The Psychological Practice Bill 2006 has been introduced to State Parliament. The Bill is intended to be an Act;

• to protect the health and safety of the public by providing for the registration of psychologists and student psychologists, and

• to regulate the provision of psychological services for the purposes of maintaining high standards of competence and conduct by registered persons and psychological providers.

The Bill would repeal the Psychological Practices Act 1973. It can be accessed on the PSA's website.

Some of the changes include increasing the size of the Board from 7 to 9 members, including 4 elected psychologist positions, requiring the Presiding Member of the Board to be a registered psychologist rather than a legal practitioner, registering psychologist students, increased emphasis on the health and safety of the public, Board to develop Code of Conduct, more detailed disciplinary provisions, the removal of protections on the practice of Hypnosis and the introduction of psychological service providers who are not psychologists but operate under the supervision of a registered psychologist.

Concern has been expressed that the new Bill opens the way for unqualified people to conduct hypnotherapy and psychometric testing and that the new medical fitness requirement will expose psychologists to victimisation.

The Bill has been passed by the House of Assembly and is presently with the Legislative Council for examination, debate and ratification.

PSA psychologist members are encouraged to examine the Psychological Practice Bill and raise any issues of concern with the PSA by contacting Industrial Officer Josie Barbaro on 8205 3295, or emailing jxb@cpsu.asn.au

Private Practice for Psychologists

The Executive of Department of Health (DH) has endorsed the principle of Private Practice Rights for Clinical Psychologists (refer to PSA Brief 13/2/07). DH has agreed that the model should be similar to the agreement between medical specialists for private practice.

The medical specialists agreement is still under review and once this is completed discussions can commence on the model for clinical psychologists.

PSA WORKING FOR MEMBERS