APPLICATION for ACCREDITATION

APPLICATION for ACCREDITATION

OF COURSES

for

COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY

If an institute has submitted an application to TEQSA or ASQA, supporting information in this PACFA process may be submitted in the TEQSA or ASQA format. Please ensure all documents are cross referenced to this application document for ease of reference.

290 Park Street

North Fitzroy

Victoria 3068

Australia

Telephone : +61-(0)3-9486 3077

Facsimile : +61-(0)3-9486 3933

Email :

Web : www.pacfa.org.au

SUBMISSION AND CORRESPONDENCE

The application process is form-based with supporting appendices. The Application form is the same for initial applications for accreditation or applications for re-accreditation.

Forms are provided in electronic format (as WORD files) that can be edited in most word processing packages. Applicants are asked to complete all forms electronically. If possible, the preferred format for saving files is either WORD or PDF. All files should be saved in one directory only, with the name of the institution as the directory name.

One copy of the submission for course accreditation should be provided to the address below on a USB stick. Alternatively, the submission can be uploaded to a file sharing application such as Dropbox and the link sent to PACFA via email. Please do not forward hard copies of documents unless absolutely necessary. If possible, appendices such as Student Handbooks should be sent as pdf files.

PACFA Course Accreditation

PACFA
290 Park Street /

Tel

/ : 03-9486 3077
North Fitzroy Victoria / Fax / : 03-9486 3933
Australia / Email / :

If the institution is unable to utilise the forms provided, and provide an electronic copy, the applicant is required to adhere to the structure and content requirements of the application.

APPLICATION FEE

Fees are $3,500 (including GST) per program and per location for five years of accreditation or $4,900 (including GST) if accreditation is sought for seven years[1]. The minimum fee payable is $3,500 (including GST). Where there is an online or distance mode of delivery, this counts as an additional location in terms of fees. Fees are to be lodged with the application.Please contact the PACFA Office to ask them to raise an Invoice for application fees prior to submitting the application.

Assessment for accreditation cannot proceed until the fee has been received. The fee is an application fee and is not refundable after 14 days of receipt of payment. Where a request for refund is received within 14 days, withdrawing the submission, a 10% administration fee is payable.

The fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the accreditation process.

If accreditation is refused the Institution may decide to amend the proposed course and make a new submission. If a further submission is made this would be expected to be under substantially different circumstances, for a substantially amended course or for a different course. A further feewill be required for a re-submission.

COURSE ACCREDITATION APPLICATION GUIDELINES

For full details of the course accreditation process and instructions on how to complete the Application Forms, please refer to the Course Accreditation Process and Application Guidelines.

COURSE ACCREDITATION APPLICATION FORMS

THE INSTITUTION

Institution / Please provide the full name under which the Institution operates. If other organisations are involved in the delivery of courses included in this application, details should be provided on an additional form. On this form please provide the name of the institution conferring the award. You are also required to provide other details about the institution.
Name of Institution
Head of Institution
Address
Facsimile
Web Site
Email address
Telephone
Institution / Please provide details of the primary contact and person responsible for this application. All contact from PACFA will be through this person. Two telephone numbers should be provided to facilitate contact.
Name
Title
Address
Telephone numbers
Facsimile
Email address
Accreditation details – e.g. University, or ASQA /TEQSA Accredited (leave blank if not an accredited organisation)
Organisation Unit / This section requires you to provide details of the institution/college/school/department offering the course(s) for accreditation. If more than one unit is involved, provide only the name of the unit conferring the qualification. Room is provided to allow a three level description of the organisation unit – in the first row provide the type of unit (eg. faculty or department) and in the second row the title of the unit.
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Head of Unit
Address
Web Site
Telephone
Email address
Email address
Program Team(s) (Identify the team members with primary responsibility for the course(s). / Team Member / Professional Memberships (Counselling / Psychotherapy Associations)
Courses / Please provide a list of courses submitted for accreditation. If the course is not Accredited under the AQF, provide the equivalent level of the course.
Abbreviated Title refers to the type of award (eg. Diploma, Bachelor, GD, PGD, Masters). You are also required to complete a Form 2: Course Objectives and Course Work for each course, submitted for accreditation.
Title of Course / AQF Level
(or equivalent) / Abbreviated Title / TEQSA / ASQA Accreditation details (if applicable)
Curriculum documents and Handbooks / Please provide a copy (electronically) as Appendix 1A of relevant documents provided to potential students: student handbook, brochures and / or other material describing the program and its requirements. (Refer to Guidelines FORM 1 Sections B to G)

COURSE OBJECTIVES AND COURSE WORK

This form is required for all courses that are to be accredited. A new form is required for each course.
The intention of this form, with Forms 2A and 2B, is to provide the panel members with information to assess the course for subject content, depth, breadth and intellectual effort required. The information in this form, and associated forms and appendices and documents, will be evaluated against the accreditation guidelines and PACFA Training Standards.
Include as Appendix 2A, the course documentation given to students prior to enrolment and post enrolment.
Rationale and Objectives / Please provide the rationale and objectives developed for each course to be submitted for accreditation. Course code (normally used within the Institution) and course title, as used on the testamur and academic transcripts.
Course Code
Course Title
AQF Level
EFT years of study
Course Coordinator
Course Rationale / Please provide any published or Institution approved rationale for this course. (Refer Guidelines FORM 2 Section A.
Course Objectives / Please provide any published or Institution approved objectives for this course. It is expected that a significant objective is to educate professionals in psychotherapy and / or counselling
Campus / List all campuses at which you seek accreditation to offer the course. Please include off-campus (in any mode) as a separate campus. Please also ensure that a Form 7: Campus Information exists for all campuses on the list.
Compulsory Units / Provide a list of all units/subjects that are mandatory for completion of this course. Please provide in semester/year order, commencing Semester 1/Year 1. The percentage column requires you to advise the percentage this unit is, of the total course requirement.
Please attach a separate Appendix 2B: Unit/Subject Outline for each unit listed. Include a list of prescribed/recommended text and readings with each outline. If you have provided this information with another course, please do not repeat it, however, it must be included on this list. The Code should be that code used within the Institution. The File Name is the location where the unit/subject details have been supplied. Existing format will suffice for the provision of this information.
Code / Unit Title / Year / Semester / % / File name for Unit Detail
Elective Units / Provide a list of all units/subjects that are available to be taken as electives in this course. Please provide in semester/year order, commencing Semester 1/Year 1. The percentage column requires you to advise the percentage this unit would constitute of the total course requirement.
Please attach a separate Appendix 2B: Unit/Subject Outline for each unit listed. Include a list of prescribed/recommended text and readings with each outline. If you have provided this information with another course, please do not repeat it, however, it must be included on this list. The Code should be that code used within the Institution. The File name is the location where the unit/subject details have been supplied. Existing format will suffice for the
provision of this information.
Code / Unit Title / Year / Sem / % / File name for Unit Detail

Appendix 2A

Course Structure (recommended format)

This format allows the applicant to provide a graphical view of the course structure, to assist the Accreditation Panel in its analysis of the course content, especially in terms of breadth and depth of the content. If you use this format please use colour codes to indicate mandatory and elective units. It would also assist if prerequisite subjects are linked in some way (a red line is suggested). If units are not of equal weighting, please indicate with the name of the unit, the percentage that each unit constitutes of the whole course.
YEAR 1
Semester 1 / Semester 2 / Semester 3

YEAR 2

Semester 1 / Semester 2 / Semester 3

YEAR 3

Semester 1 / Semester 2 / Semester 3

YEAR 4

Semester 1 / Semester 2 / Semester 3

Provide a description and attachments in this section that indicate how the institution meets the requirements of FORM 2 Sections D to I of the Guidelines: details may be provided as attachments (pdf preferred) and a reference to the attached material provided below. If the material has already been supplied as part of Appendix 1A (Curriculum Documents and Handbooks) do not attach it again. Please provide a reference to its location in Appendix 1A.

D. Postgraduate Admissions Provide details of any process to allow admission under special provisions to non-graduate entrants
E. Engagement with PACFA Member Associations Provide details of mechanism that encourage student engagement with Professional Associations in Counselling and Psychotherapy.
F. Assessment of student suitability during the course. Provide details of processes during the course that assess suitability managing transition from the course to other programs (where possible).
G. Syllabi and student material. Provide an example of a Unit outline as provided to students
I. Specific Content. Specify the units within the course that cover each of the areas specified in the PACFA Training Standards. / Unit Code / Title / Topic

PROGRAM STAFF

Table 1: Staff type and level

Staff Type and Role / Number / Gender / FTE
Academic
Management
Teaching
Support
Development
Professional/Technical
Staff support
Student support
Development
Administrative

Table 2: Visiting/External academic input

Activity / Visiting academics / Industry/Professionals
Number / Hours or FTE / Number / Hours or FTE
Direct teaching
Project leadership
Research
Development
Other

SENIOR STAFF

Please provide a list of senior staff and consultants involved in the courses submitted for accreditation. The list should include all senior academic staff and all course coordinators/leaders. The list should also include external people who have significant input into the delivery of the courses. Please start with the Head of the Institution (or equivalent) and order accordingly. A Form 3.2: Staff Details is required for all staff members, including those on this list.
Name / Title / Role/ Contribution

STAFF DETAILS

Where staff details have been submitted to TEQSA or ASQA these details may be submitted in TEQSA or ASQA format as attachments. This form is required for all staff who have input into or support the academic program associated with the courses, subject to accreditation. Each staff member is not required to provide a full curriculum vitae, only the details required below. A Form 3.2 should be provided for each staff member. The Institution may also provide additional details by way of a link to a web site or an additional file supplied with this application
The intention of this form is to provide the panel members with information to assess the qualifications (professional, academic and experiential) of staff input into the design, delivery and assessment of the courses submitted for accreditation. You are asked to provide details only for the past 10 years (except, of course, academic qualifications) unless you consider earlier information to be significant to the accreditation process.

Personal Details

Name
Full CV available at
Title
Role/Contribution
Qualifications / Include all internal staff development & other short course attendance
Qualification/Course / Year / Institution / Specialisation/topics
Teaching Activities / A list of all areas in which you are currently teaching in the courses under review. Please include type of activity such as coordinator, lecturer, unit leader, tutor etc.
Role / Unit, course or subject
Membership / Provide membership details of any professional or other bodies. Please provide the number of years you have been a member. Please also include any details of positions/roles you have held in those bodies in the past 10 years.
Body/Organisation / Years / Roles or other details of activities
Research / Please provide, in free format, details of any research you have conducted within the last 10 years. You should indicate the nature of the research, any grants received and the names of any colleagues involved in the research activity. Please start with title and list most recent activities first.
Year / Details of research activity
Experience / This allows each staff member to provide details of both academic and professional experience. The academic section should also include experience gained from visitor status at other tertiary institutions. Industry experience should also include details of consulting work that is not covered in the research area.
The format is free format, allowing each respondent to answer in the way they see fit. Please try to list with most recent activities first.
Total years of experience
Academic
Professional

Academic Experience