indigenous psychology

The APS continues to support Indigenous psychologists and psychology in Australia, via our support of the Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association, secretariat support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advisory Group and the long-running Bendi Lango bursary, awarded to Madelyne Hudson-Buhagiar in 2018.