We, the undersigned, warmly welcome the release of the Final National Standards for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (October 2025) and commend the Minister and Department for advancing long overdue national consistency across the counselling and psychotherapy sector.

Australia’s mental health system depends on a diverse, skilled, and compassionate workforce including thousands of vocationally trained practitioners who have provided safe, effective, and affordable care in every corner of this country.

To protect client access, workforce stability, and community trust during the implementation of these standards, we respectfully urge the Minister to ensure that the rollout is inclusive, consultative, and practical guided by both evidence and lived professional experience.

We, the undersigned, petition the Minister to:

1. Formally include VMHPAA in the licensing framework design

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) represents the backbone of Australia’s vocational counselling workforce. Their inclusion on the national advisory and technical design groups is essential to ensure that policy meets practice, and that the licensing model reflects the realities of service delivery particularly in community based, regional, and low cost care settings where vocational practitioners are often the first point of contact.

2. Recognise supervision pathways beyond “Career Stage 3”

The new standards must not restrict supervision eligibility solely to degree qualified “Career Stage 3” practitioners (>750 client hours). Many vocational practitioners at Career Stage 1 or 2 holding nationally accredited supervisor qualifications and demonstrating years of successful supervision have already proven their capability and safety. Maintaining these pathways protects supervision access, safeguards quality assurance, and recognises competence where it has already been demonstrated in practice.

3. Adopt clear grandfathering and transitional recognition provisions

Acknowledge and protect the livelihoods of Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualified counsellors who have safely practised under existing frameworks for many years.  These practitioners deserve fair and supported pathways to transition into the new system through portfolio based assessment, peer or supervisor attestations, and bridging Continued Professional Development (CPD) options rather than exclusion or displacement.

Why These Measures Matter

1. Continuity of Care & Access: Grandfathering ensures clients especially in rural and regional areas retain access to trusted counsellors who have supported them safely and effectively for years.
2. Workforce Sustainability: Inclusive licensing design prevents the loss of experienced practitioners, preserves the contribution of lived experience professionals, and ensures smaller practices remain viable.
3. Safety with Proportionality: Competence based supervision eligibility maintains professional safety standards while aligning recognition with real world training, qualifications, and performance evidence.

Practical Implementation Options

1. Grandfathering and Transitional Recognition: Introduce a time limited transitional register with portfolio based assessments, supervisor attestations, and CPD bridging plans where necessary.
2. VMHPAA Representation: Appoint VMHPAA representatives to the Departmental Advisory Group and Licensing Technical Working Group to ensure national rollout reflects vocational practice realities.
3. Supervision Eligibility: Define clear, competency based criteria that recognise accredited supervisor training, documented supervisory outcomes, and evidence of competence subject to periodic review and quality assurance.

The VMHPAA and the broader vocational counselling community stand ready to work in partnership with Government to ensure these National Standards are implemented safely, fairly, and inclusively. This is a pivotal moment to strengthen not divide our workforce, and to build a framework that upholds public confidence while protecting Australia’s diverse and essential counselling profession. Together, let us ensure that no capable, safe, and qualified practitioner is left behind, and that every Australian wherever they live can continue to access the care they deserve.