Managing clients at risk of suicide
Member Only
InPsych
Supporting clients at risk of suicide can be one of the most professionally challenging and distressing situations that psychologists face throughout their careers. Working with such clients requires balancing ethical considerations such as client safety, client privacy, and c...
Published Jul 2019
The do's and don'ts of client session notes
Member Only
InPsych
The first ‘do’ is you must write session notes! Taking adequate session notes (or ‘progress notes’) is part of the important review and planning associated with providing an ongoing psychological service, and is one of the ethical obligations of psychologists. Session notes fa...
Published Jun 2017
Managing clients at risk of suicide
Member Only Resource
Supporting clients at risk of suicide can be one of the most professionally challenging and distressing situations that psychologists face throughout their careers.
Working with such clients requires balancing ethical considerations such as client safety, client privacy, an...
Last reviewed Apr 2026
APS at the forefront of ensuring evidence-based practice
Member Only
InPsych
Fifteen years ago the APS followed the APA in releasing a position statement about the potentially harmful effects of engaging in forms of psychological practice that attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation. Given the lack of empirical evidence about such practice at t...
Published Jun 2017
Psychologists’ use of titles, qualifications and postnominals in professional communications
Member Only
InPsych
The APS receives regular queries from members about the correct way to refer to and list qualifications on business cards, and the proper use of postnominals (the letters listed after one's name) associated with APS membership.
With the advent of national registration and e...
Published Jun 2017
Applying a social determinants of health approach within psychology
Member Only
InPsych
It is well recognised that social determinants such as the circumstances in which people are born, their access to education and opportunities for employment, where they live, and experiences of discrimination have a significant impact on health and wellbeing (World Health Org...
Published Jun 2017
Destruction of client files
Member Only
InPsych
Maintaining secure and confidential records is a cornerstone of psychological practice. Clients can feel comfortable to share information, with the knowledge and assurance that their psychologist upholds these principles of confidentiality and security. With recent news about ...
Published Nov 2022
Applying the Social Determinants of Health in everyday practice: Lessons from the APS Congress
Member Only
InPsych
At the 2016 APS Congress held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 13-16 September, the APS Public Interest team convened a forum to discuss and showcase the valuable application of a Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) approach in everyday psychological pra...
Published May 2017
What psychologists should know about voluntary assisted dying
Member Only
InPsych
Voluntary assisted dying became legal in Victoria in June 2019 after much debate and social change (O’Connor et al., 2018). This could be closely followed by Western Australia and Queensland, whose governments are currently considering similar laws.
As a discipline, psychol...
Published Aug 2019
Things to consider when gaining informed consent from clients
In summary:
Consent as ongoing dialogue – Now a continuous, evolving process rather than a one-off form.
Digital transparency – Clients must understand data use, storage, AI tools and telehealth risks.
Complex contexts – Distinguish consent from assent; ensure ...
Last reviewed Oct 2025