13 April 2023
As part of our work as the self-regulator for
counselling, psychotherapy and Indigenous Healing Practices, and our role
reinforcing the value and credibility of the workforce, PACFA is revising our
renewal processes for 2023-2024.
When renewing registration this year PACFA
members will need to provide a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check
(formerly ‘National Police Check’), in line with community expectations and
other national health service provider standards.
Members have a choice whether they want to
provide a pre-existing Check or order a new one. Previous Checks which are less
than two years old can be uploaded to the Member Portal. Individuals who
require a new Check can order one from ACIC-accredited Check provider Urban
Verified. This Check will be sent to you within 48 hours in most cases.
PACFA is aware that some of our members are
not comfortable with the information included in National Police Checks and
would rather not share some personal details. In order to ensure a more supportive
and inclusive process, PACFA has consulted with our College of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Healing Practices (CATSIHP) and our Diversity in Gender, Body,
Kinship, and Sexuality (GBKS) Interest Group to develop a process that is
sensitive to the needs and concerns of our members whilst meeting the need to
verify practitioner safety.
PACFA and Urban Verified have committed to
share the successful results of the Check without the need for PACFA to have
access to any Checks undertaken. This means that any personal information (such
as previous or current administrative gender marker or previous names) is not
shared with PACFA. PACFA is only advised of the successful or otherwise
completion of the Check.
Individuals with past Checks that they wish
to supply to PACFA which include personal information they do not want shared
are advised to redact any personal details (e.g., previous or current
administrative gender marker or previous names) using Adobe before uploading
the PDF. PACFA only requires to be able to read the current member name and
result of Check.
The requirement for a Check only relates to practicing
members (Certified Practising Counsellors, Registered Clinical Counsellors and
Registered Clinical Psychotherapists). Student, Academic, Affiliate or
international members are not required to submit Checks at this time.
If you do not submit a Check when completing
your renewal, you will be reminded post renewal until you do so. You will be
able to complete your renewal as usual at the time of payment and your
registration status will not be affected at this time. Members are also required to submit information about their Working with Children Check if
they work with children. For more information about this contact [email protected].
PACFA membership database and website system,
iMIS EMS, has been certified under the International Organisation for
Standardisation’s (ISO) global standards for information security management
systems. ASI, the company that manages iMIS, believes that iMIS is
the only platform of its kind to have achieved this benchmark, representing the
highest standard for information security.
Members should be aware that PACFA has adopted the same criminal history registration standard as the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). This is overseen by the Professional Standards Committee.
For more information about this process, for
further information about obtaining a Check, or for any other questions please contact
[email protected].
Read the list of requirements for 2023/2024 membership renewals.