APAC is responsible for ensuring accredited programs are aligned with the correct accreditation standards.
APAC values complaints, recognising effective complaints management fosters an environment of safety, continuous quality improvement and promotes accountability and transparency.
What constitutes a complaint?
APAC can only investigate a complaint if it relates to a breach of the Accreditation Standards. This is because it is necessary for all education providers and programs to adhere to the minimum requirements described in the APAC Accreditation Standards the program was accredited under.
Breaches to accreditation standards can include alterations to governance structures, curricula and program content, assessments, staffing, student numbers, resources to support a program and professional experience placements.
APAC is concerned only with education programs that lead to entry to the register of psychologists in Australia. We do not deal with complaints with any other type of education programs.
APAC does not deal with any complaints relating to student or academic conduct unless they relate to a breach of accreditation standards.
You can find out more about how we process complaints in the Complaints Handling Policy.
Who can make a complaint?
Any person can make a complaint to APAC including students, graduates, education providers, staff of an education provider and the general community.
Please note that there is no direct benefit to a person making a complaint. Our focus is to work directly with the education provider to resolve issues relating to their programs.
Outcomes
Where a complaint is substantiated, the education provider must make all possible attempts to address the matter so their program conforms to the accreditation standards.
Contacts
If, after reading the Accreditation Standards, you believe that a breach of the standards has occurred, please notify APAC outlining how each relevant accreditation standard is being breached, detail what evidence you are able to provide to support the claim and provide contact details.
APAC will not investigate an unsigned complaint, but APAC will respect a request for confidentiality (within the limits of legal discoverability) if confidentiality is requested at the time of the notification.
