The Board wishes to thank everybody who took the time to submit proposals on how the Board’s excess funds should be used once the financial obligations of the transition to the national registration scheme have been met.

The Board received a variety of proposals which were considered and discussed by the Board at its meeting on 8 December 2009.

The Board agreed with the sentiment expressed by many respondents that excess funds should be used specifically to benefit South Australian psychologists.

It was noted that a high number of the responses pointed out problems with expense and accessibility of quality continuing professional education for psychologists in South Australia and proposed that funds be used in this area.

The Board agreed that the preferred option for use of the excess funds is the establishment of an educational trust fund which would be accessible to all South Australian psychologists and would contribute to maintaining high standards of professional conduct, competency, and practice in South Australia.

Following the meeting the Board wrote to the Minister for Health seeking permission to establish an educational trust fund.

The Board also advised the Minister that should this proposal not be accepted the Board would instead like to establish scholarships for psychology Masters students and a fund to provide for professional supervision for South Australian psychologists.

The Board has recently received a response from the Minister for Health advising that the use of surplus funds from South Australian registration boards will be considered at a later date following a due diligence process.

The South Australian Psychological Board (the Board) is the statutory body established to regulate the practice of psychology in the public interest. The Board ensures that psychologists in this State are responsive to the community's needs by: the approval of higher education courses that prepare individuals for registration; ensuring that people applying for registration or renewal have the skills, knowledge and competence expected of the profession; establishing benchmarks for practice through endorsing standards and codes of conduct and practice; investigating complaints about a psychologist's conduct, competence or capacity; initiating formal disciplinary action or educational counselling Address Location :      16 Norma Street, Mile End SA 5031 Postal :           PO Box 229, Torrensville Plaza SA 5031 Telephone :   +61 8 8443 9669 Facsimile :     +61 8 8443 9550 E-mail :           sapb@saboards.com.au All correspondence must be directed to the Chief Executive Officer / Registrar at the postal address above. If you are having problems viewing the box on the left please click here What's New.