PACFA Workforce Survey

The first PACFA Workforce Survey is a tool developed by PACFA to gain accurate and up to date information about PACFA members and the counselling and psychotherapy professions in general.

The Survey applies to all members of PACFA and aims to provide PACFA with vital information needed to support our advocacy work and our overall credibility and provide us with a valuable base of information to begin to document the credentials, legitimacy and practice characteristics of our profession, as well as identifying the needs and views of members to help guide our planning for the future.

Data collection has now finished.

Any questions regarding the survey should be directed the PACFA office on (03) 9486 3077 or by email to admin@pacfa.org.au .

Thank you to those who have completed the survey.

Publications arising from the survey:

Schofield, M.J. (2008). Australian counsellors and psychotherapists: A profile of the profession. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 8(1), 4-11.

Abstract:
In the absence of comprehensive Australian data on the counselling and psychotherapy profession, this study aimed to examine the profile of professionals affiliated with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) to inform future policy and service planning. PACFA’s first workforce survey was undertaken in 2004. This cross-sectional survey was mailed and e-mailed to all members of the 41 professional associations affiliated with PACFA. A total of 316 full responses were received. This paper presents findings related to demographics, training and specialisation, theoretical orientation, professional affiliations, work and practice settings, and work roles. The study provides a baseline for future workforce surveys and a resource for policy development for the profession.