Australian Counselling Association

17/06/2026

Meet Michelle Zammit, Counsellor and Crisis Support Worker 🌟

In this month’s Member Spotlight, ACA Member Michelle Zammit shares the personal experiences that inspired her transition into counselling, her work supporting people through crisis, trauma, family violence, and recovery, and her commitment to empowering clients to find hope and resilience during life's most challenging moments.

Read Michelle's Member Spotlight to learn how her lived experience, crisis intervention work, and dedication to ongoing professional development are helping individuals build strength, and rediscover their sense of purpose.

Each month we spotlight an ACA member in the ACA Monthly Bulletin, our monthly newsletter. The Member Spotlight is designed to showcase the work of our members to you! We hope their stories inspire or spark interest. Let’s share our experiences within our counselling community.

16/06/2026

The ACA office will be closed for a staff training day on Thursday 18 June 2026. We will return on Friday 19 June 8:30am AEST. Please contact our office via email during this time, [email protected].

16/06/2026

Cyber security is an essential part of protecting your counselling practice, client information and professional reputation.

In collaboration with Harvey Norman Technology for Business, ACA is sharing practical guidance to help members understand one of the most common cyber threats facing Australian businesses today: phishing.

Learn how phishing attacks have evolved, why counselling practices are increasingly being targeted, and the simple steps you can take to reduce risk and strengthen your cyber security posture.

ACA members can also access a complimentary Essential Eight Security Risk Assessment, valued at $499.

🔗Learn more:

ACA is committed to providing valuable resources that support members in their professional practice and everyday operations. In collaboration with Harvey Norman Technology for Business, we’re pleased to share practical guidance to help strengthen your technology safeguards.

10/06/2026

Housing stress, rental insecurity, homelessness risk and domestic violence can have a profound impact on mental health and wellbeing.

Join ACA's FREE webinar, Housing Stress and Homelessness, presented by Big Picture Training, for a practical introduction to Australia's housing and homelessness landscape.

Designed for counsellors, this session will explore the intersection of housing instability with trauma, family breakdown, financial stress and mental health challenges, while providing guidance on how to respond appropriately and connect clients with specialist support services.

🎓 Earn 5 OPD points
📅 Tuesday 16 June 2026
⏰ 10:00am – 11:00am AEST

Register now:

Beyond the Couch: Housing Stress and Homelessness in Australia Presented by: Big Picture Training Date: 16 June 2026 Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00...

08/06/2026

The latest edition of Counselling Australia Magazine is here! 📲🎉

In this thought-provoking issue, we explore the experiences of children, adolescents and the families who support them, alongside the therapists working to create safer, more inclusive spaces where young people can thrive.

From school refusal and neurodivergent burnout to sensory-friendly therapy environments and the power of peer support, this edition brings together lived experience, clinical insight and emerging perspectives that deepen our understanding of what meaningful support looks like for young people and their families.

Whether you're working directly with children and adolescents or seeking to strengthen your family-centred practice, you'll find valuable reflections, practical insights and inspiring stories throughout.

Read the latest edition: https://magazine.theaca.net.au/collections/emag-2-4

08/06/2026

There’s no single right way to run a private practice, but there is a model that’s right for you.

Join the next PPEC webinar as we explore different business models and how income streams and service mixes can align with your values, strengths, and lifestyle goals.

Date: Thursday 11 June
Time: 10:00AM - 11:00AM AEST

Exclusively for ACA members as part of the Private Practice Enterprise Coaching program, register here:

This event is part of the Private Practice Enterprise Coaching program, exclusive to ACA members. There’s no single “right” way to run a private...

05/06/2026

Continuing our celebration of the 2026 ACA Excellence Awards.

Congratulations to Jodie Evans for the Advocacy and Social Justice Award, Mike Carroll for the Regional, Rural and Remote Award, Carol Moore for the CEO’s Award, Aaron Tenenbaum for the Outstanding Student Counsellor Award, Dr Jessica Leong for the Lifetime Achievement Award and Rayma Torresan for the Counsellor of the Year Award

Join us in congratulating the second half of this year's award recipients, and read more about their achievements in our latest blog: https://theaca.net.au/news/admin-aca/2026/06/04/aca-2026-counselling-excellence-award-winners

05/06/2026

The 2026 ACA Excellence Awards recognised outstanding counsellors, educators, leaders and advocates whose dedication, innovation and commitment continue to strengthen our profession and transform lives.

Congratulations to Dr Anni Hine Moana for the Excellence in Counselling Research Award, Amanda Westphal for the Innovation in Counselling Award, Tony Vallance for the Community Impact Award, Theresa McEwan for the Excellence in Supervision Award and Samone Sallik for the Indigenous Counselling Award

Join us in congratulating the first half of this year's award recipients, read more about their achievements in our latest blog: https://theaca.net.au/news/admin-aca/2026/06/04/aca-2026-counselling-excellence-award-winners

28/05/2026

As the ACA 2026 Identity Symposium comes to a close, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to our afternoon speakers, Felixia Djamirze, Jacob Little, Lauren Cassimatis and Katie Lamb for sharing such thoughtful, insightful, and impactful presentations with our community.

This afternoon’s sessions explored important conversations around domestic and family violence, identity after conviction, and concluded with a panel.

It has been a day of learning, reflection, and connection. Thank you to everyone who joined us both in person and online.

We are now putting the final touches on tonight’s ACA Counselling Excellence Awards Dinner and look forward to celebrating the outstanding individuals and organisations making a meaningful impact across the counselling profession.

See you tonight as we celebrate excellence together!

28/05/2026

It's been an incredible morning so far at the ACA 2026 Identity Symposium.

We've explored how identity can be shaped, challenged, and rebuilt across a range of lived experiences and counselling contexts. From identity after pregnancy loss and supporting dads in the perinatal period, to eating disorder recovery and the impact of media on body image, today’s conversations have offered thoughtful insights, practical reflections, and meaningful learning opportunities for practitioners.

A sincere thank you to our morning speakers Jane Cameron, Marianne Trinder, Julie Borninkof, Jim Hungerford, and Amy Woods for sharing their expertise and perspectives.

We’re looking forward to an equally powerful second half of the day, with sessions exploring domestic and family violence, identity after conviction, and more.