Day One of the AAPi 2026 Conference brings together leading psychologists and experts from across Australia to explore some of the most important issues shaping the future of our profession.
We begin the conference with our opening plenary, Cultural Safety in Action, exploring how psychological therapies and assessments can be meaningfully adapted within an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service. Through presentations from Radhika Badhan, Lewis Gould-Fensom, Kathy Ramsey Janse Van Nieuwenhuizen, Kathleen Charles-Walsh and Jennifer St Clair, delegates will gain valuable insights into culturally responsive approaches including adapted EMDR protocols, narrative therapy, and neuropsychological assessment with First Nations peoples.
Following morning tea, delegates can choose between two concurrent streams. Those interested in the rapidly evolving role of technology can attend The AI Revolution, where Penny Locaso explores whether psychology is ready for the realities of AI, followed by David Lopis discussing what clinicians need to know when clients bring AI into the therapy room. Alternatively, the Workers Compensation stream offers practical guidance from Chloe Woodcock and Sarah Walsh on confidently working with insurers and supporting clients navigating workers' compensation systems.
After the morning sessions, we're proud to welcome a special presentation from Smart Pups, showcasing the remarkable work of assistance dogs in supporting Australians living with disability.
The afternoon continues with another choice of concurrent sessions. The Neuroaffirming Practice stream explores integrating medical and social models of disability and developing practical skills for working with dissociation, trauma and identity complexity, with presentations by Emma-Rose Parsons and Johanna Knyn. Meanwhile, delegates interested in emerging treatment approaches can attend Innovative Therapeutic Approaches, featuring an in-depth look at the outcomes and learnings from Australia's Authorised Prescriber Scheme for psychedelic-assisted therapy.
The final sessions of the day continue these important conversations. Decolonising Practice examines anti-oppressive practice, creativity in decolonising psychology, and systems-based approaches to holistic formulation and treatment through presentations by Sahra O'Doherty, Emily Wilkinson and Dr Averil Cook. Alternatively, the Advancing Psychological Practice in Women's Health stream explores the intersection of hormones and ADHD, alongside new perspectives on distress in early motherhood, presented by Melanie Turner, Dr Theresa Kidd and Frances Bilbao.
With opportunities to connect over morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea, Day One offers the perfect balance of evidence-informed learning, practical clinical insights, and meaningful networking.
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Mental Health in Rural Australia
AAPi Director Daniela McCann spoke with Country Telegraph last week about the mental health challenges facing young Australians in regional and rural Australia, highlighting the importance of early support, staying connected and accessing trusted resources before concerns escalate into crisis. Daniela also emphasised AAPi's advocacy to strengthen the rural psychology workforce, calling for greater government investment and targeted incentives to encourage more psychologists to live and work in regional and remote communities. Increasing the number of psychologists practising outside metropolitan areas is critical to ensuring all Australians, regardless of where they live, can access timely mental health care.
Urgent Gaps in Youth Mental Health
AAPi was featured in this Croakey coverage of growing concerns about youth mental health system pressures, including findings from the Kids Helpline Impact Report showing 129,000 young people contacted the service in 2025, with counsellors responding to an average of 14 emergency interventions per day. AAPi Executive Director Tegan Carrison said the data highlights a system that is intervening too late, noting that when children and young people are reaching crisis point before receiving support, it signals urgent gaps in access to timely care. She also reiterated AAPi’s advocacy for expanded workforce development, increased Medicare support for psychology services, and improved access to treatment for those with higher needs.
Highlights of June media coverage included a Courier Mail opinion piece by AAPi Executive Director Tegan Carrison calling for urgent reform to improve access to affordable mental healthcare, coverage in The Australian and Channel 7 of AAPi's concerns about changes to the TGA's psychedelic-assisted therapy rules, and a feature on the mental health of Australian farmers that was syndicated across News Corp newspapers nationwide.
AAPi members have access to a growing library of free online professional development courses designed to support your ongoing learning and professional growth.
Current courses available through the AAPi Learning Portal include New Code of Conduct – Ethical Decision Making, Therapeutic Bereavement Support for Women and Families from At-Risk Populations Who Have Experienced Perinatal Loss, and a suite of Australian Digital Health Agency online learning courses, providing access to a suite of free, self-paced digital health education for allied health practitioners, conveniently available in one place.
Explore all available courses here.
AAPi is encouraging members to make their voices heard in the Psychology Board of Australia's consultations on proposed changes to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and Recency of Practice requirements.
We are concerned that some of the proposed changes could have unintended consequences for psychologists as the proposal adopts a largely "one-size-fits-all" approach across the health professions, despite significant differences between psychology and many other regulated professions.
Psychologist Yara Heary has created this petition to raise awareness of these concerns and encourage meaningful engagement with the consultation process, please consider signing it.
Remember to make your submission to the Psychology Board consultation before 17 July. Hearing directly from practising psychologists is essential to ensuring the profession's expertise is reflected in the Board's final decisions.
Read our full update on the proposed changes, including AAPi’s key concerns and how you can make a submission.
A reminder that the latest NDIS and Medicare fee increases came into effect on 1 July 2026.
The maximum NDIS hourly rate for psychology has increased to $252.99 per hour, a $20 increase on the previous national rate. The updated NDIS Pricing Arrangements also introduce broader changes affecting service delivery, claiming and compliance. Members can access AAPi's detailed guidance, including updated information on travel claiming, on the AAPi website.
Medicare rebates have also increased from 1 July 2026. Members can download the updated Medicare Quick Reference Guide with the new rebate amounts from the AAPi Member Resource Library.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has released new Assignment of Benefit (AoB) templates following confirmation of the 12-month transition period for Medicare bulk billing consent changes. While use of the Department's templates is optional, they provide a compliant option for practices needing to update their processes.
AAPi has updated its Medicare Assignment of Benefits Form Templates resource and the Medicare Bulk Billing Changes webpage to reflect the latest information, which now also incorporates clarification from the Department advising that verbal agreement is sufficient when other options are unavailable. This temporary arrangement applies to bulk billed services across all clinical settings until 30 June 2027.
Members are encouraged to review the updated guidance and templates, particularly if they are updating their practice documentation or reviewing their bulk billing processes.
The Victorian Government has made updates to the Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme Guidelines after receiving feedback.
You can access a summary of the changes made on 25 May and 30 June, as well as the full updated guidelines, here.
AAPi attended a briefing with the NSW State Insurance Regulatory Authority last week on the significant workers compensation reforms commencing from 1 July 2026, with further changes to follow later this year. The reforms introduce important changes to primary psychological injury claims, treatment approvals, permanent impairment assessments and claims processes that psychologists should be aware of when supporting injured workers.
AAPi has prepared a summary of the key changes, what they mean for psychologists in practice, and links to the new Regulation and Guidelines. We encourage members working with workers compensation clients to familiarise themselves with the reforms and review the full update on the AAPi website.
La Trobe University is establishing a new national autism research and knowledge translation hub aimed to improve the lives of Autistic people across Australia with AAPi Director, Associate Professor Josie Barbaro as the Deputy Director of the Hub.
The Australian Autism Knowledge Hub, based at La Trobe’s Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, will address the gap between research and real-world support for Autistic people and their families ensuring lived experience is at the heart of research priorities and real world outcomes.
The Hub is set to receive $11.1 million over three years from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, while La Trobe will contribute an additional $3.8 million.
Australia will soon be testing its new national emergency warning system, AusAlert, with a national test scheduled for 2pm (AEST) on 27 July 2026, following earlier community trials across the country that will override silent or “Do Not Disturb” settings to ensure messages are received.
For clients experiencing domestic and family violence who may be using discreet or hidden phones, consider individual safety planning ahead of the scheduled test, as an unexpected alert may potentially reveal the presence or location of a concealed device. Where it is safe to do so, turning a device off during the test period can reduce this risk, as alerts cannot activate on a switched-off device. 1800RESPECT counsellors are available 24/7 to support people to consider their options and identify what feels safest for their needs. Please share this information with your clients.
New rules introduced by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) came into effect on 1 July 2026 to help protect Australians from SMS scams.
Under the new SMS Sender ID Register, businesses and organisations that use branded SMS sender IDs (such as a business or organisation name instead of a mobile number) should ensure their sender ID is registered. Messages sent from unregistered branded sender IDs will appear on recipients' phones as 'Unverified' and may be grouped with other unverified messages, including potential scams.
If your practice uses branded SMS messages for appointment reminders, client communications or marketing, it's important to check whether your sender ID is registered. Failing to do so could result in your messages being ignored or mistaken for scam texts, potentially impacting communication with your clients.
To learn more about the new requirements and how to register your sender ID, visit the ACMA website.
LOAPAC Receives Australian Government Grant for Autism Assessment Resources
AAPi congratulates the League of Autistic Psychologists and Affirming Colleagues (LOAPAC) Australia on securing Australian Government funding of $455,000 to improve the experience of autism assessment and diagnosis. Working alongside Reframing Autism and the University of Melbourne Neurodiversity Project, LOAPAC will contribute the expertise of Autistic psychologists to develop affirming, trauma-informed and culturally responsive resources to support Australians through assessment, diagnosis and beyond. We welcome this important investment and the recognition of the valuable contribution psychologists, including Autistic psychologists, make to improving autism assessment and support. AAPi looks forward to working collaboratively with LOAPAC and partners to strengthen evidence-informed, person-centred care for the Australian community.
NDIS resources on upcoming reforms
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has released new information to help providers understand upcoming reforms and what they mean for service delivery. The update outlines changes to provider registration, enrolment, payments and commissioning, as well as consultation opportunities on future reforms including planning, eligibility assessments and support coordination. Providers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the proposed timelines and stay up to date as further guidance is released. You can also read their fact sheet on the changes here.