Member benefits

APS Membership Benefits Guide

Download Membership Benefits Guide (440kb)

Professional indemnity insurance
Professional support
Products and resources
Publications and journals
Networking
APS Advantage Package
Consultation and representation
Conferences

Professional indemnity insurance

Important notice!
APS-endorsed PII broker: Aon Risk Services Aon Risk Services is the current APS-endorsed broker for professional indemnity insurance and its insurance product is available to APS members at very competitive premiums. Aon's PII product meets the required Psychology Board of Australia standards, and in addition offers extensive coverage to meet the costs of Inquiries associated with complaints of psychologists' practices heard by psychologists registration boards (currently approximately 90 per cent of claims). An Aon policy can be taken out in one of three categories. Category A: Independent private practitioner with a gross income of over $40, 000 per year Category B: Independent private practitioner with a gross income of less than $40, 000 per year Category C: No independent private practice; that is, for volunteers, employees, academics or those working in an administrative role. For those in part-time private practice combined with any of these roles, Category A or B cover is required.

Important notice!

APS-endorsed PII broker: Aon Risk Services

Aon Risk Services is the current APS-endorsed broker for professional indemnity insurance and its insurance product is available to APS members at very competitive premiums. Aon's PII product meets the required Psychology Board of Australia standards, and in addition offers extensive coverage to meet the costs of Inquiries associated with complaints of psychologists' practices heard by psychologists registration boards (currently approximately 90 per cent of claims).

An Aon policy can be taken out in one of three categories. - aon_logo

Category A: Independent private practitioner with a gross income of over $40, 000 per year
Category B: Independent private practitioner with a gross income of less than $40, 000 per year
Category C: No independent private practice; that is, for volunteers, employees, academics or those working in an administrative role. For those in part-time private practice combined with any of these roles, Category A or B cover is required.

APS members are offered considerably reduced professional indemnity insurance premiums through insurance brokers Aon, a benefit that saves them an amount greater than their annual APS subscription fee.

This option is also available to Members and Associate Members who, for example, work in academia or the public service, and also run a private practice. Asset protection is also available from Aon.

2010-11 Professional Indemnity insurance cover

For members eligible for insurance, please download the following proposal form:

2010-11 Aon Proposal Form

Professional Indemnity Insurance renewal 2010-11

Obtaining professional indemnity insurance is an important way of managing your professional risk. As a key member benefit, the Australian Psychological Society (APS) has offered for more than 15 years through various insurance brokers a professional indemnity insurance product to help members manage their professional risk. When selecting a preferred provider we have considered selection criteria related to the following areas:

Insurance product - extent of insurance coverage, premium level;
Working relationship - capacity of the insurance company to work collaboratively with the APS towards better risk management practices by psychologists, and advocate for members where necessary;
Knowledge and experience - depth of understanding of the psychology field, and related professional indemnity insurance matters;
Service delivery - staffing levels to process high volumes of applications, and ability to deal effectively with enquiries;

The current insurance broker endorsed by the APS is Aon who administer a professional indemnity insurance policy underwritten by Vero Insurance.

Key aspects of any policy you may consider when taking out professional indemnity insurance are:

Level of cover for Inquiry Costs.

The most common type of insurance claim for a psychologist is a hearing at a Psychologist Registration Board. For insurers, these costs are referred to as Inquiry Costs, which has a specific limit set in the policy different from the Limit of Indemnity. The Aon policy has a limit of $1,000,000. Many other professional indemnity insurance policies may have significantly lower limits, sometimes as low as $10,000.

Limit of Indemnity.

The Limit of Indemnity of your policy ($2 million, $5 million, $10 million, or $20 million) generally refers to costs incurred when someone sues you for damages, which occurs in the civil courts.

Legal advice relating to your psychological work.

For those insured with the Aon policy there is a free legal advice hotline which is staffed by a leading law firm in Australia who over several years have built-up a strong understanding of the legal issues facing psychologists in their work.

Run-off cover - if you close your practice will you still be covered for claims made in the future?

The Aon policy offers free run-off cover which means that after retirement you do not have to keep taking out insurance each year, and you will still remain insured for subsequent claims, as long as you do not return to work as a psychologist. The same applies to members going on maternity leave. Though once they recommence work as a psychologist, they will need to take out a new policy.

If you are about to retire or cease working as a psychologist, and you wish to retain professional indemnity insurance cover, all you need to do is notify Aon of your changed circumstances, and you will be placed on the run-off cover list. You will not have to pay any further insurance premiums. You are reminded, however, that if you recommence work as a psychologist, you will need to take out a new policy.

Aon's contact details are:

Ph: 1800 805 191
Fax: 03 9211 3510
Email psychology@aon.com.au

Professional support

The APS supports members in the workplace and in their ongoing career development in the following ways:

Ethical assistance	The APS publishes the Code of Ethics, which was developed to safeguard the welfare of consumers of psychological services and the integrity of the profession. Members are required to abide by the Code, which is supplemented by Ethical Guidelines. The Guidelines are continually being developed to cover specific practice issues, for example working with recovered memories or reporting child abuse. The Society also assists members with specific matters, such as complicated ethical dilemmas that require careful, objective consideration. Members can contact the National Office for help and clarification at these crucial times. Find out more: Ethics at the APS.
Workplace issues	The APS assists members with workplace issues, including wage and employment conditions, and lobbies the government on industrial relations relating to the profession. Contact the APS Workplace Issues Advisor at the National Office on 1800 333 497 or email workplace@psychology.org.au.
Private practice resources	The APS produces professional resources for independent practitioners ranging from ethics and privacy resources to marketing and referrals assistance. Find out more (members only): Practice essentials.
Recommended Fee Schedule	To help members in private practice, the APS annually publishes a Recommended Fee Schedule as at 1 July for psychological services. This schedule is not prescriptive and members are free to set their own fees. It includes guidelines for preparing accounts, which are necessary for some clients to obtain a rebate from their private health fund. Members can access the fee schedule and guidelines in the Practice resources section. It is also available for the public under Fees and rebates.
*APS Find a Psychologist* Service**	http://www.findapsychologist.org.au/ The APS provides a telephone and email referral service to the general public and health professionals who are seeking a qualified and suitable psychologist in private practice. Referrals are drawn from the Society’s database of more than 2500 APS registered psychologists around Australia, covering every State and Territory. If you are looking for a psychologist, find out more at APS Find a Psychologist Service. The Service received just over 7000 calls and emails during the 2008-09 financial year. Find a Psychologist, which is the online version of the Referral Service, averages over 800 searches per day. Only Honorary Fellows, Fellows, Members and Associate Members of the APS who hold full registration may be listed with the service. Being listed on the Find a Psychologist Service offers members the opportunity to increase their client base. Please contact the APS on 1800 333 497 or email referral@psychology.org.au for information about being listed.
Continuing professional development	The APS continuing professional development (CPD) program aims to maintain and improve the quality of psychological services that members provide. The program offers a wide variety of educational activities including seminars and conferences. Members obtain CPD as part of their ethical obligations to maintain their skills. Find out more: Continung professional development.
APS Membership Directory	Members can search the APS membership database online to find out whether a psychologist is an APS Member and, if so, to obtain their contact details and information about their membership of APS Colleges and Divisions. Members can access the APS Membership Directory.
APS audiovisual resources	The APS audiovisual collection ranges from conference presentations to training in test administration, showcasing a selection of eminent Australian and international speakers. Presentations are available for purchase on DVD or CD at a cost of $12 per title (unless otherwise indicated). They are useful teaching aids and research tools, and can be used to accrue CPD points. Find out more: APS audiovisual resources.
Student Assistance	Students are offered many of the benefits of full APS Membership, but at a significantly reduced rate. The APS encourages all students of psychology to make use of the resources available to them as a Student Subscriber, such as the accredited courses list, ethics resources and networking with psychologists at APS functions. Find out more: Student Subscriber.
Standards of university training	The APS is the official body responsible for ensuring that standards of university training in psychology are maintained. Through a system of accreditation, the APS works with Australian universities to monitor tertiary psychology courses so that they are a suitable preparation for entry to the profession and the Society. This ensures that training remains rigorous as the profession expands. To gain registration or to become an APS member, applicants must complete APS-accredited university programs. For listings, see the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
PsychXchange employment opportunities	'PsychXchange' is a website containing national and international employment and business opportunities for psychologists, plus classifieds relating to psychological practice. This APS service began as a print version in September 2002 and became a dedicated job search website in January 2004. APS members are offered a 10% discount on advertising rates. Visit PsychXchange at www.psychxchange.com.au.

Products and resources

The APS commits significant resources to helping members market their professional services, and to market the psychology profession in general.

Resources include the Code of Ethics, Tip Sheets on common problem areas, marketing and media guides, embossed diaries, quality pens and lapel pins. Posters, booklets and brochures range from informing the public about psychology and encouraging GPs to refer to psychologists to profiling each APS College and the profession.

See below for further information or, to view the range available and to order, go to APS Online Shop.

Tip Sheets

Tip Sheets inform clients about a range of psychological issues and how psychologists can help. They are a great resource for private practitioners and other health professionals, especially GPs. Members can download web versions of Tip Sheets and Members or the public can purchase them in colour brochure format via APS Online Shop.

Good Thinking Program

Private practitioners are encouraged to join the Good Thinking Program, which entitles them to use the APS Psychologist and Good Thinking logos to promote their practice. The program is only available to Honorary Fellows, Fellows and Members of the APS.

For more information see Good Thinking Program (members only).

APS Media Referral Service

Members of the media contact the National Office for comments or interviews on a daily basis, and the APS Media Referral Service identifies Members with the specialist knowledge to address these enquiries. This service increases the profile of psychology in the public arena and fosters good media relations. Find out more: APS Media Referral Service.

Publications and journals

The APS produces a range of publications and products for members:

InPsych, the APS Bulletin	All APS members receive InPsych, the Society's bi-monthly magazine containing news, features, profiles and discussions of interest to psychologists from a broad range of fields. It also carries news of forthcoming events and projects. Members are encouraged to make suggestions and offer feedback to the production editor. Many non-members also subscribe to the publication. Find out more: InPsych.
State Newsletters	Members receive a newsletter produced in their state or territory by local members. They contain news from APS Branches, as well as national issues, registration and professional issues. Many Interest Groups also publish newsletters regularly. Find out more: State Newsletters.
Australian Journal of Psychology	The 'Australian Journal of Psychology' is a highly respected source of topical scientific and research articles. This APS publication covers a variety of subjects and includes book reviews. Members are offered a free subscription to the Journal, or can choose to receive both this publication and the ‘Australian Psychologist’ (see below) at heavily discounted rates. Find out more: Australian Journal of Psychology.
Australian Psychologist	The 'Australian Psychologist' is an APS journal that is recognised for publishing material of applied and professional interest to psychologists. Members are offered a free subscription, or can choose to receive it and the ‘Australian Journal of Psychology’ (see above) at heavily discounted rates. Find out more: Australian Psychologist.
Abstracts Booklet	The Combined Abstracts of Australian Psychology Conferences booklet is an annual publication of abstracts from major Australian psychology conferences. The APS and individual conference organisers produce the booklet to inform academics and practitioners about current innovative and topical psychological research. Delegates at the APS Annual Conference receive a free copy and it is also available as a supplement in the 'Australian Journal of Psychology'.
APS Imprint Books	The APS sells books written by Australian psychologists for Australian psychologists and published under the label APS Imprint Books. This offers members the opportunity to publish with small print runs. Find out more: APS Online Shop.
Discounted BPS Journals	Members are offered discounted subscriptions to all journals of The British Psychological Society. More information
Discounted Books	Pearson Education Australia provides a 10% discount on books for APS members. Visit: www.pearsoned.com.au/helpingprofessions. APS members are also entitled to a 10% discount on all Taylor & F.rancis Books. Taylor & Francis are the publishers of the APS Journals. Visit www.tandf.co.uk/books for a full catalogue. To purchase any Taylor & Francis books at the reduced rate, please print the Taylor and Francis order form (98kb) and return to the address provided.
APS Submissions	The APS makes regular submissions to government bodies, health funds and insurers. View recent submissions (Members only): Submissions.
APS Position Statements and Review Papers	APS Position Statements and Review Papers explore and review research on contemporary social issues, such as euthanasia and gambling. They are produced under the auspices of the Manager of Psychology in the Public Interest. View online at: Position Statements and Review Papers.
APS Matters	Members receive a fortnightly email bulletin highlighting the latest news and information from the APS. The email provides links directly to items of interest, saving time and effort for members. If you do not receive APS Matters and would like to do so, please email apsmatters@psychology.org.au with your name and membership number.

Networking

Local Networking
The structure of the APS, through Branches, Regional Groups, Colleges, Divisions and Interest Groups, allows all Members to network with colleagues and participate in the Society's work.

APS Branches	Branches support members and promote the profession of psychology at the regional level. They encourage networking between members in their local area, and represent and advance their interests and special needs. All members of the Society automatically become members of their local Branch. View details of the APS Branches.
APS College Membership (Specialist Recognition)	Nine APS Colleges represent a range of specialist areas in psychology and APS Members can gain recognition of their specialist qualifications through membership. Each College promotes its own field, maintains practice standards and quality assurance, and supports the education and professional development of specialist practitioners. Colleges may hold seminars, courses and conferences, publish newsletters and perform a range of activities on behalf of Members. Associate Members, Affiliates and Student Subscribers may also join Colleges. View details of the APS Colleges.
APS Interest Groups	The APS Interest Groups support members with special interests and promote communication between members interested in similar fields. They cover diverse areas such as Rural and Remote Psychology, Buddhism and Psychology and Coaching Psychology. Membership is open to all APS members and the groups also advise the Society on issues related to their area of interest. Interest Groups may hold seminars, courses and conferences, publish newsletters and perform a range of activities on behalf of members. View details of the APS Interest Groups.

APS Advantage Package

The APS Advantage Package is an exciting initiative that provides Members with preferential rates and benefits on the following products and services:

	The Australian Psychological Society and American Express The APS knows you expect quality benefits as part of your membership. That’s why we team up with partners such as American Express. Together, we offer you a choice of unique and rewarding credit cards. Whether you choose Gold or Platinum, you’ll enjoy the special benefits and extra value we’ve negotiated for you. Gold that's brilliant value Enjoy no annual card fees and a brilliant range of benefits. View details
	AMP Banking delivers APS members banking solutions designed to help you own your tomorrow. View details
	ING Australia's Professionals Life and Living Benefits Plan. APS members can start or top up their life insurance plan. There are no time-consuming medical, no intrusive health questions and the application is simple and quick. View details
	ING Australia's ProSecure Income Replacement Plan may help ensure you have a monthly income if you are unable to work due to a disabling injury or illness which stops you from earning your normal income. The monthly rates have been developed for your profession, and the premium you pay is generally tax deductible. View details
	Qantas discounted Club membership. Benefits include APS corporate discounts on membership of The Qantas Club, which provides a host of exclusive benefits including access to Qantas Club lounges in all major Australian and international airports and complimentary membership of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. View details
	Hertz discounted car rental. Enjoy periodic bonus offers and fee-waived membership to the Hertz #1 Club Gold program - the fast, easy way to rent a car around the world. View details

Consultation and representation

As the largest body representing psychologists in Australia, the APS promotes the profession to a range of health bodies, task forces and advisory groups.

The Manager of Professional Issues is responsible for consulting and liaising with all levels of governments on behalf of the profession. The Society puts forward a psychological perspective on key issues to protect and advance the interests of psychologists, as well as the welfare of individuals and groups in the community.

For more information about the Society’s many initiatives, covering health, mental health, legal/systemic issues, social issues and family, see APS Submissions.

Liaison with Registration Boards

The APS fosters relationships with Psychologist Registration Boards, and the APS President and Executive Director meet formally with the Registration Boards at their Annual National Conference. To view contact details for the boards across Australia, see Psychologist Registration Boards.

Conferences

The APS Annual Conference aims to cover the diversity of psychology and the profession, including the latest developments in the field. It attracts local and internationally renowned presenters and is a forum for Members to meet a broad range of colleagues. More information about the APS Annual Conference, held in late September each year, can be found at www.apsconference.com.au.

The Society's Colleges, Interest Groups, and Branches also hold conferences and other events throughout the year. The APS provides support and assists in the coordination of a number of specialist conferences, details of which can be found in the Events Calendar.

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Find a Psychologist Service

Independent practitioners who are APS Members can increase their clientele by listing on the Find a Psychologist Service. Find out more