News
Statement to Psychotherapists following the first meeting of the Psychotherapists Board
by Andrew Duncan, Chair of the Psychotherapists Board
Kia ora,
The Psychotherapists Board was appointed by the Minister of Health in October and had its first meeting on 30/11/07 – 1/12/07. There was a consensus on the board that a very productive meeting was held, making a start on our statutory responsibilities. Some of these responsibilities as set out in the Act (HPCA Act 2003) are appended below.
Issues discussed at the inaugural meeting included:
Thanks were offered to all those who have put a lot of effort into the setting up of the board including help with the first meeting. Andrew Duncan was appointed as interim chair, Gordon Hewitt as deputy chair.
Note that the Board’s “Terms and Conditions of Appointment” state that meetings are confidential and details can only be released with the approval of the Board.
Board members were appointed by the Minister and it is required by the “Terms and Conditions of Appointment” that they do not represent at any group. It was agreed that there will be wide consultation with training organisations as soon as possible to find out current qualifications for psychotherapists. Initial discussions occurred about definitions of scopes of practice and grandparenting provisions and it was agreed these would be circulated for consultation (as required by the HPCA Act) preferably by March or April next year (2008). The Board’s approach is to work with the sector in setting up these new provisions and build on processes already operating in the sector so as not to put any undue burden on the profession. That said the Board also has to ensure it is meeting its statutory requirements.
One of the first tasks of the Board is to appoint a registrar who will also be the administrative officer. We are exploring options to share space and resources with other boards. The Board will need to take out a loan to cover costs until fees come in.
Once scopes, qualifications and grandparenting processes have been set out
the board expects to do a “road show” around the country
towards the middle of next year (2008).
Members of the Psychotherapists Board are:
Dr Andrew Duncan has 30 years experience as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, group therapist, couples and family therapist. Andrew is a kiwi who spent 20 years in the USA from 1972 to 1992. He has taught on the AUT psychotherapy programme for many years.
Trish Hanlen, lay member of the Board, has a background in the voluntary sector and social work management. She has served on the NZ Association of Citizens Advice Bureau Board (Chair); NZ Psychologists Board; North Region X Health Ethics Committee and many years as Executive Member of Bay of Plenty Aotearoa NZ Association of Social Workers. Trish teaches social work at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, Tauranga.
Dr Gordon Hewitt is a psychotherapist and trainer of Transactional Analysis psychotherapists in Wellington. In his original career, he has lectured in genetics and evolutional biology. He was Head of Health Sciences at the Central Institute of Technology, setting up counseling and psychotherapy courses, and is a Past President of the International Transactional Analysis Association.
Sue Ineson has worked in the health sector for over 15 years, and been involved in the delivery of health services when she was Executive Director of the Family Planning Association and in the regulatory sector when she was CEO of the Medical Council .Currently Sue works as a consultant in health and regulation.
Mihiteria King (Te Rarawa) has been practising psychotherapy for 10 years in a variety of services (Maori Mental Health Services, Maori Social Services, Liaison Psychiatry, Adult Community Mental Health Services) and was a lecturer on the AUT psychotherapy programme for 5 years. Currently she practices privately in Birkenhead and Ellerslie (Auckland).
Dr Chris Milton is a Jungian Psychoanalyst and Clinical Psychologist. He is Secretary of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Jungian Analysts (ANZSJA) and serves on the editorial board of the Indo-Pacific Journal of Phenomenology. Apart from his clinical work, he has taught, examined and supervised in psychiatry, clinical psychology, psychoanalysis and analytical psychology in both institute and university settings.
Carol Shinkfield is a Child Psychotherapist with over 15 years experience working therapeutically with children, adolescents and their families. She is also the programme leader for the Master of Health Science specialising in Child Psychotherapy at AUT and has taught on the programme for nine years.
Feel free to contact the board:
email: aduncan "at" ihug.co.nz
postal address: The Summit Apartments no 18, 184 Molesworth St, Wellington
From HPCA Act 2003: Section 3 Purpose of Act
(1) The principal purpose of this Act is to protect the health and safety of members of the public by providing for mechanisms to ensure that health practitioners are competent and fit to practise their professions.
Section 118 Functions of authorities
The functions of each authority appointed in respect of a health profession are as follows:
(a) to prescribe the qualifications required for scopes of practice within the profession, and, for that purpose, to accredit and monitor educational institutions and degrees, courses of studies, or programmes:
(b) to authorise the registration of health practitioners under this Act, and to maintain registers:
(c) to consider applications for annual practising certificates:
(d) to review and promote the competence of health practitioners:
(e) to recognise, accredit, and set programmes to ensure the ongoing competence of health practitioners:
(f) to receive and act on information from health practitioners, employers, and the Health and Disability Commissioner about the competence of health practitioners:
(g) to notify employers, the Accident Compensation Corporation, the Director-General of Health, and the Health and Disability Commissioner that the practice of a health practitioner may pose a risk of harm to the public:
(h) to consider the cases of health practitioners who may be unable to perform the functions required for the practice of the profession:
(i) to set standards of clinical competence, cultural competence, and ethical conduct to be observed by health practitioners of the profession:
(j) to liaise with other authorities appointed under this Act about matters of common interest:
(k) to promote education and training in the profession:
(l) to promote public awareness of the responsibilities of the authority:
(m) to exercise and perform any other functions, powers, and duties that are conferred or imposed on it by or under this Act or any other enactment.
12 Qualifications must be prescribed
(1) Each authority must, by notice published in the Gazette, prescribe the qualification or qualifications for every scope of practice that the authority describes under section 11.
(2) In prescribing qualifications under subsection (1), an authority may designate 1 or more of the following as qualifications for any scope of practice that the authority describes under section 11:
(a) a degree or diploma of a stated kind from an educational institution accredited by the authority, whether in New Zealand or abroad, or an educational institution of a stated class, whether in New Zealand or abroad:
(b) the successful completion of a degree, course of studies, or programme accredited by the authority:
(c) a pass in a specified examination or any other assessment set by the authority or by another organisation approved by the authority:
(d) registration with an overseas organisation that performs functions that correspond wholly or partly to those performed by the authority:
(e) experience in the provision of health services of a particular kind, including, without limitation, the provision of such services at a nominated institution or class of institution, or under the supervision or oversight of a nominated health practitioner or class of health practitioner.
(3) A notice under subsection (1) may state that 1 or more qualifications or experience of 1 or more kinds, or both, is required for each scope of practice that the authority describes under section 11.
The whole act is available at www.legislation.govt.nz/browse_vw.asp?content-set=pal_statutes goto "H" then click on "Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003"