March 2024 Update: Department of Health Appoint Contractor

Dear Members,

I received an update from the Department of Health today (18 March 2024) advising that they have appointed a third party contractor to assist with the research and analysis, facilitate sector consultation and develop a draft set of National Standards.

The Department of Health expect the contractor to engage with us towards the end of March 2024 following their initial meeting.

ACA is looking forward to making a valued contribution representing the counselling and psychotherapy profession in Australia.

Kind regards

Jodie McKenzie

CEO, Australian Counselling Association

ACA Members eligible for Grant and Scholarship with Rural Workforce Agency Victoria

As part of our commitment to support our regional rural and remote workforce, I am delighted to share some truly exciting news with you all. The Rural Workforce Agency Victoria (RWAV) has announced two grant and scholarship opportunities for ACA Members who are working in rural Victorian private primary care settings. This marks a significant milestone, being the first year ACA Members are eligible!

RWAV is a not-for-profit, government-funded organisation improving healthcare across rural and regional Victoria and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Allied Health New Service Grant

 

RWAV’s Rural Allied Health New Service Grant offers up to $10,000 for eligible private or non-state-funded community allied health organisations or sole traders providing primary care in rural Victoria (specifically for MMM3-7 practitioners) to expand existing or establish new allied health services.

Grants can be used for:

  • Clinical equipment
  • Assessment resources
  • Marketing and promotional material
  • Technology such as laptops and tablets

The purpose of the Allied Health New Service Grant is to:

  • Enable health services and allied health practitioners to access funding to establish or expand allied health services in rural and regional Victoria
  • Support increased access to allied health services in MMM 3-7

Grant applications open on 18 March 2024 and close on 18 April 2024. Confirm your eligibility for this grant via the RWAV website and join RWAV’s online information session on 27 March 2024. Apply through the MyRWAV portal.

Any questions relating to the Allied Health New Service Grant should be directed to the Contracts Officer at [email protected] or via phone on 03 9349 7800.

 

Health Workforce Scholarship Program

 

I am also pleased to let you know about the Health Workforce Scholarship Program, which provides funding of up to $10,000 per eligible health professional working in an eligible private practice in MMM3-7 locations. Funding is available for upskilling opportunities such as professional development, training, short courses and conferences, that will also benefit rural communities.

Applications may only be made within 3 months of the start date of the activity. Apply through the MyRWAV portal.

Any questions relating to the HWSP in Victoria should be directed to the Grants Administrator at [email protected] or via phone on 03 9349 7800.

 

Interest in these opportunities is high, so don’t miss out. Apply through the MyRWAV portal.

Kind regards,
Jodie McKenzie
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Counselling Association

Part 3: Catherine Chen’s Post Graduation Journey – What life is like!

Catherine Chen

Time has certainly flown by, and the recent weeks have been filled with lots of training and learning opportunities. During this time, I have been fortunate to participate in many professional development events, both in-person and online, offered by various organisations and platforms. Reflecting on these experiences, I find it valuable to highlight some free or low-cost resources that have greatly enriched my learning journey at this early stage of my career. Specifically, I have found great value in attending ACA chapter meetings and utilising Mental Health Professional Networks (MHPN) resources.

I remember attending my first ACA chapter meeting in October 2022, during the first year of my master’s, after my student application was approved with ACA. Securing a ticket to the sold-out event, where IFS Australia and New Zealand presented “Introduction to Internal Family Systems,” sparked a great interest in IFS and motivated me to work towards certification as a practitioner in this field. Although I wasn’t required to accrue Ongoing Professional Development points as a student member, I found immense value in engaging with other ACA members as I pursued my journey to become a counsellor. Since then, I have participated in many meetings, progressing from being a student member to becoming a level 2 member. These meetings have been invaluable for fostering connections with like-minded counsellors and engaging in discussions on industry-relevant issues, contributing to creating a supportive community of practice.

In addition to regularly attending ACA chapter meetings, I am deeply engaged with Mental Health Professional Networks (MHPN). Funded by the Federal Government, MHPN’s National Networks Program brings together groups of mental health practitioners from various disciplines to engage in high-quality, free professional development, peer support, and networking opportunities. I particularly value their network meetings and webinars offering different learning opportunities. These sessions delve into numerous topics, ranging from treating specific mental health conditions like panic disorders to exploring therapeutic modalities such as art therapy for eating disorders. Additionally, some meetings provide insights into leading organisations and their impactful contributions to the mental health sector, such as Phoenix Australia. Their initiatives, like Responder Assist, underscore the critical need for timely and appropriate care for emergency workers. Engaging with fellow mental health practitioners, in person and online, has been enriching. It fosters active involvement in enhancing interdisciplinary mental health care throughout Australia. This collaborative approach is not only personally fulfilling but also a skill highly valued by organisations and employers in the field.

Looking back on these learning experiences, I’m grateful for the opportunities that have shaped my journey as a registered counsellor so far. They’ve not only broadened my knowledge but also deepened my passion for mental health advocacy and counselling practice.

 

Member Spotlight: Dr Stephen O’Kane

Each month we spotlight an ACA member in the ACA Monthly Bulletin, our monthly newsletter. The Member Spotlight is designed to showcase the work of our members to you! We hope their stories inspire or spark interest. Let’s share our experiences within our counselling community.

Dr Stephen O‘Kane

I’m a specialist Family Violence Counsellor and Family Relationships Counsellor. I’m also designated as an Authorised Family Counsellor under the Family Law Act 1975. I work for EACH Limited which is a community health organisation based in the east of Melbourne. It has its 50th anniversary this year and started life as the Maroondah Social Health Centre which was opened by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in 1974. I’m also a Member of the ACA College of Supervisors and do some counselling supervision of counsellors in my spare time!!

What motivated you to pursue a career in counselling? 
I was initially trained in human resources and public policy and gained experience as a senior manager and a CEO. I have worked at Commonwealth State and Local Government levels in a variety of roles. I’m also formally trained as a mentor and coach and ran my own executive coaching and consulting business for several years. There is often crossover between work and home life, and I’ve always loved working directly with people and helping them with their issues regardless of where they arise. Counselling was a natural fit for me, and I made this career change about 15 years ago and have never looked back.

What specific areas do you primarily work within? 
Within EACH I work for the Family Relationship Centre (FRC) in a small counselling team of three people. We work alongside a group of Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners. The FRC engages in mediation for children’s matters (e.g. shared parenting arrangements) and finance and property settlements. Family Dispute Resolution is an alternative to going to the Federal Circuit and Family Court to obtain Parenting Orders.

We deal with supporting parents through the difficult cycle of relationship breakdown with our major focus on ensuring that the interests of children are the separating parents’ focus. Children only have one childhood, and they are entitled to have two good parents who love them and keep them safe & help them flourish. You don’t have to like the other parent to be an effective coparent.

I also work as a Specialist Family Violence Counsellor in this role and have spent several years working at the Courts and in the crisis homelessness area. Sometimes the behaviours of both parents or either parent has been the cause of the family relationship breakdown. We offer support to any parties without judgement.

What is a recent personal success or achievement you’re proud of?
I’ve seen a long history of men being blamed and shamed for their behaviour and them feeling as a client group that there’s nowhere for them to go to be heard and understood. They often feel “judged” by health professionals and do not access counselling services. I’m really disturbed by this. There were approx. 3000 suicides in Australia last year and 75% of these people were men.
As a volunteer and in my professional life I see many men and try to help them turn their lives around and be there for their families and particularly for their children. I’m passionate about getting men to engage in counselling services and to get them to keep engaging so they can be supported and helped. It’s what makes me get up in the morning.

What is the most rewarding aspect of being a counsellor for you?
If you help one client in a week then as counsellors, we have done our job. My objective always is that our clients are better for having had the courage to come to counselling and start the journey to creating a better future.

I have worked with several women who have suffered significant trauma from their childhood, and it’s been gratifying to see how much they have also turned their lives around.

I’ve had the privilege of working with several same sex couples as well who, despite discrimination and trauma have really been able to go on and lead fulfilling and satisfying lives. This is what makes counselling worthwhile.

Helping people is what we do and even small wins in our work is something we all need to celebrate.

How do you contribute to the betterment of the profession and your community? 
I’m a passionate volunteer and have been on and chaired a few community Boards and also been a volunteer counsellor in some not-for-profit organisations who do crisis work.

I’ve been lucky enough this year to be part of the ACA family of volunteers and have been invited to be part of the ACA Ethics and Professional Standards Committee. I’d encourage all ACA members to be a volunteer member of some part of ACA’s activities. I can guarantee that you will help develop and enrich the profession and help make it the best that it can be.

Are there any particular projects or initiatives you’re currently involved in?
I’ve just made a series of videos encouraging men to come forward and seek assistance through counselling and accessing other support services. The message is that everyone needs assistance at some time in their lives, rather than making do or “toughing it out”. We all need help and men as a client group are no exception.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in counselling?
Go for it! To know at the end of the day that you’ve contributed to helping even one person is something to be cherished and celebrated. If you can help a client create a better future, or to be a better parent you have made a significant contribution to society and to the welfare of them and their families.

Is there a quote or philosophy that inspires your work?
I’m very fond of the quote attributed to the suffragette Maya Angelou who said:
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”.

I also like the quote that for me provides the idea that if you intervene early and create firm foundations then you can achieve almost anything. It says:
“Tall timber does not grow with ease, the stronger the winds the stronger the trees”.

Last thoughts
I’ve written an article during COVID-19 which was published in the Australian Counselling and Research Journal on Counselling Supervision. At its core is the idea that as counsellors we need to not only do no harm, but to treat every client with “Hope, Compassion and Justice”. This means staying away from labels like “victim” and “perpetrator” which are not helpful to creating meaningful change. It means not usurping the role of Judges and Magistrates in determining questions of guilt or innocence before the law. It means helping all clients that present to us for counselling support, whether you agree with them and their past actions or not. Counsellors are in the business of providing professional services without judgement, and also providing hope and helping clients find a clear pathway towards a different future.

Research opportunity: Personalising motivational interviewing

Research conducted by Western Sydney University aims to explore where and how Motivational Interviewing (MI) is being used with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. If you have experience in using MI with different client/patient groups or you are involved in delivering training or undertaking research on using MI with different population groups, we’d love to hear from you.

We invite you to complete a brief (5 min), online survey. Please read the participant information PDF, 108.67 KB (opens in new window)Opens in a new window and if you are happy to participate in this study, click on the following link which will take you to the survey:

Participate in the survey (opens in new window)Opens in a new window

This project was identified by members of the community and the Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Clinical Academic Group (Maridulu Budyari Gumal, SPHERE). The project has been approved by WSU HREC: H15769.

If you have any questions about the research, please contact Kyar Wilkey at [email protected]

Research opportunity: Lived experiences of counsellors with ADHD

The University of Canberra is conducting a research that investigates the lived experiences of counsellors with ADHD, exploring its impact on clinical practice. Qualitative data will be gathered through in-depth interviews. Our study, titled ” Understanding the Lived Experience of Counsellors with ADHD: Exploring the Impact on Clinical Practice,” aims to shed light on the lived experiences of counsellors who have been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and how this diagnosis impacts their work in the counselling profession.

What Participation Involves:

Participation in this research will involve a confidential, one-on-one interview. The interview will be online via Teams, will be scheduled at a time that is convenient for the participants, and it will be conducted in a supportive and respectful manner, with their privacy and anonymity protected at all times.

Ethical approval by the Human Research Ethics Committee at the University of Canberra.

 

Who Can Participate:

We are seeking individuals who meet the following criteria:

•             Registered Counsellor or Psychotherapist

•             Diagnosed with ADHD

 

For questions or to register interest, please contact [email protected].

Research opportunity: Knowledge and attitudes toward suicide, self-harm and online suicide prevention spaces

UniSQ HREC Approval number: ETH2023-0073

 

Research team contact details

Student Investigator Details                                     Principal Investigator and Supervisor
Ms Phillippa Hamilton                                              Professor Andrea Lamont-Mills
Email: [email protected]                        Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +61 438 974 444                                         Telephone: +61 7 3812 6159
Description
This project is being undertaken as part of a Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Psychology) program through the University of Southern Queensland. The purpose of this project is to better understand mental health practitioners’ knowledge and attitudes towards suicide, self-harm, and online spaces as suicide prevention places. To do this, we need mental health practitioners like yourself to participate in this study.

The findings of this study will be used as part of an Honours thesis and in academic outlets such as journal articles, conference presentations, and book chapters. A summary of findings will be sent to the Australian Psychological Society, the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia, the Australian Counselling Association, and the Australian Association of Social Workers. A summary will also be sent to all university psychology, counselling and social work schools/departments.

Participation
To participate in this project, you need to be either:

  • A registered psychologist in Australia (AHPRA provisional, general, or area of endorsement registration); OR
  • Studying a Masters level psychology degree; OR
  • Be a social worker; OR
  • Studying an undergraduate or Masters level social work degree; OR
  • Practicing as a counsellor; OR
  • Studying a counselling degree that leads to practice as a counsellor; AND
  • You must also be currently working with clients. If you are a student, you must be currently seeing clients as part of a university placement or have seen clients within the past 12 months as a part of a university placement.

Complete Survey

Your participation in this project will involve you completing an online survey comprising of up to 125 questions that will take approximately 10-20 minutes of your time. You are able to complete the survey at a time and location that is convenient to you, and you are able to stop and start the survey if you need to take a break from answering questions. Questions will include demographic questions (e.g., age, gender, education), practice related questions (e.g., typical client population, how many clients you have treated with lived experiences of suicidality and/or self-harm), and self-harm and suicide knowledge and attitude questions.

Your decision to participate or not is entirely voluntary. If you do not wish to participate, you are not obliged to do so. You will only be able to withdraw data that you have provided if you include your contact details when you complete the survey. If this is the case and you do wish to withdraw your data from this project at any time, please contact the Research Team (contact details at the top of this form). If you choose to participate in this survey anonymously you will not be able to withdraw your data once you have clicked the submit button.

Your decision whether you take part, do not take part, or take part and then withdraw, will in no way impact your current or future relationship with the University of Southern Queensland, any member of the research team, or any organisation you are associated with.

Expected benefits
It is expected that this project may not directly benefit you. However, there is potential future benefit in terms of better understanding the perceived barriers to working with those at-risk of self-harm and/or taking their own life so as to improve access to quality care for vulnerable individuals when and where it is needed. There is the potential for the study to be indirectly beneficial to you through improved training and professional development opportunities. This may be through the better embedding of knowledge and clinical skills relating to suicide and/or self-harm into training curriculum and through professional development aimed at de-bunking common self-harm and/or suicide myths. Study insights have the potential to change how we treat these most vulnerable clients through improved understandings and skills.

Risks
In participating in the questionnaire there are minimal risks such as discomfort and unease. Sometimes thinking about the sorts of issues raised in the questionnaire can create some uncomfortable or distressing feelings. If you need to talk to someone about this immediately, please contact:

Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

Beyond Blue chat www.beyondblue.org.au/support-service/chat

SANE Australia 1800 18 7263

SANE Chat www.sane.org/services/helpcentre/content/2

SANE email www.sane.org/contactus

You may also wish to consult with your local general practitioner and/or psychologist/counsellor or EAP provider.

Privacy and confidentiality  
All comments and responses are confidential unless required by law. As this is an anonymous survey, such that you are not required to include your name or contact details to participate.

If you wish to access a summary of the project results, you can either include your contact details at the end of the survey and the Principal Investigator will email you a summary report when the study is completed. If you do not wish to include your contact details, you can contact the Principal Investigator after the 31st of December 2023 and request a summary of the results.

Any data collected as a part of this project will be stored securely, as per University of Southern Queensland’s Research Data and Primary Materials Management Procedure.

Consent to participate
Selecting the box below, ‘I have read the information provided above and wish to continue with the survey,’ is accepted as an indication of your consent to participate in this project.

Questions
Please refer to the Research team contact details at the top of the form to have any questions answered or to request further information about this project.

Concerns or complaints  
If you have any concerns or complaints about the ethical conduct of the project, you may contact the University of Southern Queensland, Manager of Research Integrity and Ethics on +61 7 4631 1839 or email [email protected]. The Manager of Research Integrity and Ethics is not connected with the research project and can address your concern in an unbiased manner.

 

February 2024 Update: Department of Health to Appoint Contractor

Dear Members,

I received an update from the Department of Health today (27 February 2024) advising that they are in the final stages of the procurement process and hope to have the provider in contract in the next few weeks. No further update at this time.

ACA is looking forward to making a valued contribution representing the counselling and psychotherapy profession in Australia.

Kind regards

Jodie McKenzie

CEO, Australian Counselling Association

Celebrating 15,000 Members at the ACA

We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone for the Australian Counselling Association – reaching 15,000 individual members in our vibrant Australian Counselling Association community! This achievement wouldn’t be possible without the support and dedication of our passionate members. As we celebrate this milestone, we want to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation for each and every one of you who has contributed to making the ACA community what it is today.

Over the past 25 years, our association has become known for its strong strong position as a leading industry voice, acknowledged by the Australian Government. ACA also has established strong international affiliations, including observer status in the World Health Organisation’s Inter-Agency Standing Committee. Our organisation is highly respected by Australian Universities for its accreditation standards.

We have achieved these milestones with our values at centre of all we do, we would greatly appreciate a moment to reflect on these.

  • Progressive: We are committed to being at the forefront of new developments and innovations in the counselling profession. We seek to drive positive change in the industry by promoting best practices, advocating for the rights of counsellors and clients, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and growth.
  • Consistent: We are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and ethical practice among its members. We strive to ensure consistency and quality in counselling services by setting professional standards, providing training and support for members, and promoting a shared culture of excellence. Our goals and vision for our profession, in terms of equality of outcome, remain consistent in our message.
  • Inclusive: We value and respect our members’ and their clients’ diverse backgrounds and experiences. We seek to foster an inclusive and welcoming culture by promoting diversity and cultural awareness and providing resources and support for counsellors who work with marginalised or underrepresented groups.
  • Caring: Our community is driven by a deep sense of compassion and empathy for those needing counselling services. We seek to provide a safe, supportive, and caring environment for counsellors and clients alike, and to promote a culture of kindness, understanding, and healing.

Here at the ACA, our vision is to be the pre-eminent voice for Counsellors, representing an educated and accountable workforce that is availed the same professional opportunities as their industry peers. Our vision inspires us daily and instils us with confidence that we are making a change to the Australian mental health landscape.

Our mission is to strengthen our counselling profession, to advocate for, support, and uphold the highest standards for counsellors and psychotherapists in Australia, fostering a culture of quality care, accountability and continuous education.

As we celebrate this remarkable milestone of 15,000 individual members, let us reflect on the incredible journey we have shared and the positive impact we continue to make in the counselling profession. Thank you for being a part of our community, embodying our values, and contributing to the vision and mission of the ACA. Here’s to the continued growth, collaboration, and success of our community!

New Taskforce to help improve NDIS registration

The Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the Hon Bill Shorten MP, has announced the establishment of the NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce. This task force aims to work collaboratively with people living with disabilities to revamp the current registration system for NDIS providers and workers. The move is in response to the recommendations of the independent NDIS Review, which suggested a risk-proportionate regulatory model and a new provider risk framework to enhance visibility and regulation of NDIS services.

The media release was announced on 12 February 2024:

A new Taskforce will work with people living with disability to ensure provider and worker registrations lead to better outcomes for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants, Minister for the NDIS the Hon Bill Shorten MP announced today.

The NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce will provide expert advice to Government on the best approach to overhaul the current registration system for those who deliver supports while, crucially, maintaining choice and control for participants – as recommended by the NDIS Review.

The landmark independent NDIS Review recommended a graduated risk-proportionate regulatory model, as well as a new provider risk framework, to improve the visibility and regulation of NDIS providers and workers. The Taskforce will support the co-design and development of the reform for Government’s consideration.

This Taskforce will be led by trusted lawyer and disability advocate Natalie Wade, former chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Allan Fels, former ACTU Assistant Secretary and training and safety expert Michael Borowick and former Administrator of the Northern Territory Vicki O’Halloran.

“The new regulatory system currently being designed will help ensure no one is invisible or forgotten on the NDIS,” Minister Shorten says.

“Australia can lead the world in a regulation model of disability services, including delivering trail blazing solutions like we want to achieve with the NDIS.

“To do this, we need to overhaul the current shoddy and inconsistent registration by making it more transparent and targeted to deliver quality and consistent outcomes that reach all groups of participants and providers.

“Together with the disability community, this Taskforce will give Government advice to design a new regulatory model to close the gaps that currently exist in regulation of the NDIS market for people with disability.

“We want to reassure participants and their families this is not about removing choice and control, rather delivering quality and safety.

“It is about ensuring participants continue to receive quality supports that recognise their human rights and support their safety and quality of life.

“Australians also reasonably expect the Government to know how funding is being spent, whether it’s the NDIS, Medicare or Centrelink.

“The Taskforce, led by Ms Wade, has deep knowledge and experience about the regulation of supports and services used by people with disability in the NDIS, and contemporary regulatory practice.

“The NDIS is about people with disability, not making millions of dollars for some shonky providers. It’s about genuine small businesses, start-ups, people who want to make a difference on a level playing field and a fair go against the fly-by-nighters and quick-buck merchants.”

The NDIS Review’s recommendation is designed to ensure there is greater oversight of those responsible for delivering services through the NDIS, while continuing to promote choice and control for the participants who receive those supports.

The Taskforce will look at ways to ensure all providers meet a minimum regulatory standard, especially those delivering more intensive supports, while minimising the administrative impacts associated with the enrolment and registration process.

The Taskforce will take a gradual approach and will be informed by the disability community, as well as the NDIS provider market and workers to ensure the best outcomes for everyone.

It will also work directly with the Department of Social Services, where a specialised Review team has been set up to work through the Review’s recommendations.

Based on recommendations in the Review, the Taskforce will consider options to:

  • Ensure the new regulatory arrangements support the rights of people with disability so they can continue to exercise choice and control, including a direct employment model
  • Enable participants who are self-managing to continue to do so
  • Reduce the risk of harm to people with disability.

The Taskforce will provide a report with advice and recommendations in mid 2024.