We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone for the Australian Counselling Association – reaching 16,000 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.

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 16,000 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!

This past week, Dee Hardy, President of ACA, had the pleasure of connecting with esteemed researchers in the realm of child and adolescent mental health: Dr. Jasmine MacDonald, Dr. Melissa Willoughby, and Kirstie Northfield. Together, they delved into the critical issues impacting young minds and the pivotal role counsellors play in fostering resilience and well-being across all age brackets, whilst enjoying a coffee on the Gold Coast. Their lively discussions underscored the vitality of collaborative efforts within our industry, emphasizing how these partnerships drive progress in addressing the challenges we face and finding solutions that benefit clients Australia wide.

This engagement stemmed from a dynamic webinar jointly hosted by Jasmine and Melissa, both Senior Research Officers at the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) for our ACA members. The webinar, which explored the intricacies of technology-facilitated coercive control, provided our members with invaluable insights earlier this month.

At ACA, we deeply value the professional bonds we share with trailblazers in the mental health arena. We eagerly anticipate further collaboration with Jasmine, Melissa, Kirstie, and the AIFS team, recognizing that such partnerships are at the heart of our industry’s vital contributions to mental health and the well-being of our clients.

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

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.

Motivated by my deep interest in grief counselling, particularly within the compassionate realm of non-profit organisations, I’ve been looking for roles where I can offer significant support to individuals navigating the complexities of grief and loss. In the past few weeks, I’ve had insightful conversations with recruiters, gaining a deeper understanding of roles that align with my interests and values. However, as my excitement met the reality of these roles, I noticed a gap between my experience and the demands of potential employers. While my rewarding journey in private practice and life has contributed significantly, it might have only partially aligned with the comprehensive expectations of these roles.

This newfound understanding inspired me to explore volunteering opportunities centred on grief counselling. After extensive research, I decided to pursue an opportunity with Griefline, an organisation that offers free grief support and resources. This commitment involves dedicating at least one weekly shift for 12 months, supporting individuals aged 18 and above in Australia who are coping with grief through their helpline services.

The application process included completing an online form where I shared my availability and reasons for volunteering with Griefline, briefly outlining my skills and experience. Additionally, I participated in a brief online interview with a member of the Volunteer Support Team to assess my suitability for the role. During the interview, I discussed the qualities and skills I believed were essential for this role, shared my personal experiences with grief and loss, and provided insights into my support system. A sense of joy filled me when they expressed genuine excitement about having me on board at the end of the interview. This further fuelled my enthusiasm for embarking on this meaningful journey with Griefline, as I eagerly anticipate contributing to the organisation’s mission and growing both personally and professionally through this impactful experience.

This decision resonates deeply with my commitment to bridging identified gaps, providing an opportunity to strengthen my connection with this meaningful field of grief and loss counselling. Beyond that, it signifies a genuine effort to give back to the community, marking a significant step in the personal development of my identity as a counsellor. As I step into this role, I am genuinely excited about the prospects of learning, growing, and positively impacting the lives of those navigating the complexities of grief.

Safer Internet Day, raising awareness for a better internet for all, especially children and young people. 

• Safer Internet Day is a global initiative to raise awareness of online safety issues, a time for everyone to come “together for a better internet”. This can be encouraged through industry and policy actions, press conferences, school assemblies and new educational resources  
• In 2023, Safer Internet Day was celebrated in over 180 countries and territories worldwide. 

Three steps to approach online safety according to the eSafety Commissioner: 

Connect safely by keeping apps and devices secure and reviewing your privacy settings regularly.  

Reflect on how your actions online may affect others or your safety.  

Protect yourself and others by visiting eSafety.gov.au to find out how to stay safe online and report online abuse. 

In support of Safer Internet Day, the eSafety Commissioner will host a webinar exclusively for ACA Members. The webinar titled ‘Online Gaming, helping children and families get the most out of gaming’, will look at the current research and resources to support counsellors and is eligible for five OPD points. 

Join us on Wednesday 28 February 2024 at 11.00am, AEST 

Register here! 

This project is being undertaken as part of a Masters project in the Master of Counselling (Advanced Practice) program through the University of Southern Queensland.

UniSQ HREC Approval number: ETH2023-0538      

Clinical supervision is a fundamental component in the professional practice of counselling. Although clinical supervision is primarily conceptualised as a protective consumer fail safe (assessing practitioner burnout and ensuring ethical practices are maintained), it also meets the professional developmental, educatory and mentoring needs of new generations of therapists (Pelling & Armstrong, 2017). The importance of supervision is also recognised in the requirements of practitioner registration and maintenance with professional memberships of peak bodies (ACA, 2019; PACFA, 2023). Specialised, accredited training in supervision provides practitioners with the foundational skills to begin supervisory practice. However, supervisory practice is complex with myriad challenges for both supervisor and supervisee.

Boundary tensions, dual/poly-relationships, legitimate structural power imbalances and the maintenance of the supervisory alliance present a complex professional labyrinth for practitioners to navigate (Burns, 2020; Corey et al., 2018; De Stefano et al., 2017; Watkins, 2014). Although professional guidelines and contemporary best-practice literature provide useful theoretical and practical foundational resources, there is limited qualitative research that focuses on the voice of counselling supervising practitioners from an Australian context exists. If the counselling profession in Australia wishes to continue reaching for additional professional industry acknowledgement and practice rigor, further research into supervisory practice difficulties and challenges is necessary.

The purpose of this project is to broadly increase attention toward counselling supervision in Australia and gain further insight into how practitioners are navigating challenges relating to boundary tensions and poly-relational issues within the supervisory dyad.

Aims

The clinical counselling supervisory relationship can present unique, multidimensional, and interconnected practice challenges.

This study aims to broadly increase attention toward counselling supervision in Australia and gain further insight into how practitioners are navigating some of these challenges.

The research question of this investigation is as follows, “How are counselling supervisors navigating boundary tensions and poly-relational challenges that arise within clinical supervision?”.

The study is also interested in exploring the occurrence of transparent practice, with particular attention toward the application of initial and ongoing contracting within the relationship.

Participation

This research proposes to conduct semi-structured interviews with ten experienced and accredited (ACA or PACFA) counselling supervisors (10 participants in total).

Participation will involve partaking in an interview that will take approximately 60 minutes.

Participation in this project is entirely voluntary. If participants decide to take part and later change their mind, they are free to withdraw from the project at any stage. Participants will be unable to withdraw data collected about yourself after they have participated in the interview.

Please reach out to the Research Team (below) to participate in this study.

Privacy and Confidentiality

All comments and responses are confidential unless required by law.

The interviews will be audio recorded and later transcribed for thematic analysis.

You will be provided with a copy of the interview transcript for your records and afforded a two week period to review the accuracy of the transcription.

Upon concluding the interview, your endorsement will be assumed and you will not be provided an opportunity request any changes to the transcript before the data is included in the project for analysis.

All members of the research team will have access to the recording and transcription. Transcriptions will be conducted by members of the research team.

It is not possible to participate in the project without being recorded.

Non-identifiable audio recording and transcription data will be made available for similar future research purposes.

An executive summary of the research projects results will be provided to you in a timely manner.

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.

Questions

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.

Thank you for taking the time to help with this research project. Please keep this document for your information.

ACA Member Catherine Chen has agreed to share her journey with all ACA Students Members as she embarks on her first year after graduation. Catherine completed her Masters of Counselling in December 2023 and is now exploring her next phase. Catherine will be sharing her journey monthly with students as she ventures into the world after study.

By Catherine Chen

After dedicating two years of hard work, completing the final unit of the Master of Counselling course was a surreal and rewarding moment. Following a month filled with celebration and travel, I entered a reflective space, intentionally slowing down to acknowledge my tendency to rush into the next chapter without appreciating the present. Taking a moment to genuinely celebrate my achievements, the decision to pivot from a career in finance to embrace the counselling path wasn’t merely a change—it was a courageous leap of faith. It meant stepping into the unknown and reconnecting with the authentic self I’ve always aspired to be. Honestly, it feels like I’m answering a calling—a realisation of who I am meant to be.

Returning from the break in the new year, the reality set in as I received the Level 2 membership card from ACA, signifying the celebration of my achievement. While it symbolises accomplishment, there’s also an honesty in admitting that it stirs a sense of being a bit lost – where do I go from here? Rather than resisting the uncertainty, I found it helpful to acknowledge it. Embracing this uncertainty has given me the strength to view this phase as an opportunity for personal and professional development. I am determined to navigate the unknown with resilience, curiosity, and an open heart.

I’m also genuinely thankful for the overwhelming support from those around me. A former colleague, with whom we shared a placement experience in private practice, generously offered to meet weekly on Zoom calls, providing invaluable support throughout this transitional journey. Our conversations delved into crucial aspects like resume writing and supervision. Motivated by this encouragement, I dedicated my spare time to pursuing additional Internal Family Systems (IFS) training through PESI AU, leveraging the ACA member discount, and earning professional development points for the upcoming year.

Under the university career counsellor’s guidance, I developed more detailed plans for the job-hunting process and enhanced my LinkedIn profile. Proactively, I also reached out to reconnect with select academic teaching staff from the Master of Counselling course, seeking their guidance in navigating this transitional period. Their support is precious during this phase of growth and exploration.

Remaining informed about current legislation, especially how counsellors are recognised as mental health practitioners in Victoria with the help of ACA, allows me to be receptive to job opportunities that may not have the title of a counsellor but involve a counselling role. This awareness broadens my horizons and will enable me to identify relevant positions aligned with my expertise and passion.

Lastly, but certainly not least, I sought support from family and friends, drawing strength from their love and encouragement. It’s important to remember that the lack of a response from a ‘perfect job’ doesn’t shape my identity; it merely indicates that it may not be the right fit. Instead, it serves as an opportunity for self-discovery and the courage to explore new possibilities.

It is with great excitement we announce a development for our Victorian members. Starting from Term 1 – 2024, eligible Victorian counsellors will be able to apply for Mental Health Practitioner (MHP) roles within Victorian Government Secondary Schools and Specialist Schools with secondary-aged enrolments.

About the opportunity

In 2019, the Victorian Department of Education (the department) introduced Mental Health Practitioners (MHP) initiative to expand mental health and wellbeing supports provided to schools. To date MHP roles were available to applicants who are fully qualified Mental Health Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists and Social Workers.  This ongoing initiative is now expanding to include eligible Registered Counsellors.

The positive change comes following a significant shift in Victorian legislation with the implementation of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act (the Act) on 1 September 2023. The Act now recognises counsellors of a prescribed class as a mental health practitioner. To align with the Act, the Victorian Department of Education is including eligible counsellors in scope for school-based MHP roles.

MHPs work flexibly, based on the needs and priorities of their school and students. They are supported by regionally based mental health coordinators who also coordinate the mental health and wellbeing activities of other schools in the local area participating in the MHP initiative. They usually work as part of a multi-disciplinary team that helps students develop resilience to prepare them for future challenges.

The role includes:

• mental health prevention and promotion
• short term support for students including direct counselling
• coordinating supports for other services for students with complex needs.

Allocation of MHPs is based on student enrolments, with each eligible school campus receiving support from a MHP between one and five days per week.

The positions offer:

• meaningful work that has a positive impact on student outcomes and their lives
• job security and flexibility, with part-time positions available
• work life balance, with paid school holidays
• access to a range of professional development supports.

Eligibility criteria

• Have completed a university degree of Bachelor of Counselling or Master of Counselling;
• are a practicing/fully qualified member of either the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA); and
• hold a current Working With Children Check.

How to apply

MHP roles are regularly advertised on careers.vic.gov.au.

We hope that this news sets a positive precedent will inspire other States and Territories to follow suit, recognising and embracing the important role that counsellors and psychotherapists play in supporting mental health in educational settings.

We stand firm in our mission – to advance the profession, representing an educated and accountable workforce that is availed the same professional opportunities as their industry peers. We continue to educate and advocate for the value and impact of our members in supporting mental health and wellbeing.

More information

• For more information visit the department’s Mental health practitioners in secondary and specialist schools webpage
• Register for the department’s online information session for fully qualified/practicing members of ACA: Mental Health Practitioners initiative webinar Tickets, Thu 15/02/2024 at 4:00 pm | Eventbrite
• For more information about employment conditions and salary go to Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022
• If you have any additional queries, email [email protected]

In October 2023, Black Dog Institute introduced a pilot trial to a small group of ACA Level 3 and 4 Members to access their new online hub known as eMHPrac. Due to the immense interest and positive feedback, Black Dog and ACA are thrilled to be able to offer this subscription to all practicing ACA Members at no cost!

This expansion provides an invaluable opportunity to harness the benefits of the hub for complimentary professional development, designed to connect health professionals to a plethora of online programs, resources, and essential primary care information.

About eMHPrac
e-Mental Health in Practice, or eMHPrac, is a free suite of online training modules, webinars, and e-resources. The primary objective remains introducing health professionals to online programs and tools, demonstrating how e-mental health technologies seamlessly integrate into primary care settings. See here to learn more.

To activate your account on eMHPrac, sign up here.

Ongoing Professional Development Points
Members can claim ongoing professional development (OPD) points for completing modules, courses, and other educational activities provided by eMHPrac. Each educational activity within the hub clearly indicates if it qualifies for professional development points, with the respective hours listed in CPD hour format. ACA will accept points on a like for like basis – one CPD hour equals one OPD point.

We appreciate your dedication to staying at the forefront of progressive practices, and we trust that eMHPrac will serve as a valuable tool in your professional toolkit.