Professional practice

December 2016 | Dr Rebecca Mathews

Psychologists are increasingly moving away from working as solo practitioners to joining larger practices and working under a contracted arrangement. This development means that psychologists need to consider the business arrangements under which they are prepared to work and develop a thorough...

December 2016

Under Better Access, the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) states that item numbers can only be used for individuals with a mental disorder as defined by the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems-10 (ICD-10). However, on occasion psychologists will...

December 2016

The use of Skype to communicate with clients has advantages as it can help to overcome some of the barriers to accessing psychology services. This may be particularly important for people in rural and remote locations, where specific services are not available in the local area, or when someone...

October 2016 | Dr Rebecca Mathews

Establishing a mentoring arrangement can provide valuable support during pivotal times in one’s career. This might be as an early-career psychologist seeking support making the transition from student to working professional or as a more seasoned professional seeking to make a career...

October 2016

Psychologists are accustomed to the need to report back to the referring medical practitioner as part of the requirements for using the Better Access item numbers. A report is required when the client has completed the number of sessions as outlined in the referral. What is less well recognised...

October 2016

From 1 October 2016, new cosmetic surgery guidelines will apply that require all medical practitioners (including plastic surgeons, cosmetic surgeons and cosmetic physicians) to refer for psychological assessment prior to cosmetic surgery in some cases.The revised guidelines developed by the...

August 2016 | Dr Rebecca Mathews

“Establishing and maintaining clear professional boundaries is a key principle of ethical practice as a psychologist. To effectively manage professional boundaries as a psychologist requires vigilance and an awareness of where there may be risk of a boundary crossing or a boundary violation...

August 2016

For many psychologists providing services under Medicare, the majority of referrals are received from general practitioners (GP). However, psychiatrists and paediatricians can also refer individuals with an assessed mental disorder to a psychologist for a total of 10 individual services in a...

August 2016

Are you a principal psychologist in private practice with ‘employees’? Or, are you a psychologist engaged on the basis of being an ‘independent contractor’?If the answer is ‘yes’ to either question, you need to be aware that the distinction between &lsquo...