Invitation for comments & proposals re: use of excess funds
The South Australian Psychological Board is due to be dissolved on 1 July 2010 and there will be a financial transition to the
National Registration and Accreditation Scheme.
The Board has financial obligations which must be met including:
- Transfer to the National Agency funds equivalent to fees paid by registrants for the period that extends beyond 1 July 2010.
- Transfer to the National Agency the 2009 operating expenditure which will cover current liabilities in relation to staff and
disciplinary matters.
- Costs incurred to wind down the existing Board and transfer functions of the Board to the National Agency.
It is expected that after these financial obligations are met the Board will have a significant balance of excess funds and the
Board is therefore considering how best to apply these funds to benefit the psychology profession in South Australia.
Current Board suggestions include establishment of a trust fund for one or more of the following purposes:
Masters Scholarships
The Board has noted that psychology PhD students generally receive a scholarship to support them in their studies, however there is
little financial support available for psychology Masters students. Therefore it has been suggested that the Board establish a
scholarship fund available to psychology Masters students in South Australia.
Professional Supervision
One of the current functions of the Board is the investigation of complaints about psychologists’ conduct, competence or capacity,
and it has been noticed that a significant proportion of these complaints concern psychologists in private practice who have
limited access to supervision and guidance from senior psychologists.
The funds could be used to pay for private professional supervision, particularly targeting new graduates in private practice,
psychologists returning to practice after extended absence, and psychologists in sole or very small practices. However any
registered psychologist whose practice would benefit from private supervision could apply for funds.
Educational Trust Fund
It has also been noted that Continuing Professional Development will be a mandatory requirement for all psychologists under the
National Registration and Accreditation Scheme. The funds could be used to subsidise the continued professional development of
psychologists in South Australia.
Application could also be made for funds to be used for education purposes such as presentations by visiting experts in psychology
and workshops related to clinical practice issues for psychologists.
The Board invites members of the profession to submit comments in response to these suggestions as well as alternative proposals
aimed at the maintenance of appropriate standards of professional conduct and practice for registered psychologists in South
Australia. These comments and proposals will be considered by the Board and then forwarded to the Minister of Health for further
deliberation.
All responses should be in writing and forwarded to the Board via post, fax or email:
PO Box 229
TORRENSVILLE PLAZA SA 5031
Fax: 8443 9550
e-mail: sapb@saboards.com.au
All responses must be received no later than 5pm on Friday 13th November 2009.