Online Survey - Development of national standards for counsellors and psychotherapists - Page 1 of 3 - Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care - Citizen Space

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Introduction

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey to support the development of national standards for counsellors and psychotherapists.

Context

In May 2023, in response to the recommendations of the Select Committee into Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, the Australian Government announced the development of national standards for counsellors and psychotherapists.

To inform the development of national standards for counsellors and psychotherapists, Allen + Clarke has been engaged by the Department of Health and Aged Care (the Department) to conduct a survey and interviews to gather insights from the sector.

The survey has 21 questions and is estimated to take approximately 15 minutes to complete. The survey is structured in three parts:

Part 1 seeks information about you and your role.
Part 2 seeks your perspectives on existing standards and frameworks relating to the counselling and psychotherapy profession, and any challenges that exist.
Part 3 seeks your insights on future national standards for counsellors and psychotherapists.

Your contact details will be required to aid Allen + Clarke in clarifying any details of the information you submit. All survey response data provided to the Department and included in the final report will be de-identified.

Data collected during the survey will be stored confidentially on the Qualtrics platform.

If you have any questions about the survey or participating, you can contact Allen + Clarke at NationalStandardsReview@allenandclarke.com.au.

1. What is your name?

Name (Required)

2. What is your email address?

Email (Required)

3. What is your organisation?

Organisation (Required)

4. Which of the following best represents your role (select all that apply):

(Required) Counselling and/or psychotherapy practitioner Other counselling professional (i.e. psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists) Lived experience worker (i.e. peer support worker, consumer or carer consultant) Employer/service provider (i.e. PHN, mental health service provider, other health provider) Education provider Peak body Government agency Non-government agency Consumer and/or carer Other (please specify below)

5. Could you communicate the core purpose for why counselling and psychotherapy professions exist, the main ways that you engage with counsellors and psychotherapists in your work, and why standards might assist that?

Please limit your response to 2000 characters or less (Required)

There is a limit of 2000 characters

6. Which Australian state or territory are you based?

Australian Capital Territory New South Wales Northern Territory Queensland South Australia Tasmania Victoria Western Australia

7. If you are a practitioner, are you a member of a peak body?

Yes, Australian Counselling Association Yes, Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia Yes, other peak body No Not applicable – I’m not a practitioner

8. If you are a practitioner, are you open to discussing your experiences and insights further? If so, you may be invited for an interview, up to 1 hour at a time that suits you.

Yes No Not applicable – I’m not a practitioner

9. Do you practice, teach, or observe specific standards or frameworks that relate to counselling and psychotherapy services? For example, scopes of practice, training standards.

Yes No

If answering yes, please describe in the text box below the specific standards or frameworks you use and how they work in practice.

There is a limit of 2000 characters

10. In your opinion, what are the main strengths of the current arrangements?

Please limit your response to 2000 characters or less

There is a limit of 2000 characters

11. In your opinion, what are the main challenges with the current arrangements?

Please limit your response to 2000 characters or less

There is a limit of 2000 characters

12. The objective of the national standards is to define national minimum standards for education, supervision, continuing professional development, and oversight requirements to ensure quality, safety and confidence in the counselling and psychotherapy professions. Does the objective meet your expectations? Are there any adjustments that need to be made?

Please limit your response to 2000 characters or less

There is a limit of 2000 characters

13. Which professional disciplines should be captured by the national standards?

Counsellors Only specified categories of counsellors (please describe below) Psychotherapists Only specified categories of psychotherapists, (please describe below) Other (please describe below)

14. What areas should be captured by the national standards?

Education and training Client rights Competence Continuing professional development Quality of care Ethical conduct Cultural competency Other

Please describe in the text box below why these areas are important.

There is a limit of 2000 characters

15. Which areas should not be captured by the national standards?

Education and training Client rights Competence Continuing professional development Quality of care Ethical conduct Cultural competency Other

Please describe in the text box below why these areas should be excluded.

There is a limit of 2000 characters

16. Who should have oversight of the national standards?

Australian Government Accrediting peak bodies No oversight – opt-in voluntary model Other (please describe below)

17. In your opinion, how do you think education on these standards should occur?

Please limit your response to 2000 characters or less

There is a limit of 2000 characters

18. In your opinion, should compliance with the national standards be voluntary or mandatory for all counselling professions?

Please limit your response to 2000 characters or less

There is a limit of 2000 characters

19. What does the Department need to consider to ensure the change from existing arrangements to national standards are successful?

Please limit your response to 2000 characters or less

There is a limit of 2000 characters

20. Noting that we will be talking with advocates of people with lived experience, what role might people with lived experience and their representative bodies have in the implementation of these standards?

Please limit your response to 2000 characters or less

There is a limit of 2000 characters

21. Do you have any further comments about the development of national standards for counsellors and psychotherapists?

Please limit your response to 2000 characters or less

There is a limit of 2000 characters