1. ACA requiring minimum Bachelor level qualifications for level 1 members

This is FALSE.

The ACA decided to cancel the provisional membership from the 1st of July 2023. They did this because many of the people taking provisional membership had completed diplomas that were below the ACA standards. Now the entry membership for the ACA is Level 1.

HERE ARE THE FACTS:

• As of the 1st of July 2023, the ONLY way to get level 1 membership with the ACA is if you have completed an ACA approved course, such as our CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling

• The minimum level of study for entry into the ACA is an ACA approved CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling

• There are NO plans to have this minimum level lifted at this stage

2. The New National Standards

The government in all its wisdom, has begun a consultation process with PACFA and the ACA around the development and implementation of National Standards for Counselling and Psychotherapy. This is TRUE. This is a very good thing as it will ultimately mean that the counselling and psychotherapy profession in Australia will be regulated. Most of us in the industry welcome this.

The conversation has however only just begun, and there is NO information about what the standards will be. At the last ACA meeting I was at, which discussed this, the CEO of the ACA said that no one knows anything about the standards yet, as the conversation has only just begun, and (I quote) "if anyone says that they do, they are lying!"

HERE ARE THE FACTS:

• The government has started a consultation around the development of a set of national standards for counselling and psychotherapy

• This conversation has only just begun and there are no details apart from the fact that the conversation has started

• The ACA is involved in the conversation and they will keep members updated

• At this stage there is NO indication of what level of qualification will be set as the minimum or if that will in fact be a part of the standards

IAP is keeping an eye on the conversation and will be involved in it as much as possible. We will keep all our students up to date with any information and distribute any news and updates.

We appreciate that some of you may be feeling uncomfortable with this ambiguity, however please rest assured we will keep you all up to date as more information is disseminated.

For now, if you have any questions around the Diploma or the possible national standards, or our standing with the ACA, please contact me (Jorge) or Denise. This will help to decrease the misinformation and confusion.

Thanks,
Jorge Rebolledo, RTO Manager

P: 1300 380 681
E: support@iap.edu.au
P: 6 Middlemiss Street, Lavender Bay, NSW 2060
W: www.iap.edu.au