The APS provides a comprehensive information and advisory service for members via phone, email and the website. The ‘Ask APS’ telephone and email advisory services respond to a large number of member queries, ranging from professional practice and ethical concerns and dilemmas to membership questions and study information. Advice is provided by experienced psychologists and other skilled National Office staff through the APS Professional Advisory Service, the Member Assistance Centre and Psych Student HQ (the student web pages).
During another rapidly changing year for psychology, the APS has responded to a large number of member queries associated with: changes to regulatory requirements made by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA); changes to the session allowance under the Better Access initiative; 2013 Federal Budget measures affecting psychologists, primarily the proposed cap on the higher education tax deduction; Medicare compliance audits; eHealth records processes; and developments in higher education.
The APS Professional Advisory Service responded to over 6,000 member queries in the 2012-13 financial year, with the highest number of enquiries relating to (in descending order):
- Professional practice dilemmas, frequently associated with aspects of assessment and treatment
- Legal issues, particularly mandatory reporting requirements
- Confidentiality and privacy queries
- Third party providers, such as Veterans Affairs and workers compensation/motor accident schemes, and psychological assessment/treatment arrangements
- PsyBA notification processes and issues associated with complaints made against psychologists
- Contracting and employment arrangements
- Ethical dilemmas including boundaries and multiple relationship concerns.
The APS Member Assistance Centre responded to over 4,000 member queries in the 2012-13 financial year, with the highest number of enquiries relating to (in descending order):
- Ending of the transition period for PsyBA area of practice endorsement eligibility arrangements
- Mandatory supervisor training requirements introduced by the PsyBA
- PsyBA continuing professional development (CPD) requirements clarification
- Ending of the use of specialist titles in Western Australia
- Online CPD logging assistance.
The Member Assistance Centre and the Psych Student HQ website also fielded a large number of enquiries from students which clustered around the following themes:
- Fourth year and postgraduate psychology studies entry requirements
- 4+2 and 5+1 PsyBA internship requirements
- Provisional registration requirements
- The competitiveness of gaining entry to postgraduate studies and how to improve selection chances
- APS advocacy in relation to the decreasing number of internship opportunities.
How to contact Ask APS
Phone: (03) 8662 3300 or toll free 1800 333 497
Website: www.psychology.org.au/askaps/
Email:
Disclaimer: Published in InPsych on October 2013. The APS aims to ensure that information published in InPsych is current and accurate at the time of publication. Changes after publication may affect the accuracy of this information. Readers are responsible for ascertaining the currency and completeness of information they rely on, which is particularly important for government initiatives, legislation or best-practice principles which are open to amendment. The information provided in InPsych does not replace obtaining appropriate professional and/or legal advice.