About us
Meet the team and APAC Board to learn about what we do here at APAC
Who we are
The Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) Ltd is an independent quality and standards organisation, appointed by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) as the higher education accreditation authority for the psychology profession in Australia.
APAC accredits more than 850 programs of study across 42 higher education providers including Australian university programs delivered in Malaysia and Singapore. APAC has 25 certified expert assessors on its register who contribute to APAC’s program of assessments and advisory work.
Governance
The Australian Psychology Accreditation Council Ltd is a not-for-profit public company limited by guarantee. Under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS), we are the appointed accrediting authority for psychology in Australia pursuant to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 (National Law).
The Council is appointed under an agreement with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and reports regularly to the PsyBA.
Our Vision
To improve societal well-being through ensuring high-quality education and training in psychology.
Our Purpose
To set, maintain and assess against standards for education and training in psychology.
Our Values
Integrity | Professionalism | Responsiveness | Respect
Constitution
APAC’s constitution provides the framework for how it operates. It outlines the system of governance, the powers of the APAC Board of Directors (APAC Board), and the rights and obligations of its members. APAC’s constitution is a public document.
Our Strategic Plan
View our Strategic Plan (PDF).
Complaints
Along with other accreditation bodies in the NRAS, APAC is now subject to oversight by the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman (NHPO).
This means our stakeholders have access to an independent process for managing complaints about APAC’s work and our handling of private information.
What we do
Develop and maintain standards for the education and training of psychologists for approval by the PsyBA.
Assess higher education providers’ (HEP) psychology programs of study to determine whether they meet the approved Accreditation Standards.
Monitor HEPs’ accredited psychology programs of study to ensure they continue to meet the approved Accreditation Standards.
Provide advice and consultation to the PsyBA, governments, and other bodies on matters of education and training relevant to the psychology profession and discipline.
Meet the Board
APAC Board of Directors
John is an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the School of Psychological Science at the University of Western Australia and at the School of Psychology at the University of Adelaide. Previously, he has been the Chair of APAC, Chair of HODSPA and Head of the School of Psychology at the University of Adelaide.
John is an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the School of Psychological Science at the University of Western Australia and at the School of Psychology at the University of Adelaide. Previously, he has been the Chair of APAC, Chair of HODSPA and Head of the School of Psychology at the University of Adelaide.
He is a Fellow of the Psychonomic Society and a member of the Association for Psychological Science, the International Association of Applied Psychology, the Cognitive Science Society, Society for Mathematical Psychology and the Australasian Mathematical Psychology Society.
John obtained his PhD in 1984 from the University of Western Australia. He has since worked at the University of Western Australia, the University of Queensland, the University of Adelaide, Murdoch University and Edith Cowan University.
His research is focused on cognitive psychology, human memory, reasoning, decision-making, cognitive modelling, mathematical psychology and methodological issues in human experimental psychology. He has published more than 80 peer-reviewed scientific papers and one book.
Professor Mary Katsikitis is the Dean People and Resources for the College of Education, Psychology, and Social Work at Flinders University, South Australia.
Professor Mary Katsikitis is the Dean People and Resources for the College of Education, Psychology, and Social Work at Flinders University, South Australia. Mary has worked for many years in academia, primarily at the University of Adelaide and the University of the Sunshine Coast. She also spent several years as the inaugural Manager of Science and Education at the Australian Psychological Society in Melbourne.
Mary is a previous member of both the Board and the Accreditation Assessment Committee (AAC) for the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council. With a background in psychology, Mary is also endorsed in clinical and health psychology. Her research interests and funding received focus on improving the mental health of adults and promoting well-being in the community.
Mark is a recently retired Senior Finance Executive with expertise across a broad range of finance and commercial areas.
Mark is a recently retired Senior Finance Executive with expertise across a broad range of finance and commercial areas. He has extensive skills in accounting/finance, internal controls, strategy development, planning and systems development and implementation. Mark worked with Rio Tinto for over 30 years in various senior management roles, leading global finance teams.
Robert retired from the position of Deputy Executive Director (Academic) of the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications in 2019. Before going to Hong Kong in 2010 he was the Deputy Director of the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority.
Robert retired from the position of Deputy Executive Director (Academic) of the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications in 2019. Before going to Hong Kong in 2010 he was the Deputy Director of the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) with responsibility for registration of vocational and higher education providers and the accreditation of vocational, higher education and senior secondary qualifications.
Prior to working at the VRQA, Robert was the Director of the Victorian Qualifications Authority and a Director in the Victorian Auditor General’s Office (VAGO) with responsibility for performance audits of TAFE Institutes and universities. Before joining VAGO Robert was an Assistant General Manager with the Victorian Department of Education with responsibility for the triennial review program for Victorian government schools. Robert is also currently a member of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority Board.
A Registered Psychologist with Endorsement in Clinical Psychology, Jillian works in private practice and is a long-standing employer and board-approved supervisor of psychologists, across the career span.
A Registered Psychologist with Endorsement in Clinical Psychology, Jillian works in private practice and is a long-standing employer and board-approved supervisor of psychologists, across the career span. Jillian’s areas of clinical interest include perinatal and infant mental health, developmental trauma and neglect, traumatic brain injury, emergency services and veteran mental health.
An experienced Company Director and Graduate of the AICD, Jillian has held corporate and clinical governance roles in primary care, including as a Director of a Primary Health Network. In 2018 Jillian was appointed to the Medicare Review Taskforce’s Mental Health Reference Group and continues to consult with government and other stakeholders in the mental health and primary care sector.
Jillian is currently the national health policy Chair of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists. She is a Director of the Blue Knot Foundation and President of the Applied Neuroscience Society of Australasia.
Meet the team
CEO
I am a passionate and experienced leader in education and development, with more than 30 years of experience in leading change and growth.
I am a passionate and experienced leader in education and development, with more than 30 years of experience in leading change and growth.
I was previously CEO with International Needs Australia, a not-for-profit organisation that works with local partners to create lasting change in South, Southeast Asia and Eastern Africa.
Originally from Southern Africa, where I led a rural education NGO for six years, I moved to Australia in 1999. My work in South Africa was recognised by then President Nelson Mandela with a Presidential Education Award.
I subsequently led the parliamentary transformation program funded by the European Union to support the transition of the newly democratic South African parliamentary system.
I have held senior roles in Australian higher education, including as Chief Operating Officer at La Trobe University. As a Director in the South Australian Department of Education I was responsible for managing more than $320 million in school funding.
I hold a Master of Education in Adult Education from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Company Secretary
Rachel is the Managing Partner of Intensive Group Pty Ltd, which provides outsourced company secretary services to not-for-profit organisations Australia-wide.
Rachel is the Managing Partner of Intensive Group Pty Ltd, which provides outsourced company secretary services to not-for-profit organisations Australia-wide.
For over 14 years, Rachel has consulted to more than 30 organisations across several industries including health, clean energy, science and technology, animal welfare and public sector audit.
She has also held roles in accreditation authorities under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme, bringing to APAC an understanding of the regulatory functions under Ahpra.
Originally qualifying as a health information manager, she is a Graduate of the Australian Institutive of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia.
Rachel Portelli can be contacted by email at CoSec@apac.au.
APAC team
Michelle has a diverse background in education, communications and regulation.
Michelle has a diverse background in education, communications and regulation.
A qualified teacher with a PhD in German and Comparative Literature, she has worked as a higher education consultant in regulation and quality, an assessment and case manager at TEQSA, a media spokesperson and communications manager for the Victorian Ombudsman, a broadcaster with SBS, and a lecturer at RMIT University and Swinburne University.
In her spare time, Michelle enjoys fine dining and great bottles of wine, or simply curling up with her cat and streaming top-quality entertainment.
Stephanie joined APAC in May 2020 as our Senior Accreditation Officer and was promoted to Assistant Accreditation Manager in October 2022.
Stephanie joined APAC in May 2020 as our Senior Accreditation Officer and was promoted to Assistant Accreditation Manager in October 2022. From facilitating and coordinating assessments, through to looking at ways to improve the quality and efficiency of APAC’s accreditation activities, Stephanie brings a wealth of experience from the education sector to her role here at APAC.
Stephanie’s previous experience includes leadership positions at higher education providers in the areas of student experience, administration, welfare and operations. With a focus on the improvement of student engagement and satisfaction scores, Stephanie achieved great results and contributed significantly towards the improvement of student support services.
Stephanie is adaptable and compassionate, committed and values integrity and responsibility. In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys painting, keeping fit through boxing, travelling, hiking and photography.
Olga joined APAC in December 2022 as our Senior Accreditation Officer.
Olga joined APAC in December 2022 as our Senior Accreditation Officer. Olga completed legal, pedagogical and economics higher education study courses in Australia and overseas.
Before joining APAC Olga was providing a high level of administrative support at the nation’s largest not-for-profit health, aged care and education services providers. She also worked for immigration services firms specialising in student, family, humanitarian and professional migration visa services.
Olga’s work background and legal training has given her a strong eye for detail and a customer-focused empathetic approach to her work.
Olga enjoys travelling both locally and internationally and loves her Tonkinese cat Chai. When time permits, she loves to do dance classes, take long walks and is a regular at the gym.
Alana started at APAC as our Accreditation Administrator after working at the Australian Dental Council for five years.
Alana started at APAC as our Accreditation Administrator after working at the Australian Dental Council for five years. As the Assessments Coordinator, Alana’s duties were to manage the initial stage of the assessment process for candidates seeking registration as a dentist in Australia.
Alana previously enjoyed roles within education, working at Evocca College and Tintern Schools in administration. Alana holds a Diploma in Business Administration and enjoys progressing her skills in this field, particularly around communication.
Outside of work, Alana loves spending time with her family, watching sport, particularly AFL (Go Saints) and the NBL – thankfully Melbourne United make ups for her ‘not so successful’ football team.
Annette joined APAC in January 2017 as the Office Manager, she has extensive experience in providing executive support across many industries and brings that knowledge to her role.
Annette joined APAC in January 2017 as the Office Manager, she has extensive experience in providing executive support across many industries and brings that knowledge to her role.
Annette’s position encompasses a number of different areas within the organisation. Not only is she responsible for all aspects relating to the APAC office functionality which includes processing of office accounts and payroll, but she also provides assistance to the CEO and the Board of Directors. Annette has completed her Certificate IV in HR and has taken on the role of HR Representative at APAC also.
Annette enjoys amateur furniture restoration and socialising with friends and family.
David is an experienced communications specialist with a career grounded in newspaper journalism.
David is an experienced communications specialist with a career grounded in newspaper journalism. As a senior communicator, roles have involved writing and editing, developing and diversifying a dynamic social media presence, and web publishing.
Before joining APAC in 2021, David held senior communications roles at RMIT University, the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, and the Australian Skills Quality Authority.
David enjoys relating to diverse audiences across genders, cultures and ages, while leading innovation in communications and influencing stakeholders.
He is a gold member of Melbourne Victory football club, aims for 10,000+ steps a day and is looking forward to travelling once again post-lockdown.
Kavitha is responsible for the coordination of database management, data integrity and analysis and production of statistical reports to support our business.
Kavitha is responsible for the coordination of database management, data integrity and analysis and production of statistical reports to support our business.
Kavitha also supports a range of business-wide quality improvement projects. She is customer-centric, focused, professional and has a growth mindset which enables her to make positive contributions to our team and her career. Kavitha likes to sketch and enjoys trying new recipes. She’s a huge cricket fan.
Our Committees
As part of APAC’s governance arrangements and accreditation responsibilities, the APAC Board has established a series of committees. These help APAC fulfil its strategic goals and meet its legal obligations.
The APAC Board appoints a Chair and sets out terms of reference for each committee. Each committee makes recommendations to the APAC Board.
Finance, Risk and Audit Committee
The role of Finance, Risk and Audit Committee (FRAC) is to advise the APAC Board on the discharge of its corporate governance responsibilities to exercise due care, diligence and skill in relation to:
- risk management
- the Company’s auditors, including their independence
- the integrity of financial reporting of the company and its compliance with applicable policies, laws and regulation
- the maintenance of sound internal control systems
- any other matter referred to FRAC by the Board
Accreditation Assessment Committee
The Accreditation Assessment Committee (AAC) is a standing committee of the APAC Board.
The AAC is composed of experienced and trained accreditation assessors who provide expert accreditation assessments, accreditation reports and recommendations and advice to the APAC Board on a broad range of matters concerning teaching, learning and competency in psychology.
The AAC is advisory to the APAC Board who reports its accreditation decisions to the PsyBA.
Annual reports
Following the conclusion of each financial year, APAC publishes an annual report to provide updates on its operations, accreditation activities and an overview of its accredited programs.
APAC Annual report 2017 – 2018
APAC Annual report 2018 – 2019
APAC Annual report 2019 – 2020
What’s the reason for accreditation and does it serve a positive purpose? In this episode we discuss the value and validity of the accreditation process itself. Our guest is Michael Carpenter, CEO of APAC and a Board member of the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR), the Australian Institute of Business and the National Institute of Organisation Dynamics Australia. The paper referred to in the discussion is published by BMC Medical Education and can be found at https://rdcu.be/cIY2k.
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Video transcript