APS Professional Code of Ethics

Question 1

What is General principle A? (3)

Answer 1

Respect for the rights and dignity of people and peoples

• Psychologists regard people as intrinsically valuable and respect their rights, including the right to autonomy and justice.
• Psychologists engage in conduct which promotes equity and the protection of people’s human rights, legal rights, and moral rights.
• They respect the dignity of all people and peoples.

Question 2

Clause A.1 Justice: A.1.1.

Answer 2

Psychologists avoid discriminating unfairly against people on the basis of age, religion, sexuality, ethnicity, gender, disability, or any other basis proscribed by law.

Question 3

Clause A.2 Respect: A.2.1. (4)

Answer 3

In the course of their conduct, psychologists: (a) communicate respect for other people through their actions and language; (b) do not behave in a manner that, having regard to the context, may reasonably be perceived as coercive or demeaning; (c) respect the legal rights and moral rights of others; and (d) do not denigrate the character of people by engaging in conduct that demeans them as persons, or defames, or harasses them.

Question 4

Clause A.3 Informed consent: A.3.1.

Answer 4

Psychologists fully inform clients regarding the psychological services they intend to provide, unless an explicit exception has been agreed upon in advance, or it is not reasonably possible to obtain informed consent.

Question 5

Clause A.3 Informed consent: A.3.2.

Answer 5

Psychologists provide information using plain language.

Question 6

Clause A.3 Informed consent: A.3.3. (9)

Answer 6

Psychologists ensure consent is informed by:

• (a) explaining the nature and purpose of the procedures they intend using;
• (b) clarifying the reasonably foreseeable risks, adverse effects, and possible disadvantages of the procedures they intend using;
• (c) explaining how information will be collected and recorded;
• (d) explaining how, where, and for how long, information will be stored, and who will have access to the stored information;
• (e) advising clients that they may participate, may decline to participate, or may withdraw from methods or procedures proposed to them;
• (f) explaining to clients what the reasonably foreseeable consequences would be if they decline to participate or withdraw from the proposed procedures;
• (g) clarifying the frequency, expected duration, financial and administrative basis of any psychological services that will be provided;
• (i) making clear, where necessary, the conditions under which the psychological services may be terminated; and
• (j) providing any other relevant information.

Question 7

Clause A.3 Informed consent: A.3.6.

Answer 7

Psychologists who work with clients whose capacity to give consent is, or may be, impaired or limited, obtain the consent of people with legal authority to act on behalf of the client, and attempt to obtain the client’s consent as far as practically possible.

Question 8

Clause A.4 Privacy: A.4.

Answer 8

Psychologists avoid undue invasion of privacy in the collection of information. This includes, but is not limited to:

• (a) collecting only information relevant to the service being provided; and
• (b) not requiring supervisees or trainees to disclose their personal information, unless self-disclosure is a normal expectation of a given training procedure and informed consent has been obtained from participants prior to training.

Question 9

Clause A.5 Confidentiality: A.5.2. (a) and (b)

Answer 9

Psychologists disclose confidential information obtained in the course of their provision of psychological services only under any one or more of the following circumstances:

• (a) with the consent of the relevant client or a person with legal authority to act on behalf of the client;
• (b) where there is a legal obligation to do so;

Question 10

Clause A.5 Confidentiality: A.5.2. (c) **

Answer 10

(c) if there is an immediate and specified risk of harm to an identifiable person or persons that can be averted only by disclosing information; or ** the entity (psychologist) reasonably believes that the collection, use or disclosure is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to the life, health or safety of any individual, or to public health or safety. The threat does not have to be immediate or specified for information to be disclosed.

Question 11

Clause A.5 Confidentiality: A.5.2. (d)

Answer 11

(d) when consulting colleagues, or in the course of supervision or professional training, provided the psychologist:

• (i) conceals the identity of clients and associated parties involved; or
• (ii) obtains the client’s consent, and gives prior notice to the recipients of the information that they are required to preserve the client’s privacy, and obtains an undertaking from the recipients of the information that they will preserve the client’s privacy.

Question 12

What is General Principle B? (4)

Answer 12

Propriety

• Psychologists ensure that they are competent to deliver the psychological services they provide.
• They provide psychological services to benefit, and not to harm.
• Psychologists seek to protect the interests of the people and peoples with whom they work.
• The welfare of clients and the public, and the standing of the profession, take precedence over a psychologist’s self-interest.

Question 13

Clause B.1 Competence: B.1.1.

Answer 13

Psychologists bring and maintain appropriate skills and learning to their areas of professional practice.

Question 14

Clause B.1 Competence: B.1.2. (5)

Answer 14

Psychologists only provide psychological services within the boundaries of their professional competence. This includes, but is not restricted to:

• (a) working within the limits of their education, training, supervised experience and appropriate professional experience;
• (b) basing their service on the established knowledge of the discipline and profession of psychology;
• (c) adhering to the Code and the Guidelines;
• (d) complying with the law of the jurisdiction in which they provide psychological services; and
• (e) ensuring that their emotional, mental, and physical state does not impair their ability to provide a competent psychological service.

Question 15

Clause B.1 Competence: B.1.3.

Answer 15

To maintain appropriate levels of professional competence, psychologists seek professional supervision or consultation as required.

Question 16

Clause B.1 Competence: B.1.4.

Answer 16

Psychologists continuously monitor their professional functioning. If they become aware of problems that may impair their ability to provide competent psychological services, they take appropriate measures to address the problem by:

• (a) obtaining professional advice about whether they should limit, suspend or terminate the provision of psychological services

Question 17

Clause B.3 Professional responsibility: B.3. (8)

Answer 17

Psychologists provide psychological services in a responsible manner. Having regard to the nature of the psychological services they are providing, psychologists:

• (a) act with the care and skill expected of a competent psychologist;
• (b) take responsibility for the reasonably foreseeable consequences of their conduct;
• (c) take reasonable steps to prevent harm occurring as a result of their conduct;
• (d) provide a psychological service only for the period when those services are necessary to the client;
• (e) are personally responsible for the professional decisions they make;
• (f) take reasonable steps to ensure that their services and products are used appropriately and responsibly;
• (g) are aware of, and take steps to establish and maintain proper professional boundaries with clients and colleagues; and
• (h) regularly review the contractual arrangements with clients and, where circumstances change, make relevant modifications as necessary with the informed consent of the client.

Question 18

What is general principle C? (4)

Answer 18

Integrity

• Psychologists recognise that their knowledge of the discipline of psychology, their professional standing, and the information they gather place them in a position of power and trust.
• They exercise their power appropriately and honour this position of trust.
• Psychologists keep faith with the nature and intentions of their professional relationships.
• Psychologists act with probity and honesty in their conduct.

Question 19

Clause C.1 Reputable behaviour: C.1.1.

Answer 19

Psychologists avoid engaging in disreputable conduct that reflects on their ability to practise as a psychologist and reflect negatively on psychology as a discipline

Question 20

Clause C.2 Communication: C.2.1.

Answer 20

Psychologists communicate honestly in the context of their psychological work.

Question 21

Clause C.3 Conflict of interest: C.3.1. (3)

Answer 21

Psychologists refrain from engaging in multiple relationships that may:

• (a) impair their competence, effectiveness, objectivity, or ability to render a psychological service;
• (b) harm clients or other parties to a psychological service; or
• (c) lead to the exploitation of clients or other parties to a psychological service.

Question 22

Clause C.4 Non-exploitation: C.4.1.

Answer 22

Psychologists do not exploit people with whom they have or had a professional relationship.