Preparing for the New Psychology Code of Conduct: Practical Steps Before 1 December 2025
If you’re a registered psychologist or run a psychology practice, you need to be aware of the upcoming regulatory shift. From 1 December 2025, the Psychology Board of Australia will implement a new Code of Conduct for psychologists, replacing the current reliance on the APS Code of Ethics.
This is the first time the Board has published its own code, aligning psychology with other regulated health professions. The new code sets out the professional and ethical standards expected of all psychologists in Australia and will form the basis for both compliance assessments and regulatory action.
For practice owners, this means it’s time to review how your business operates – not just clinically, but also legally and operationally.
Why Is This Change Important?
Until now, psychologists were required to comply with the APS Code of Ethics as part of their registration. From 1 December 2025, that responsibility shifts to the new Board-authored Code of Conduct, which will be enforceable and admissible in legal proceedings.
This new code is designed to reflect community expectations and support safe, ethical, and culturally respectful psychological services across all practice settings.
Key Changes in the Code You Need to Understand
- Cultural Safety
The Code places a strong focus on culturally safe care, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients. Psychologists must:
- Respect cultural identity
- Communicate in culturally appropriate ways
- Enable involvement of cultural support persons when needed
Tip: Your consent forms and policies should explicitly reflect cultural safety and inclusive practice.
- Professional Boundaries and Conduct
Expectations around dual relationships, conflicts of interest, and maintaining appropriate therapeutic boundaries have been strengthened.
Tip: Review how your consent documents, service agreements, and practice policies communicate these limits clearly.
- Informed Consent
Informed consent must now go beyond a signature. Psychologists must ensure that clients:
- Understand the nature and scope of the service
- Know what to expect from the process
- Are informed about confidentiality, data use, risks, and fees
Tip: Consent forms should be written in plain English and clearly outline all relevant information in line with the new standards.
What Should Psychology Practice Owners Do Now?
To prepare your practice for compliance, here are five practical steps to take now:
- Download and review the advance copy of the Code of Conduct from the Psychology Board of Australia’s website.
- Update all key documents, including consent forms, privacy policies, intake forms, and any professional services or contractor agreements, to ensure they reflect the new code.
- Educate your team, including both employees and contractors, about their responsibilities under the new code to maintain consistent standards across your practice.
- Review your approach to cultural safety – assess whether your processes, language, and documents reflect a commitment to culturally safe, respectful service delivery.
- Seek legal advice if you’re unsure whether your contractor arrangements or consent documentation meet the new standards. This is particularly important if you use percentage-based split models or independent contractors, as misclassification or vague terms can expose your business to risk.
How Rise Legal Can Help
At Rise Legal, we specialise in supporting psychology practices and allied health businesses across Australia with fixed-fee legal advice, practical solutions, and compliance support.
✅ Book a Legal Audit
Our Legal Audit is a deep dive into your practice, designed to uncover the top five legal risks and provide clear, actionable steps to protect your business. It’s not a generic checklist – it’s a tailored, one-on-one review with a commercial lawyer who understands your industry.
We’ll review:
- Your business structure
- Consent forms and client documentation
- Contractor arrangements and fee splits
- Superannuation obligations
- Cultural safety, privacy, and Code compliance
Learn more or book your Legal Audit here
Need Help Just With Consent Forms?
If you don’t need a full audit, we also offer free discovery calls to help you work through specific updates – such as rewriting your consent forms or clarifying how the new Code applies to your team.
Book your free discovery call here
Final Thought
This new Code of Conduct isn’t just another regulatory update – it’s a significant shift in how psychologists are expected to practice. The good news is that there’s time to prepare, and the team at Rise Legal is here to make the process simple and practical.
If you want peace of mind that your practice is compliant, legally sound, and ready for the changes ahead, get in touch with us today.
Remember, while this information provides a general overview, legal advice tailored to your specific circumstances is invaluable. Don’t hesitate to contact Rise Legal for personalised guidance or book in a free Discovery Call.
Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Consult with a qualified commercial lawyer for personalised advice related to your specific circumstances.
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