21 September 2023 (Updated)
IMPORTANT UPDATE - deadline to provide documentation evidence extended to 16 October 2023
PACFA is pleased to advise members that the deadline to provide PACFA with your National Police Check (NPC), Insurance and/or Working With Children's Check evidence has been extended to Monday, 16 October 2023 (previously 30 September 2023).
Practising members that have renewed for 2023/2024, but have not yet provided evidence of a valid NPC, Insurance and/or WWCC will have received an email reminder from PACFA that they need to provide these documents to finalise their 2023/2024 registration renewal.
Following feedback from members that they are experiencing supplier delays, PACFA has granted all members a 2 week grace period. Practising members that are yet to provide evidence to support their ongoing PACFA registration now have until Monday, 16th October to upload the evidence to the My Documents page* on the member portal without risk of registration suspension or incurring additional fees.
If you are able to upload your documentation by Monday, 16th October, there is no need to contact the office. This extension has already been applied to your registration. Your PACFA registration will continue until Monday, 16th October.
*Due to the current influx of members uploading documents to the Member Portal, you may find that the upload function is slow at the moment. PACFA recommends avoiding peak business times to help with the system efficiency.
As of 2023, practising members are required to provide evidence of a valid National Police Check, insurance and WWCC (if applicable)
As of this year, in addition to CPD and supervision requirements, practising members must provide evidence of a valid insurance, National Police Check, and for those that work with young people, a Working with Children's Check (WWCC).'
If you are not able to provide evidence of insurance, a National Police Check or WWCC at this point in time, you can still renew now. Doing so will grant you a "registration pending" status.
Evidence must be provided by Monday, 16th October (previously 30th September) via the MyDocuments tab on your PACFA member portal.
Please note that this “grace period” does not apply to other renewal requirements, including CPD and supervision requirements. All other registration renewal requirements, including CPD and Supervision requirements must be met by the 30 September.
Failure to provide evidence of NPC, Insurance and/or WWCC (if applicable) by 16th October 2023 will result in registration suspension
Members that do not provide evidence of NPC, Insurance and/or WWCC (for members that work with children and young people) by Monday, 16th October, will have their PACFA registration suspended until evidence is provided.
Where a PACFA registration is suspended:
- The member will have a suspended status on the Australian Register of Counsellors & Psychotherapists (ARCAP Register)
- The member will have their contact details removed from the ARCAP Register
- The member will not appear on the Find a Therapist Directory
- The member will not be issued with a PACFA registration certificate
Please be aware that members who have their registration suspended will continue to have access to PACFA member benefits for the duration of the registration suspension, e.g. discounted CPD events, eNews, up until the end of the membership year, 30 June 2024.
How to lift registration suspension
To lift registration suspension, and have all conditions of suspension removed, members will be required to:
- Provide adequate evidence of NPC, Insurance and/or WWCC (applicable to their conditions of suspension)
- Satisfactorily complete and submit the Request to Lift Registration Suspension Form
- If after Friday, 1 December 2023: Pay the Lift Registration Suspension Fee of $165 (incl. GST)*
*Noting that it is the first year that members are required to provide evidence to support their renewal, PACFA is waiving the Lift Registration Suspension Fee of $165 (incl GST) for members that successfully re-register from suspension between the 17th October 2023 - 30th November 2023.
If a member does not provide evidence by 30 June 2024, their PACFA membership will lapse and they will need to reapply to PACFA.
Please note:
Members are reminded that PACFA takes no responsibility for registration with PACFA until all registration renewal requirements are met.
Refunds are not provided for PACFA registration renewal fees.