COUNSELLORS - SUPPORT SERVICES AGREEMENT

This Agreement has been set up to assist the Centre for Muslim Wellbeing (CMW) with the provision of referrals to appropriate counsellors available to Victorian Muslims who would like to access Muslim therapists. It is intended that with this Agreement, CMW will be able to increase access to culturally and faith appropriate services. 

The purpose of this Agreement is to promote a standard of professional and cultural competence. It is also to assist CMW when publicly listing mental health services and providing warm referrals to Victorian Muslims. This Agreement has been developed with support from the Islamic Council of Victoria and the Muslim Mental Health Professionals, and has drawn upon the: 

  • Psychotherapy & Counselling Federation of Australia’s (PACFA) Professional Conduct Procedures and PACFA Code of Ethics
  • Australian Counselling Association’s (ACA) Code of Ethics and Practice

CMW understands that all counsellors in Australia can be either self-regulated or regulated by an association (PACFA or ACA). This Agreement does not serve to replace, but to complement, any existing national codes or standards of practice developed for counselling associations operating in Victoria, including the PACFA and ACA. Furthermore, CMW affirms that all health professionals must act in accordance with all relevant Victorian laws and jurisdictions, and that this Agreement should be interpreted with reference to these. 

Simply, this Agreement pertains to the standards CMW expects all listed counsellors to commit to in an effort to ensure they provide safe, appropriate and high quality services to Victorian Muslim communities. As such, CMW only wishes to develop warm referral pathways with counsellors who have a valid registration with either PACFA or ACA. 

This Agreement commits the signing counsellors to uphold the following standards: 

As regulated through either PACFA or ACA counsellors are committed to: 

  • Maintaining valid registration to either PACFA or ACA. Counsellors associated with PACFA must be registered as a Clinical Member.1 Counsellors associated with ACA must be registered as either Level 3 or Level 4. Association registration is determined by counselling-specific qualifications, continued professional development, professional indemnity insurance, review of criminal history, annual professional clinical supervision and recency of practice.
  • Provide services only within the boundaries of their qualifications, experience and competence,2 and provide referrals elsewhere where appropriate.3
  • Maintaining confidentiality and their responsibility to safely and securely store client records.4 The counsellor will also protect client’s rights under privacy legislation.5
  • Obtaining informed consent, clarifying the service terms and ensuring the client understands the process and purpose of the counselling service.6
  • Acting with compassion, care and with a “do no harm” approach,7 in an effort to “maintain the integrity and empowerment of the client”.8
  • Maintaining their health and wellbeing to ensure it does not compromise or interfere with their ability to deliver counselling services.9

As regulated through either PACFA or ACA counsellors are committed to: 

  • Respecting the diversity of all persons, including by honouring client individuality10 and by not directly or indirectly discriminating against clients.11
  • Appling sensitivity to the unique cultural and religious values of each client.12
  • Giving careful consideration as to their competencies and knowledge, prior to providing services to clients.14

In committing to this Agreement, you are agreeing to: 

  • Be listed on the CMW Professionals Lists, as a service available to Australian Muslims. Your listing will include the information you provide in CMW Professionals Lists form.
  • Receive warm referrals from CMW navigator.
  • Provide accurate information to CMW, to enable your service to be listed and referred to correctly.

To validate this Agreement, you are agreeing to: 

Provide evidence of a valid association membership to either PACFA or ACA. 

Provide evidence of cultural competence education or training. 

Complete the CMW Professionals Lists form. 

In signing this agreement, I understand that if CMW receives feedback that this warm referral relationship is unsuitable, then I may be de-listed as an appropriate service provider. I also understand that if CMW is aware of a serious contravention my responsibilities under either PACFA or APA, then CMW may report this.


PSYCHOLOGIST - SUPPORT SERVICES AGREEMENT

This Agreement has been set up to assist the Centre for Muslim Wellbeing (CMW) with the provision of referrals to appropriate psychologist available to Victorian Muslims who would like to access Muslim therapists. It is intended that with this Agreement, CMW will be able to increase access to culturally and faith appropriate services. 

The purpose of this Agreement is to promote a standard of professional and cultural competence. It is also to assist CMW when publicly listing mental health services and providing warm referrals to Victorian Muslims. This Agreement has been developed with support from the Islamic Council of Victoria and the Muslim Mental Health Professionals, and has drawn upon the: 

  • Psychology Board of Australia’s professional and regulation standards1
  • Australian Psychological Society’s Code of Ethics2 (adopted by the Psychology Board of Australia)

CMW understands that all psychologists in Australia are regulated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency which oversees the Board of Psychology Australia.3 This Agreement does not serve to replace, but to complement, any existing national codes or standards of practice developed for psychological services operating in Victoria, including the Australian Psychological Society’s Code of Ethics.4 Furthermore, CMW affirms that all health professionals must act in accordance with all relevant Victorian laws and jurisdictions, and that this Agreement should be interpreted with reference to these.

Simply, this Agreement pertains to the standards CMW expects all listed psychologists to commit to in an effort to ensure they provide safe, appropriate and high quality services to Victorian Muslim communities. 

This Agreement commits the signing psychologists to uphold the following standards: 

  • Maintaining valid General registration to the Board of Psychology Australia. Registration is determined by qualifications, continued professional development, review of criminal history, English language skills, professional indemnity insurance and recency of practice.6
  • Only providing services within the boundaries of their education, training and experience.7
  • Maintaining confidentiality and respecting privacy (as per the Privacy Act).8
  • Obtaining informed consent and explaining the “frequency, expected duration, financial and administrative basis of any psychological services that will be provided”.9
  • Acting with integrity and honesty in all conduct.10
  • Maintaining their emotional, mental and psychological wellbeing to ensure that it doesn’t compromise or interfere with their ability to provide psychological services.11

The Board of Psychology Australia commits psychologists to:

  • Respecting the rights, dignity and intrinsic value of all persons.12
  • Promoting equity and the protection of “human rights, legal rights and moral rights”.13
  • Demonstrating an understanding of the consequences of stereotyping and unfair discrimination on the basis of their protected rights, including religion, ethnicity, gender, age or ability.14
  • Avoiding unfair discrimination against anyone on the basis of their protected rights, including religion, ethnicity, gender, age or ability.15
  • Assisting to address stereotyping, prejudice or unfair discrimination experienced by their clients.16

In committing to this Agreement, you are agreeing to: 

  • Be listed on the CMW Professionals Lists, as a service available to Australian Muslims. Your listing will include the information you provide in CMW Professionals Lists form.
  • Receive warm referrals from CMW navigator.
  • Provide accurate information to CMW, to enable your service to be listed and referred to correctly.

To validate this Agreement, you are agreeing to: 

  • Provide evidence of a valid association membership.
  • Provide evidence of cultural competence education or training.
  • Complete the CMW Professionals Lists form.

In signing this agreement, I understand that if CMW receives feedback that this warm referral relationship is unsuitable, then I may be de-listed as an appropriate service provider. I also understand that if CMW is aware of a serious contravention of my responsibilities under the Board of Psychology Australia, then the CMW may report this.