About the Australian Psychological Society

The Australian Psychological Society (APS) is the largest professional association for psychologists in Australia, representing more than 15,500 members.

The APS is committed to advancing psychology as a discipline and profession. It spreads the message that psychologists make a difference to peoples’ lives, through improving scientific knowledge and community wellbeing.

APS members form a dynamic group that advocate for psychologists at all levels of government. They are constantly promoting the contributions psychology makes to people's health and wellbeing, and to understanding important social issues facing Australian society.

Find out more about us:

About APS Colleges

APS colleges represent specialist areas in Psychology. Each College promotes its area, maintains practice standards and quality assurance, and encourages and supports the education andprofessional development of specialist practitioners.

How to Join

Members can join a College at varying grades of membership depending on their qualifications. Please refer to individual college websites for further information about Joining or Renewing your College Membership. Call the APS on 1800 333 497 or search our Website for the Society’s Careers in Psychology brochure and a Student Subscriber application form (detailing the reduced costs for student subscription).

Colleges

• College of Clinical Neuropsychologists

• College of Clinical Psychologists

• College of Counselling Psychologists

• College ofForensic Psychologists

• College of Health Psychologists

College of Clinical Neuropsychologists

• Australian Psychological Society's College of Clinical Neuropsychologists represents and promotes Clinical Neuropsychology nationwide as a discipline within Australia.

• There are 250 members in the APS College of Clinical Neuropsychologists, with the College operating at both a State and National level.

• Nationally, the College of Clinical Neuropsychologists represents and promotes Clinical Neuropsychology nationwide as a discipline within Australia. It acts as a mechanism for neuropsychologists all over Australia to stay linked with colleagues who share similar clinical and research interests. On a state level, the College of Clinical Neuropsychologists seeks to bring together neuropsychologists in local areas interested in a wide variety of neuropsychological topics.

• Clinical neuropsychologists often work in the public health sector, in larger hospitals or rehabilitation centres. Many also work in private practice. Find out about the skills and qualifications of clinical neuropsychologists in the Psychologist Specialist Areas section of the APS Website.

College of Clinical Psychologists

• The APS College of Clinical Psychologists maintains the highest standards for clinical psychology practice in Australia. These standards are also consistent with international standards for clinical practice. Clinical psychologists are specialists in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of psychological problems and mental illness. They are located in private practice, hospitals, universities, general medical practices, community health centres and mental health services.

• Clinical psychologists work with infants, children, adolescents, adults and older adults. They are also involved in designing and implementing a wide range of prevention and mental health promotion programs. Find out about the skills and qualifications of clinical psychologists in Psychologist Specialist Areas.

College of Counselling Psychologists

• The role of the APS College of Counselling Psychologists is to enhance the professionalism and competency of counselling psychologists and to promote the work of counselling psychologists to our professional colleagues and within the community. For information about the type of work that counselling psychologists do, please visit the Psychologist Specialist Area on Counselling Psychologists.

• There are 700 membersinthe College of Counselling Psychologists. Membership to the APS College of Counselling Psychologists is restricted to psychologists who have completed specialised training and have experience in the field. To remain a member of the College, practitioners are required to undertake a program of continuing professional development, with a particular focus on counselling psychology*.

College of Forensic Psychologists

• There are270 membersinthe APS College ofForensic Psychologists.

• Forensic psychologists apply psychological theory and skills to the understanding and functioning of the legal and criminal justice system. They often work in criminal, civil and family legal contexts and provide services for perpetrators, victims and justice personnel. Forensic psychology encompasses issues such as: the causes, prevention and treatment of criminal behaviour; the psychology of police, the courts and the correctional system; and the contributions of psychological evidence to legal
  proceedings.
  
  Find out about the skills and qualifications of forensic psychologists in thePsychologist Specialist Areas section of the APS Website.

College of Health Psychologists

• The college of Health Psychologists aims to promote excellence in practice, teaching, and research in Health Psychology within Australia. The APS College of Health Psychologists (CHP) was formed in 1996 and has around 300 members nationally. To learn more about the skills and qualifications ofa healthpsychologists please visit the Psychologist Specialist Areas section of the APS Website.

• Who are Health Psychologists? Health Psychologists specialise in understanding the relationships between psychological factors (e.g. behaviours, attitudes, beliefs) and health and illness. Health Psychologists practice in two main areas: health promotion (prevention of illness and promotion of healthy lifestyles) and clinical health (application of psychology to illness assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation)