Submissions
The most pressing challenges facing the I/O Psychology profession is obtaining endorsement and formal supervision. Notwithstanding these challenges, our focus also remains firmly on engaging the I/O Psychology community and bringing a sense of collaboration and unity to our profession.
SIOPA’s submissions
2023
PsyBA Consultation – Changing Code of Ethics
SIOPA provided a submission to the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) about the proposed departure from the APS Code of Ethics to a new Board Code of Conduct from the perspective of IO psychology. The submission focused on key issues including the concerns about elements of the code that do not apply (or aren’t the same) in IO settings. While we support the alignment of a change in codes to the requirements under National Law (e.g., including Cultural Safety in the code), we noted that there were still elements of the code that would make it difficult for registered practitioners in IO settings to meet the obligations included.
PsyBA Consultation – Changing General Registration Competencies
SIOPA recognises that all organisational psychologists are required to achieve general registration, and for many who complete an accredited organisational psychology qualification they may continue to practice as generally registered and not seek specialist endorsement. SIOPA prepared a submission for the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) on the proposed changes to competencies for general registration from the perspective of IO psychology. The submission noted strengths of the proposed changes (e.g., the inclusion of cultural safety in the new proposed competencies) and also highlighted some risks in the new suggested changes (e.g., the removal of research and evaluation as a competency that loses the important focus on the ability to evaluate practice and contribute to the body about what works in different settings).
2020
Social and Economic Benefits of Improving Mental Health
Draft Report
SIOPA recognises the importance of recommendations provided by the Productivity Commission and welcomed the opportunity to provide a submission on the draft report findings and recommendations. Our submission emphasises the application of a strategic approach to workplace mental health and evidence based practice to ensure workplaces can achieve a motivated, flourishing and appropriately placed workforce to support the mental health of workers.
2019
Social and Economic Benefits of Improving Mental Health
Terms of Reference
Organisational Psychologists go beyond a narrow ‘mental health’ focus to highlight the social and economic benefits of the application of I/O Psychology to achieving a motivated, flourishing, appropriately placed workforce (e.g. people better matched to jobs in terms of ability, personality, competencies and values). I/O Psychology strongly emphasises the application of psychological science and practice at the individual, team and organisational levels. Organisational Psychologists apply a systems approach to work which results in productive organisational cultures, leadership, learning, communication, work design and person-technology interaction.
2018
Mentally Healthy Workplaces
Organisational Psychologists’ are subject matter experts in optimising organisational performance and employee well-being. Our expertise and knowledge of individual, group and organisational factors means we are well placed to accurately identify the root cause of an issue, and identify effective prevention and intervention strategies at all levels of the organisation.
- Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS): Draft code of practice for mentally healthy workplaces for fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) workers in the resources and construction sectors in Western Australia. First round of consultation.
- Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS): Modernising work health and safety laws in Western Australia.
- Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS): Draft code of practice for mentally healthy workplaces for fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) workers in the resources and construction sectors in Western Australia. Second round of consultation.
- Monash University: Draft clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of work-related mental health conditions in general practice.
Supervision and Supervisor Training Providers
SIOPA recognises the requirement for standards and registration guidelines to ensure a highly skilled and capable profession, in which the public is protected. Given this, we recommended the Psychology Board of Australia develop two separate guidelines; one for supervisors and one for supervisor training providers, including the incorporation of the revocation policies into their associated guideline.
2017
Registration and Standards
SIOPA recognises the requirement for standards and registration guidelines to ensure a highly skilled and capable profession, in which the public is protected. SIOPA advocates that National Examinations should not be required for graduates who complete Masters or Doctoral Psychology training programs as a pathway to registration. The requirement to complete the National examination in addition to the extensive training and supervision they have already completed is burdensome and unnecessary. Graduates have already demonstrated their competence through extensive assessments and supervised practice. Furthermore, we strongly recommended the National Examination is re-designed to be an assessment of the core competencies of all disciplines in which an entry level psychologist could work and apply psychological principles, including Community Psychology, Educational and Developmental Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Health Psychology, Organisational Psychology, and Sport Psychology, and not focused predominantly on Counselling and Clinical Psychology competencies (the current design).
- Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA): National Psychology Examination Curriculum Review.
- COAG Health Council: Independent review of accreditation systems within the national registration and accreditation scheme for health professions.
If you would like more information on a particular submission, would like to contribute to future submissions or have a suggestion, contact us.