Towards Good Practice Guides
For education providers and APAC assessors
Overview
The delivery of psychology placements involves a range of practical considerations, from supervision arrangements and student learning activities to informed consent and remediation. Recognising that education providers may take different approaches, sharing knowledge and experiences across the sector can help inform and strengthen practice.
In response to feedback from education providers and APAC assessors, the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), in collaboration with the Australian Psychology Placement Alliance (APPA), has developed a series of Towards Good Practice Guides that focus on the placement components of accredited and approved psychology programs of study.
The guides build on APAC’s existing resources, offering practical guidance and insights into selected areas of psychology education and training. They aim to foster shared understanding, encourage reflection and support innovation in the development and delivery of psychology programs that meet the accreditation standards.
The guides complement and expand on the APAC’s Accreditation Standards for Psychology Programs (Accreditation Standards) and Evidence Guide for the Accreditation of Programs (Evidence Guide).
Explore the guides
The six Towards Good Practice Guides will be published progressively through to the end of 2026, with new guides expected weekly. Each guide will be available below as they are published.
| Title | Access the Guide | Examples |
| Informed consent | Download the Guide | Deakin University |
| Placement logbooks | Expected 11 November | |
| Simulated learning activity | Expected 18 November | |
| Direct client activity | Expected 25 November | |
| Joint supervision | Expected 2 December | |
| Remediation | Expected 9 December |
Putting the guidance into practice
The guides are intended to support education providers in considering and refining their approaches to psychology education and training, rather than prescribing a single model of good practice for accredited programs of study.
Where available, accompanying resources drawn from education provider examples and sector expertise illustrate current approaches across different programs and learning environments. These examples are intended to encourage discussion and reflection, rather than serve as templates for meeting accreditation requirements.
APAC recognises that education providers may take different approaches to meeting the Accreditation Standards, and this is encouraged. Each program is considered on its own merits, taking into account the relevant standards and the evidence provided.
Frequently asked questions
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Do the guides introduce additional accreditation requirements?
No. The Towards Good Practice Guides themselves do not introduce additional accreditation requirements. They provide guidance for education providers about placement components of accredited programs, including good practice approaches to managing placement and how to evidence that programs meet relevant criteria in the accreditation standards. For example, the Simulated Learning Activity Guide provides details for using simulation in Level 3, Level 3 and 4 and Level 4 programs as part of Direct Client Activities as relevant to criterion 3.7 in the Accreditation Standards. Education providers must continue to demonstrate how their programs meet the Accreditation Standards, which remain the basis for attaining and maintaining accreditation.
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Will the guides be updated?
The guides may be reviewed and updated to reflect emerging approaches, sector feedback and developments in psychology education and training. APAC will communicate updates through its established channels.
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What is the purpose of the accompanying examples?
Examples shared by education providers illustrate approaches currently used across different programs and learning environments. They are intended to encourage discussion and reflection, rather than provide prescribed models of compliance. Adopting an example does not, in itself, demonstrate that a program meets the Accreditation Standards.
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How should the guides be used?
The guides are supplementary resources to be considered alongside the Accreditation Standards and Evidence Guide. They support exploration of different approaches to psychology education and training, rather than establishing a single model of good practice.
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Who are the guides intended for?
The guides are primarily designed for education providers and APAC assessors involved in Level 3 and Level 4 psychology programs. However, relevant principles may also inform skills development and work-integrated learning activities in Level 1 and Level 2 programs.
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Video transcript