Now that most of us are easing back into the rhythm of work, it’s the perfect time to take a breath, look ahead, and set yourself up for a calmer, more organised year. A little planning now, before the pace picks up, can make everything feel that bit smoother in the months to come.

Here are a few gentle prompts to get you started:

• Finalise your learning plan – Take a moment to map out your priorities for the year so your CPD feels purposeful rather than rushed. Don’t forget members can utilise the AAPi CPD Log to track and organise their learning goals.
• Book your CPD activities – Schedule your professional development activities for the year. Check our upcoming CPD, on demand webinar library, and online courses to see what you would like to pop into your calendar. Future you will be thanking you!  
• Review supervision arrangements – Confirm or adjust supervision sessions for the year to maintain support. If there is a supervision area that you are hoping to delve into this year and aren’t sure who to approach, it’s a great idea to put a post up on the member forum to ask for recommendations or look for interest groups covering this.
• Annual pricing review (if in private practice) – The start of the year is a great time to review whether your fees are covering your business expenses, or if they need to be updated.
• Update policies, templates, and documentation – Refresh your practice documents to stay current and feel on top of things. The AAPi Resource Library is packed with templates, guides, and resources to make this easier for you.
• Explore AAPi member benefits – Make the most of the exclusive discounts, offers, and resources available to members.
• Set some goals for breaks and fun throughout the year – It can be hard to stay motivated and do your best work when you are not looking after your own health and well-being. 

As always, if there is anything we can support you with, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at admin@aapi.org.au or 0488 770 044.

Strategies for Managing Exhaustion and Depletion

AAPi President Sahra O’Doherty was featured in this ABC Lifestyle article discussing alternatives to the 'seven types of rest'. Sahra emphasised that rest is really about finding ways to replenish ourselves, and shared how she often uses the self-care wheel developed by Olga Phoenix with clients. Like the seven types of rest, Sahra says the self-care wheel "gives us a gentle reminder to look after ourselves in different ways".

Parental Leave Is a Mental Health Issue

AAPi Policy Coordinator Carly Dober penned this Herald Sun article, highlighting the critical role parental leave plays in mental wellbeing. Drawing on her own experience, Carly described how four-and-a-half months of paternity leave for her husband supported shared caregiving, recovery, and sleep during the early months of parenthood.

Carly’s message to workplaces and leaders was that adequate paternity leave is a key protective factor for family mental health, reducing pressure on mothers, supporting bonding, and helping parents share the load during an already demanding period.

Ahpra and the National Boards undertook a targeted consultation in September–October 2025 on draft guidance relating to sexual misconduct and the National Law. The consultation sought stakeholder input on definitions, clarity, fairness, proportionality, and national consistency, with the broader aim being public protection, safety and confidence in health services. This work has now been finalised, and the changes will be effective from April 2026.

This legislative change to the National Law requires that:

• Where a tribunal finds a registered health practitioner (including psychologists) has engaged in professional misconduct involving sexual misconduct, additional information about that conduct will be permanently published on the public register.
• Ahpra will determine whether the practitioner’s conduct meets the threshold of sexual misconduct by using the Final Guidance materials created through this consultation to determine this.

This requirement is retrospective, applying from the date each health profession first entered the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme. Ahpra and the National Boards are currently finalising the systems, processes, and governance structures necessary to operationalise this change.

Read our full member update detailing how decisions will be made under the new guidance.

The reforms introduced by the NDIS Amendment (Integrity and Safeguarding) Bill 2025 significantly change the regulatory environment for all NDIS providers – including psychologists. While psychologists are already subject to Ahpra standards, these amendments add new compliance requirements, stronger penalties, and expanded regulatory powers that affect how psychologists deliver NDIS‑funded supports, and how they manage practice risk.

Read our full member update offering a practical breakdown of the impacts.

WorkCover Queensland has released an updated Independent Medical and Allied Health Services Table of Costs following a review of independent services provided under the Queensland workers’ compensation scheme.

Read the full member summary outlining the changes relevant to psychologists, particularly those contributing to independent (non-treating) assessments. Workcover QLD limits this to Clinical Neuropsychologists.

The Australian Government has opened a public consultation on changing the legal definition of an ‘NDIS provider’ under the NDIS Act 2013. The proposed changes aim to introduce a more risk-proportionate regulatory model, addressing concerns that the current definition is overly broad and places unnecessary burden on low-risk providers.

For psychologists, the outcome may affect future registration pathways, compliance requirements and how different supports are classified by risk. Members are encouraged to view the proposal and consider making a submission. Consultation is open until 28 February 2026.

Newest featured listings on the AAPi Marketplace include:

• Solution Focused Brief Therapy
• Beneath the Surface: Configurations and Treatment of Narcissism
• Training in Mental Health Promotion
• Deep Mind Mastery Journey - 8 week course

TAS: Consultation Now Open – Exposure Draft of The Health Revolution

The Tasmanian Government is asking for feedback on their exposure draft of The Health Revolution, a 20-year preventive health strategy aimed at helping Tasmanians live well wherever they live, learn, work or play.

Shaped by the voices of more than 5,000 Tasmanians, the draft Strategy sets out a shared commitment to reduce preventable harm, respond to rising chronic disease, and rethink how health and wellbeing are created across the State. Consultation is open to both Tasmanian and interstate organisations and experts.

WA: $200,000 grant for Esperance psychosocial support 

The WA State Government has announced a $200,000 grant for Esperance Care Services to help build its workforce and strengthen community-based mental health and psychosocial support in the Goldfields-Esperance region.

The funding will enable the service to employ additional staff, reducing reliance on volunteers and expanding access to counselling, carer support, advocacy, crisis accommodation and family and domestic violence support. The investment aims to improve access to care closer to home and support stronger community connection in regional Western Australia.

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