From 1 December 2025, the Psychology Board of Australia’s new Code of Conduct introduced mandatory obligations for psychologists to have formal contingency plans in place. These requirements address continuity of care during illness, leave, incapacity or death, and clarify responsibilities for client records and practice closure.
This session will explain how these professional obligations intersect with business and estate planning, client confidentiality, and agreeing terms with commercial providers of contingency planning services, particularly for sole practitioners and small practices.
Key concepts covered
- Mandatory continuity of care (contingency planning) under the new Code
- Managing client care and communication during unplanned absence
- Legal responsibilities for client records, privacy and access if a psychologist dies or becomes incapacitated
- The role of wills and estate planning in meeting Code obligations
What you will learn
- What psychologists can do now to comply with the Code’s contingency planning requirements
- How to structure a compliant contingency plan
- Key legal issues to consider when entering into a commercial contingency provider agreement
- How to ensure wills and business arrangements support professional obligations
About our presenter: Charlie Bruce
Charlie was admitted as a legal practitioner in 2018 and practises at PGC Legal in wills and estate planning, with a particular focus on professional and small business clients.
Charlie regularly advises professionals, including psychologists, on business contingency planning, practice continuity and the management of client records in the event of illness, incapacity or death. He has recently assisted a psychologist to design and implement a Code-compliant contingency plan, integrate that plan into their estate planning documents, and negotiate a commercial contingency arrangement with a third-party provider.
Charlie holds a Master of Laws from the London School of Economics and Political Science and brings a practical, compliance-focused perspective to the intersection of professional regulation, business succession and estate planning.
Webinar timing: 7:00 – 8:00 pm AEDT
Access to the recording of this webinar: A recording of this webinar will be available through the CPD Webinar Library, but for the best experience and the opportunity to ask your questions, join us live. Everyone who registers will be advised via email as soon as the recording is available. Members have unlimited access to the recording, and non-members will have access for 6 months.