Membership Criteria

Thank you for your interest in joining the association, the following explains the mission and criteria of the association. Please do not hesitate to phone us if there are any points that need clarifying or do not fully explain to your satisfaction what is required.

The Australian Counselling Association (ACA) fulfils a critical role within the counselling industry - as will your involvement in the Association. The primary aims and functions of the Australian Counselling Association are: -

• To provide a single unified voice for the counselling industry.
• To provide a consistent Code of Ethics and set of Practitioner Standards for counsellors.
• To establish a national complaints tribunal.
• To assess, review and approve counsellor education courses.
• To maintain a national register of practicing counsellors.
• To lobby on behalf of its membership to government and industry for the betterment of the profession.
• To make the general public at large more aware of the counselling profession and the availability of reputable counsellors.
• To create employment opportunities for our members wherever possible.

• Has graduated from an ACA Accredited Course of study at minimum Diploma Level.
• Completes 25 Points of ACA approved Ongoing Professional Development per annum.
• Completes 10 hours Professional Supervision per annum.

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• Has graduated from an ACA Accredited Course of study at minimum Diploma Level and has a minimum of 2 years post-Diploma professional experience; or 1 year post-Diploma plus Vocational Graduate professional experience; and has completed a minimum of 50 hours Professional Supervision.

OR,

• Has graduated from an ACA Accredited Course of study at minimum Degree Level.

AND,

• Completes 10 hours Professional Supervision per annum.
• Completes 25 Points of ACA approved Ongoing Professional Development per annum.

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• Has graduated from an ACA Accredited Course of study at minimum Degree Level.
• Has a minimum 3 years post qualification counselling experience, including minimum 750 client contact hours.
• Has completed a minimum of 75 hours Professional Supervision and completes 10 hours Professional Supervision per annum.
• Completes 25 Points of ACA approved Ongoing Professional Development per annum.

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• Has graduated from an ACA Accredited Course of study at minimum Degree Level.
• Has a minimum of 6 years post qualification counselling experience, including minimum 1,000 client contact hours.
• Has completed a minimum of 100 hours Professional Supervision and completes 10 hours Professional Supervision per annum.
• Completes 25 Points of ACA approved Ongoing Professional Development per annum.

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Student Membership is for persons undertaking an ACA Accredited Course of study at a minimum Diploma level. Student Members should not practice counselling except under the auspice of an ACA Accredited Course of training.

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Associate members are members who have an interest in counselling, however do not practice therapy. Any non practicing individual may apply for this category.

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The Australian Counselling Association (ACA) has been representing counsellors since 1998. Since then it has grown into the largest independent professional body of counsellors in Australia. The need for such a professional body is reflected in our growth. In less than seven years ACA has attracted over 3,000 registered members. ACA although one of the youngest professional bodies for counsellors has achieved more in its ten years than any other previously established body of counsellors. These achievements are further outlined in our information and application booklet. Membership is not restricted to only Australian based counsellors.

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The Code of Conduct is intended to provide standards of professional conduct that can be applied by the ACA and by other bodies that choose to adopt them in Australia. Depending upon the circumstances compliance or non-compliance with the Code of Conduct may be admissible in some legal proceedings.

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The common aims and objectives of ACA are as follows:

• To monitor, maintain, set and improve professional standards in counsellor education and practice;
• To provide an industry-based association for persons engaged in counsellor education and practice;
• To be a self-regulatory body to provide for registration of counsellors in Australia;
• Liaise with Government for the benefit of members and the public;
• To provide a single unified voice for the counselling industry;
• To provide a consistent Code of Conduct and set of Practitioner Standards;
• To promote the professional development and growth of practising counsellors;
• To provide a National Complaints Tribunal;
• To assess, review and recognise counsellor education courses;
• To maintain a register of qualified practicing counsellors;
• To identify to consumers, counsellors that meet nationally-approved standards of practice;
• To help the public at large to become more aware of the counselling profession and the availability of reputable counsellors;
• To raise awareness of Australian counsellors Internationally;
• To provide a vehicle to promote research in the counselling profession;
• To help create employment for counsellors; and
• To provide a quality control mechanism for the public that also enables the consumer to access a formal complaints procedure.