Blogs

Alison Whitwood: Slowly, slowly

By Admin ACA posted 7 hours ago
11 August 2026 Last month I wrote about my carefully made plans being interrupted by an unexpected return to tech work. I had graduated, become an ACA Registered Counsellor, registered a business name and was ready to launch myself enthusiastically into private practice. Then my part-time job became a full-time job. ------- This month has been less dramatic. I’m settling into the rhythm of working, studying and seeing clients. I’m also learning not to context switch quite so much. “Context switching” is a term I picked up from the tech guy I replaced. He worked set days on each client’s account and declined our offer of more work because ...

New Resource: Counselling Support After Hospital Discharge

By Admin ACA posted 7 hours ago
13 August 2026 Leaving hospital after a mental health admission is an important milestone . But f or many people, the transition back into everyday life can bring uncertainty as they adjust . -------- Some patients feel relieved to be home, while others find the adjustment more difficult than they expected. Family members and carers are often navigating this period alongside them and may also benefit from support. Counselling can provide a supportive space during this transition. Counselling involves a safe and confidential collaboration between qualified practitioners and clients to promote mental health ...

Member Spotlight: Jacqui Brassington

By Admin ACA posted 10 days ago
3 August 2026 Meet Jacqui Brassington Each month we spotlight an ACA member in the ACA Monthly Bulletin, our monthly newsletter. The Member Spotlight is designed to showcase the work of our members to you! We hope their stories inspire or spark interest. Let’s share our experiences within our counselling community. What motivated you to pursue a career in counselling/psychotherapy? My entry into formal counselling began through community volunteer work, following a rewarding seventeen-year career as a family daycare provider. When an unexpected injury brought that chapter to an abrupt end in 2008, it triggered a significant ...

Call for Contributors: Ethical Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy

By Admin ACA posted 17 days ago
27 July 2026 Historically, counselling education across Australia and the Oceania region has leaned heavily on textbooks and resources developed in the US and UK. While valuable, these materials often fall short of reflecting the unique cultural contexts and professional landscapes of our region, posing challenges to the development of a truly localised professional identity. Dr Susan Sisko, University of Canberra, is looking to change that, and has secured a publishing contract with international academic publisher Palgrave to lead the creation of a 10-volume textbook series titled: Palgrave Studies in Counselling and Psychotherapy in Oceania. ...

ACA welcomes expanded paid placements but urges Government not to leave counselling students behind

By Admin ACA posted 20 days ago
23 July 2026 The Australian Counselling Association (ACA) has welcomed the Australian Government's decision to expand the Commonwealth Prac Payment scheme to an additional ten allied health professions from 1 July 2027, while expressing disappointment that counselling students remain excluded. The announcement, made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Australian Labor Party National Conference, will provide eligible students studying clinical psychology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, podiatry, audiology, radiography, rehabilitation therapies, paramedicine and pharmacy with financial support while undertaking mandatory clinical ...

ACA 2027 Conference: Expression of Interest for Review Committee

By Admin ACA posted 22 days ago
22 July 2026 The Australian Counselling Association (ACA) is inviting expressions of interest from ACA members who would like to volunteer as reviewers for the ACA 2027 National Conference Abstract Review Committee . Please note is this a volunteer role. As a reviewer, you will be assigned approximately 15-20 conference abstracts to assess against the conference review criteria if suitable to form part of the program. Abstracts will be allocated progressively as submissions are received, with approximately two months following the close of submissions to complete your reviews. --------------------- To be an eligible volunteer, you must: ...

Medicare Mental Health Check In: Free digital mental health support

By Admin ACA posted 23 days ago
22 July 2026 Counselling and support services are available in a range of formats. If you’re feeling the desire to reach out for help, but seeing someone in person feels uncomfortable, or you’re not sure what level of support you need, there are many digital tools at your disposal. ----------------------- Medicare has just launched a new, free digital service called Medicare Mental Health Check In , available to those experiencing mild mental health challenges like stress, anxiety, and low mood. It is designed to provide early intervention support, offering evidence-based and confidential guidance, helping to build practical skills, confidence ...

Alison Whitwood: The Best-Laid Plans

By Admin ACA posted 24 days ago
13 July 2026 In last month's blog I wrote about graduating, becoming an ACA Registered Counsellor and being ready to go. After a year on Austudy , I had a place on the government's Self-Employment Assistance Program, registered a business name and was ready to launch Inner Gold Counselling. I had a plan. Yeah ... no.... I'm a member of a not-for-profit organisation that suddenly found itself with some fairly urgent technical problems to solve. I have spent most of my working life in IT, so I had the skills to help. One thing led to another, and what began as a part-time job managing a developer ended up ...

Counselling Services in Regional and Rural Areas – Help Is Closer Than You Think

By Admin ACA posted 28 days ago
16 July 2026 Living in a regional community has many advantages – strong community connection, a slower pace of life and a closer connection to nature. But when life becomes overwhelming, it can sometimes feel like professional mental health support is out of reach. ------------------------------------ Whether the impact of natural disasters, financial pressures, isolation, or the stresses of everyday life, people living in regional areas experience similar mental health concerns as those in metropolitan cities. Yet, many Australians still believe they have limited options due to geography when it comes to finding support. ------------------------------------ ...

Five Ways To Improve Your LinkedIn Profile in 10 Minutes Or Less

By Admin ACA posted 29 days ago
17 July 2026 With our online presence increasingly becoming a part of who we are, ensuring our professional social media aligns with our aspirations, and highlights our achievements is critical. This article provides five quick and simple fixes to your LinkedIn profile that will increase your visibility on the platform. As part of the ACA Career Centre , which connects registered counsellors with employment opportunities and career resources, we’re spotlighting the following article which shares practical tips to create a polished and professional LinkedIn presence for yourself. ---------------------------------------------------------------- ...

Welcoming new Board Directors

By Admin ACA posted 09-07-2026
9 July 2026 The Australian Counselling Association (ACA) Board is pleased to announce the appointment of two new Directors. The ACA Board brings together a diverse range of expertise across governance, financial management, legislative compliance, accreditation, government policy, allied health leadership, business, entrepreneurship, counselling and the broader mental health sector. Together, the Board is responsible for providing strategic direction and ensuring ACA continues to serve the best interests of its members and the counselling profession. Outgoing Board Director Adam McIlvaine, Student Representative Director The ...

AusAlert Emergency Warning: Potential Impact on your Clients

By Admin ACA posted 03-07-2026
3 July 2026 Australia's new national emergency alert system, AusAlert, will launch in October 2026. AusAlert is designed to help keep communities safe during emergencies, disasters and other nationally significant events by sending urgent safety messages directly to compatible mobile phones. To introduce the new system, AusAlert will be conducting a national test on all Australian phones at 2:00pm (AEST) Monday 27 July. These alerts are audibly loud and will bypass silent mode and Do Not Disturb settings. What does this mean for your clients? It is not uncommon for victims of domestic or family violence to rely on ...

Member Spotlight: Peter Rogers

By Admin ACA posted 30-06-2026
Friday 3 July 2026 Meet Peter Rogers Each month we spotlight an ACA member in the ACA Monthly Bulletin, our monthly newsletter. The Member Spotlight is designed to showcase the work of our members to you! We hope their stories inspire or spark interest. Let’s share our experiences within our counselling community. What motivated you to pursue a career in counselling/psychotherapy? I’ve always appreciated help and kindness from others, and being a counsellor and supervisor positions us to do just that. Both roles are privileges and positions of trust. I appreciate that too, and the complexity of our work makes it more inviting and engaging. ...

Research Opportunity: Attitudes Towards the use of Gen-AI

By Admin ACA posted 30-06-2026
30 June 2026 The research team at the Brain and Mind Centre at The University of Sydney and the University of Technology is seeking your input to investigate how attitudes toward AI are shaping the future of allied health. What does my participation involve? Participation involves a 20–30-minute survey, responding to a series of questions which include your demographic information, your work setting, and the perceived benefits and risks of integrating gen-AI into allied-health care settings. We are also interested in how cognitive factors influence attitudes towards the use of AI technologies. The survey includes a subset of questions exploring general ...

Expression of Interest: Exposure Therapy Beliefs and Experiences

By Admin ACA posted 30-06-2026
30 June 2026 The University of Melbourne is seeking therapists in Australia who provide therapy for people who experience anxiety disorders (social anxiety, panic disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, specific phobia), OCD, or PTSD. The project has been granted ethics approval from the University of Melbourne Office of Research Ethics and Integrity. If selected, you will be asked to complete 20-30 minutes' worth of questions, providing information about your professional background as well as your attitudes and typical approaches to therapy. This research is anticipated to improve understanding of the attitudes and practices among therapists ...

Australian Counselling Association welcomes new Chief Executive Officer

By Admin ACA posted 22-06-2026
22 June 2026 The Australian Counselling Association is delighted to welcome Ms Peta Pitcher, who today commences as its new Chief Executive Officer. Ms Pitcher is an accomplished senior executive and governance professional with a strong background in organisational leadership, with deep experience across member-based organisations, advocacy-led not-for-profits and highly regulated service sectors. Her combination of executive leadership, strategic vision and governance expertise positions her strongly to lead ACA through its next phase of growth, innovation and professional leadership. Announcing the appointment, ACA Chair Dee Hardy said ...

Phishing in 2026: Why Counsellors Need to Be Alert with Harvey Norman Technology for Business

By Admin ACA posted 16-06-2026
16 June 2026 ACA is committed to providing valuable resources that support members in their professional practice and everyday operations. In collaboration with Harvey Norman Technology for Business, we’re pleased to share practical guidance to help strengthen your technology safeguards. Phishing remains one of the most common and successful cyber threats affecting Australian businesses and counselling practices are no exception. While many people associate phishing with obvious scam emails or poor grammar, today’s attacks are far more sophisticated, targeted, and difficult to spot. In 2026, phishing has evolved into a highly convincing threat that preys ...

Alison Whitwood: From Student to Registered Counsellor | June 2026

By Admin ACA posted 15-06-2026
15 June 2026 Alison Whitwood is a dedicated student counsellor navigating her final year of studies. Throughout 2026, we will follow Alison's journey as she balances academics, practical experience, and personal growth on her path to becoming a professional counsellor. Through her monthly blog, she will share insights, challenges, and valuable lessons, offering a real and relatable perspective on life as a final-year counselling student. Stay tuned for an inspiring year ahead! I’m very proud to say that I’m now an ACA Registered Counsellor. This was exactly why I took on the last year of study. Before that I did all sorts of training that ...

ACA 2026 Identity Symposium

By Admin ACA posted 04-06-2026
4 June 2026 On the 28 May 2026, counsellors, psychotherapists, researchers and mental health professionals gathered in Melbourne and online for the Australian Counselling Association's 2026 Identity Symposium. The symposium explored how identity shapes the counselling process and sits beneath many of the presenting issues practitioners encounter in their work. Across the day, presenters examined how identity can be shaped, challenged, disrupted and reconstructed through experiences including pregnancy loss, parenthood, eating disorders, body image concerns, domestic and family violence, disability, isolation and involvement with the justice system. ...

ACA 2026 Counselling Excellence Award Winners

By Admin ACA posted 04-06-2026
4 June 2026 On 28 May 2026, the counselling community gathered in Melbourne for an evening dedicated to recognising the people and initiatives making a meaningful difference across the profession. The ACA Counselling Excellence Awards brought together members, educators, industry partners and supporters to celebrate outstanding achievements and the positive impact counsellors have in communities throughout Australia. These awards acknowledge the passion, leadership and commitment that drive excellence in counselling practice. The evening was marked by inspiring stories, well-deserved recognition and a shared sense of pride in the work being carried ...