The Psychology Board of Australia (the Board) consulted on updating the competencies for general registration as a psychologist in Australia. The Board was seeking feedback on whether to maintain the current competencies or adopt updated professional competencies for psychologists.
The purpose of the professional competencies is to describe the threshold competencies for initial and continuing registration as a psychologist in Australia. They articulate the minimum knowledge, skills, abilities, behaviours, values, and other attributes required to allow an individual to practise safely and effectively as a psychologist.
The APS response to this consultation was based on member feedback and supported the adoption of the updated competencies. Members provided positive feedback about the proposed professional competencies for general registration and commended the inclusion of Competency 7: Demonstrates a health equity and human rights approach when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, families and communities, and expansion of Competency 8: Demonstrates a health equity and human rights approach when working with people from diverse groups.
APS feedback included recommendations to:
- Modify some of the descriptors within the competencies,
- Provide explicit information about CPD to ensure currently registered psychologists are able to meet the updated competency standards, and
- Define and provide examples for new terminology, e.g., reflexivity.
A common theme in member feedback included the need for greater specificity around the profession of psychology. As they stand, many of the proposed updated competencies and their descriptors do not adequately distinguish psychology from other health professions.
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