It has been a remarkable year of growth, transformation, and advocacy for the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and the counselling profession as a whole. With new Board members, leadership team, and strategic priorities, ACA has navigated a changing landscape while remaining steadfast in its mission to strengthen and advance the counselling profession.
Strategic Pillars
This year the ACA leadership team developed a strategic framework based on four core pillars:
- Our Vision: To advance the counselling profession
- Our Mission: To strengthen the counselling profession
- Our Members: To improve the member experience
- Our Future: To invest in our next generation of counsellors
These pillars guided every initiative in 2024 and were shared monthly in the ACA Bulletin, reinforcing our commitment to transparency and accountability.
Our Growth
This year ACA recorded a 26% increase in registrations, reflecting the growing demand for counselling professionals. As of December 2024, our community proudly comprises 18,000 registered counsellors, psychotherapists, and students. We extend our gratitude to each of one of you. ACA registration signifies a shared commitment to accountability, professionalism, and public safety, values we proudly uphold.
Building for the Future
To support our expanding community, ACA completed a comprehensive review and overhaul of its internal systems, achieving several key milestones:
- A new website and member portal with automated workflows
- Integration of multiple systems into a unified customer relationship database for faster and more effective member support
- Enhanced IT security and upgraded licences
- Launched a new Private Health Fund Portal that offers ease of use and enhanced oversight of your health fund applications
- Introduction of sleek Digital Registration Cards, offering a professional way to show your commitment
- Launch of national police checks for registration to ensure the safety and trust of the communities we serve
These initiatives have significantly improved processes, including reducing student application processing times from six weeks to immediate membership through self-service. The improvements have also enhanced data integrity, reduced manual handling, and allowed staff to focus on higher-value tasks and responding to your enquiries sooner. These changes also enabled ACA to pass a critical Medibank Audit with 100% compliance.
Elevating the Profession
ACA is known for its strong position as a leading industry voice, recognised by the Australian Government. The size of our representation within the counselling profession is an important factor in all discussions, engagement opportunities.
ACA has actively engaged with the Department of Health and Aged Care on pivotal reforms, including the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) review and the development of National Standards for Counsellors and Psychotherapists. These efforts ensure ACA’s voice is heard at the highest levels, shaping the future of the profession.
Key highlights from 2024 include:
- Our media release to call for all other states and territories to follow Victoria’s lead in expanding eligibility for ACA registered counsellors to apply for Mental Health Practitioner roles within secondary and specialist schools. The response received certainly put counsellors back on the agenda for discussion, with media coverage across ABC Radio for Northern Territory, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart and The Educator.
- Significant progress was made in expanding full-time employment opportunities for counsellors. Initiatives such as roles within Open Arms (Department of Veterans’ Affairs) have created new pathways for counsellors, including in regional and remote areas.
- Representation on the global stage at the ASSOCounselling Conference in Naples, Italy, where I proudly shared updates on our profession with 800 international delegates.
- Expanded eligibility for ACA registered counsellors under health funds such as HCF, Mildura Health, and Teachers Health Fund, as well as WorkSafe Victoria expanded eligibility to all ACA Level 3 and 4 counsellors.
Engagement
In 2024, ACA connected with its members in meaningful ways:
- 54,753 emails handled by our Member Services Team during the 2023/2024 financial year.
- A successful hybrid Research Symposium in Brisbane, bringing professionals together to share insights and connect both in-person and online.
- The ACA 2024 Workforce Census, collecting vital data on employment and working conditions of counsellors in Australia to provide insight into the current state of the counselling workforce such as the qualifications held, experience and workload to help us build a picture of the capacity of the profession.
- National Student Roadshows, providing career guidance and one-on-one consultations through a new scheduling system.
New Benefits
This year, ACA introduced a range of valuable benefits, including:
- Free professional development opportunities via the Black Dog Institute eMHPrac Hub.
- 2,000 free licenses for LivingWorks START training and low-cost LivingWorks ASIST training with thanks to MATES In Construction.
- Launch of Counsellor Toolkits covering essential topics like mandatory reporting, cultural competence, and setting up a private practice.
- Free monthly member webinars for professional development featuring experts from organisations like Smart Recovery, Windsor Recruitment, Australian Institute of Family Studies, National Eating Disorders Collaboration, and more.
- Over 250 ACA Chapter Meetings held across 25 locations and online, offering networking and professional development opportunities.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we move into 2025, we are energised by the momentum of this past year. Together, we will continue to drive change to advance the profession, champion our community, and support the growth and wellbeing of registered counsellors, psychotherapists and students nationwide.
Thank you for your dedication to a profession that brings meaning, purpose, and impact to so many lives.
Jodie McKenzie
CEO, Australian Counselling Association
