|
|
PACFA
Training Standards
Introduction
The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia
(PACFA) represents a unique venture in the history of
psychotherapy and counselling in Australia. For the first time,
representatives of the major public and private providers have
pooled the richness of their resources to present to the
consumer a Federation with clear standards and protective
ethical integrity.
This venture has required enormous good will and cooperation
between diverse schools of thought. Traditional practice has
tended towards protection of one's own approach, towards
elitism, towards myopic preoccupation with the presumed
superiority of a particular school of thought.
While the experience of unprecedented collaboration has been a
hallmark of this venture, an equally important focus has been to
respect and encourage the diversity of psychotherapy and
counselling associations. Students undertake psychotherapy and
counselling training in various settings (e.g. universities,
private providers), within various course structures
(Psychotherapy, Counselling, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing
etc.), and for a variety of personal reasons. This document
encourages maximum flexibility for the different schools of
thought to pursue these standards in unique and different ways,
and in no way wishes to reduce different traditions to a lowest
common denominator. Some already existing associations have
entrance requirements and standards of training and supervision
in excess of this document. Encouragement is given to these and
many other associations to maintain maximum autonomy in
developing further their professional expertise while at the
same time being part of this Psychotherapy and Counselling
Federation.
The standards set out in the Training Standards apply primarily
to associations that wish to become members of PACFA. Such
associations need to ensure that their full clinical members
meet the standards set out in the Training Standards.
Training Standards Document January 2007
These standards will come into effect as of the 1st of January
2007.
Training Standards Document January 2009
These standards will come into effect as of the 1st of January
2009.
It is recommended that as of January 2009 the training pathways
for Register and Training Standards be brought into alignment.
This will mean there will be two training pathways used for both
the register and the Training Standards. These two pathways will
be called “Undergraduate Equivalent” and “Postgraduate
Equivalent”. The Undergraduate Equivalent Pathway will consist
of 350 hours of training and 50 hours of supervision over three
years while the Postgraduate equivalent will consist of 200
hours of training and 50 hours of supervision over two years,
but will assume an undergraduate degree or equivalent.
The additional post training supervision and clinical practice
of 750 hours direct client work with 75 hours post-training
supervision over at least two years currently required by the
Register will remain the same.
|
|
