Earlier this month, the Psychology Board of Australia brought a new Code of conduct for psychologists and updated professional competencies into force, marking a significant regulatory shift for the profession.
The changes took effect on 1 December 2025, following several years of research, consultation, and advance notice to the profession. While many psychologists were aware that updates were coming, the commencement of the new framework formally changes the benchmark against which professional conduct and competence are assessed.
(Source: AHPRA, 1 December 2025)
A regulator-owned code, not an association standard
One of the most meaningful changes is structural rather than technical. Psychologists are now governed by a Board-issued Code of conduct, replacing reliance on the Australian Psychological Society’s Code of ethics as the foundational reference point within the National Scheme.
This brings psychology into closer alignment with other regulated health professions, all of which operate under regulator-owned codes. In practical terms, this means expectations around professional behaviour are now set directly by the regulator responsible for registration, complaints, and disciplinary processes.
Updated competencies reflect how practice has evolved
The professional competencies for general registration have also been updated for the first time since 2010. While core clinical knowledge remains central, the revised competencies place greater emphasis on areas that have become increasingly relevant in modern practice.
These include reflective practice, self-care, and digital health delivery. Their inclusion signals that these are no longer peripheral professional values, but integral components of competent and ethical psychological practice as understood by the regulator.
Cultural safety and public protection as explicit priorities
The new Code embeds cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in line with changes to the National Law. This is not framed as an optional aspiration, but as a professional expectation that applies across practice settings.
Throughout the announcement, the Board has emphasised public safety as the central rationale for the changes. The Code and competencies are positioned as evidence-based, aligned with international standards, and designed to provide greater clarity for both practitioners and the public about what constitutes safe and effective psychological care.
Implications for supervision and provisional pathways
The commencement of the new framework also coincides with updated guidelines for the 5+1 internship program and the national psychology exam. Provisional psychologists and their supervisors are now required to comply with revised requirements, reflecting the updated competencies and expectations.
For supervisors, this may mean closer attention to how competence, professionalism, and reflective capacity are documented and developed over time.
A clear signal about regulatory direction
Taken together, these changes signal a broader regulatory direction towards clearer expectations, stronger accountability, and consistency across the profession. With more than 50,000 registered psychologists nationally, the Board is reinforcing that professional standards must keep pace with growth, diversification of practice settings, and evolving modes of service delivery.
For practising psychologists, the commencement of the new Code is an opportunity to review not only clinical work, but also the systems and structures that support compliant, ethical, and sustainable practice.
This article provides general commentary on regulatory developments and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Psychologists should refer directly to official Psychology Board of Australia and AHPRA publications for authoritative guidance.