The Australian Psychological Society is one of the professional associations for psychologists in Australia. The APS claims to have more than 22,000 members, making it the largest professional body representing psychologists in Australia. The Society's Code of Ethics was adopted in 2007 and became the Code of Ethics for the profession in Australia in 2010 when it was taken up by the newly-formed Psychology Board of Australia. The APS also provides members with recommendations of appropriate fees to charge for their professional services.
Membership
Eligibility for full membership of the APS is complicated. In most cases, full, general registration as a psychologist with AHPRA - Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency - will ensure eligibility. Other levels of membership are available, such as associate membership, for psychologists with provisional registration with AHPRA. Undergraduate students studying any APAC accredited psychology units are eligible to become APS student subscribers. This subscription is dependent on continuing study in psychology. Around 60% of all state registered psychologists are APS members, and student subscribers represent 12% of members. Of this, the gender breakdown by members is 74% female and 26% male.
Ethics
All Australian psychologists are bound by the APS Code of Ethics. ‘The Code’ was adopted by the registering authority, The Psychology Board of Australia, in 2010. The PsyBA works together with AHPRA to register psychologists. In Australia, the term ‘psychologist’ is protected and only those registered with AHPRA may use it. Registration with any other professional body, such as the APS, is optional.
Presidents
The following have been Presidents of the Society.
Conferences
The APS organises a number conferences every year: In 2015, the APS is running the following conferences:
2nd College of Counselling Psychologists College Conference in Melbourne
APS Neurofeedback & Psychology Interest Group in Coolangatta
College of Health Psychologists Conference in Sydney
The APS also promotes and facilitates psychology-related events, which can be found on the APS Events Calendar, which includes an indicator of individual events’ CPD loading for professional psychologists. The APS also regularly attends a number of national conferences as a participant.
Journals
The APS publishes three journals with Wiley: Australian Journal of Psychology, Australian Psychologist and Clinical Psychologist.
Education and training
The APS has nine colleges, these are in the areas of neuropsychology, forensic, community, health, clinical, counselling, educational and developmental, organisational and sport and exercise psychology. In 2009, the APS developed a new 5th yearpostgraduate diploma in professional practice. This training model has been introduced via the "5+1" pathway as a transitional alternative to the "4+2" system that has been in place for many years as a basic standard for registration as a psychologist in Australia. This is reflective of the ultimate goal of the APS to set the minimum requirement of registration at the master's degree level. The new 5+1 pathway incorporates a five-year university sequence in psychology training, followed by one year accredited workplace supervision. As of 2010, the Psychology Board of Australia became the sole agency responsible for the registration of psychologists across Australia. The Board adopted the APS Code of Ethics for all members of the profession.
