Australian Professional Bodies (original) (raw)
Professional Bodies in Australia
Listings for Professional Bodies in Australia
In economics, you learn that getting degrees & certificates is a way for the public to "screen" out the bad & help us select better professionals. The following is the list of Professional Bodies in Australia that you'd need to register with & carry out any additional course/work experience as necessary before being accredited by the organisation. In many cases, you need to be accredited by the relevant organisation before practising your profession. They're not listed in any particular order.
1. Medicine
2. Dentists
3. Accountants
6. Computing
7. Engineers
8. Actuaries
9. Tax
10. Architects
This list is far from complete. If you would like to add to this, please email me at careers (AT) ozres.com
AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is an independent organisation which represents more than 27,000 doctors, whether salaried or in private practice, whether general practitioners, specialists, teachers and researchers, or doctors in training.
The AMA, as the peak health advocacy organisation, exists to advance the professional interests of doctors and the health of the community.
The AMA has a federal structure with branches in each state and territory which focus primarily on state matters, and a Canberra-based federal body, located in the Parliamentary Triangle, which focuses on national issues. In addition to their elected office-bearers, both the federal and state bodies have secretariats of paid employees who assist in the running of the day to day affairs of the Association.
The Association welcomes enquiries and suggestions concerning its activities. Membership enquiries should be addressed to the Australian Medical Association in the relevant State or Territory.
You can also visit the student AMA site: amsa.org.au
The list for medical professions is quite long, so I've made another page here.
Australian Dental Association
The Australian Dental Association is an organisation of dentists which has as its aim the encouragement of the health of the public and the promotion of the art and science of dentistry. There are Branches of the Association in all States and a Provisional Branch in the Northern Territory. Membership is voluntary and over 90% of dentists in Australia are members. This membership implies an obligation for members to practise their profession in accordance with the high standards laid down by the Association.
CPA, ICAA & NIA
There are three major accounting bodies:
ICAA
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (minimum educational level is relevant Australian university degree, or other recognised qualification, the ICAA CA Program, and three(3) years relevant experience)
authorities' requirements to gain these registrations.
Membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA) and the CA qualification offers you advantages that no other designation can. They are a guarantee to employers and clients that they are dealing with a reputable professional – someone who has met the academic, ethical and practical requirements of the ICAA. CA’s consistently attain executive positions in business and public practice, large and small, and are some of the highest salary earners in Australia.
To obtain membership of the ICAA, you are required to:
* Have completed the CA Program; or
* Be a current member of an Overseas Accounting Body
Alternatively, if you are becoming a partner in a Chartered firm, you are required to become an Affiliate of The ICAA.
If you do not meet one of the above criteria, you are required to have your qualifications assessed for eligibility to do the CA Program.
www.charteredaccountants.com.au
You can visit their student website: www.charteredaccountants.com.au/students
CPA
All graduates who have completed a tertiary degree accredited by CPA Australia are eligible for Associate (ASA) non-voting status of CPA Australia. Associates must also attend one of CPA Australia's member orientation workshops or complete CPA Australia's distance orientation program before they can advance to CPA status. This requirement should preferably be completed within one year of joining CPA Australia.
All members commencing membership from 1 January 2004 are required to complete the CPA Program and advance to CPA status within eight years of membership. Failure to advance will result in the forfeiture of membership.
All active members are required to fulfil continuing professional development (CPD) commitments of 120 CPD hours every three years.
To become a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA), members must complete the CPA Program and have three years' mentored experience working in the area of accounting or finance.
The CPA designation is a mark of high professional competence. It indicates a soundness in depth, breadth and quality of accountancy knowledge.
Fellow (FCPA) status is a recognition of the recipient's knowledge and experience and the contribution the member has made to the profession. To achieve Fellow status members need to be CPAs, have a minimum of fifteen years' accounting or finance experience, and to have held a responsible position in accounting or finance for at least five years. Their achievements need to be recognised by divisional council.
Fellows are required to undertake the same structured CPD requirements as CPAs.
Specialist designations are open to all CPAs who complete an accredited post-graduate course in one of the eight areas of specialisation, and who have had at least three years' experience in their chosen field or to CPAs who have had at least five years specialist experience at an expert level in the past 10 years.
The eight areas of specialisation are:
* auditing
* external reporting
* insolvency and reconstruction
* management accounting
* taxation
* treasury
* information technology
* financial planning
A specialist designation indicates that a member has achieved a level of competence higher than that of general practitioners.
The Public Practice Certificate is open to all CPAs who desire to be a principal in public practice. They must complete CPA Australia's Public Practice Program and meet a number of other requirements.
You can also visit the student site at cpacareers.com.au
NIA
The National Institute of Accountants (NIA) is a professional organisation for accountants recognised for their practical, hands-on skills and a broad understanding of the total business environment.
The NIA is a progressive, responsive accounting body committed to integrity, professionalism and professional development. It represents more than 14,000 members working in industry, commerce, government, academia and private practice.
Australian Psychological Society
The Australian Psychological Society (APS) is the largest professional association for psychologists in Australia, representing more than 14,600 members.
The APS is committed to advancing psychology as a discipline and profession. It spreads the message that psychologists make a difference to peoples’ lives, through improving scientific knowledge and community wellbeing.
APS members form a dynamic group that advocate for psychologists at all levels of government. They are constantly promoting the contributions psychology makes to people's health and wellbeing, and to understanding important social issues facing Australian society.
The APS is a critical link for members who work in a diverse range of employment settings and specialisations. It provides essential professional support in areas ranging from ethical advice and industrial relations to professional development and business marketing. Find out more about APS membership benefits and services.
The APS strives to promote quality psychological practice, and foster learning and growth, by setting high standards of professional education and conduct. Being a member of the APS offers significant prestige and professional recognition. Meanwhile, APS marketing and education campaigns inform the wider community of the benefits of consulting an APS Psychologist.
Financial Planning Association of Australia
The Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) is the peak professional body for Australia’s financial planners, representing approximately 12,000 individuals and businesses.
Australian Computing Society
The Australian Computer Society (ACS) is the recognised association for Information & Communications Technology (ICT) professionals, attracting a large and active membership from all levels of the ICT industry. A member of the Australian Council of Professions, the ACS is the public voice of the ICT profession and the guardian of professional ethics and standards in the ICT industry, with a commitment to the wider community to ensure the beneficial use of ICT.
The society was founded in 1966. Its objectives are to further the study, science and application of Information Technology; promote, develop and monitor competence in the practice of ICT by people and organisations; maintain and promote a Code of Ethics for members of the Society; define and promote standards of knowledge of ICT for members, promote the formulation of effective policies on ICT and related matters; extend the knowledge and understanding of ICT in the community; promote the benefits of membership of the Society and promote the benefits of employing members of the Society.
ACS members work in all areas of business and industry, government and academia, and are qualified and experienced ICT professionals committed to the Society's Code of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct and Professional Practice. ACS membership denotes a commitment to professionalism.
Engineers Australia
Engineers Australia is the national peak body for all engineering disciplines. We work with government, industry and tertiary education providers to promote engineering as a discipline, and the professional development of our members. Our chartered engineers are regarded as trusted professionals not only in Australia, but worldwide. We represent over 80,000 engineers.
You can visit the student website at youngengineers.com.au
Institute of Actuaries of Australia
The Institute of Actuaries of Australia is the sole professional body for actuaries in Australia. It is the public face of a learned profession, which represents the interests of its members within Government, the business community and the general public. This is achieved through the activities of members in their roles as Institute Councillors or members of Council-appointed special professional committees.
Working within this structure, the Institute is able to directly influence government legislation that relates to the Life Insurance Act, Superannuation and other areas of actuarial interest.
Committed to maintaining the quality, integrity and high professional standard of practising actuaries, the Institute has established a Code of Conduct requiring the development and review of Professional Standards. A disciplinary process has been established to enforce adherence to this Code and the Standards.
In addition to these controls, the Institute fosters growth within the profession by contributing to the education of aspiring actuaries and the continued development of its members.
Opportunities for discussion, debate and contribution to public forums in all matters affecting the profession are part of the Institute's annual program.
Most of the regular meetings of members and work undertaken by Institute committees are concentrated in Sydney and Melbourne, the centres of employment for over 90% of Australian actuaries. Smaller, informal meetings are held in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth.
Taxation Institute of Australia
Since 1943, the Taxation Institute of Australia, has provided Members and the tax profession with extensive learning tools and an enormous knowledge base that has derived from practitioner driven education seminars, conventions, publications and the Structured Education Program. The Institute's website also offers Members access to over a decade's worth of content.
Today, with more than 15,000 Members, the Institute is Australia's premier professional tax body. Membership reflects this and includes a comprehensive cross section of leading tax accountants, lawyers, tax agents, managers and academics.
The Institute provides an extensive range of information and education services to Members as well as unique networking opportunities. Members are encouraged to become actively involved with the Institute and therefore, many of the products and services offered through the Institute come about from direct feedback from practitioners needs. The organisation's diverse nature, ability to provide an active forum and awareness of what is happening in the profession is its greatest strength, ensuring services that meet Members' wide ranging requirements.
All of the Institute educational events are recognised by other professional bodies and qualify for Educational and Continuing Professional Development and Mandatory Continuing Legal Education. The Institute's activities are managed by professional staff in its national and state offices.
By continually delivering current, authoritative and value added information, education services and networking opportunities, to its professional Members, membership with the Taxation Institute of Australia is essential for all tax professionals.
Architects
Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
Royal Australian Institute of Architects
The RAIA shall unite architects to advance architecture
The Royal Australian Institute of Architects is a national body consisting of 9000 members across Australia and overseas. The Institute was formed in 1930 when state architectural Institutes combined to form a unified national association with the following aims:
* To advance architecture
* To maintain the integrity and standing of the profession
* To promote the profession's views nationally and internationally, and
* To encourage the study of architecture
Since then, the Institute has evolved into a dynamic and progressive national organisation with active programs in many areas relating to the architectural profession. We also provide services to other sectors of the community.
By promoting better, responsible and environmental design, the Institute actively lobbies to maintain and improve the quality of our built environment. Raising design standards in our cities, urban areas, commercial and residential buildings, architects and the RAIA have a major role in shaping Australia's future.
The RAIA has established the highest professional standards. RAIA architects must undertake Continuing Education, are obliged to behave in accordance with our Code of Professional Conduct and as a result are more likely to be better informed and more up-to-date on all matters architectural.