Dr Emma was recently an inaugural recipient of a research grant offered by peak body, the Psychotherapist and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) for the project titled, ‘Scoping Review of Child Counselling and Psychotherapy Competencies: Establishing an Australian Framework’. She will be partnering with Dr Suzy Miller at Swinburne University to conduct the scoping review, with results expected to be published by mid-2026. Following this research, it is hoped the findings will inform a Delphi study necessary in designing an Australian framework that encompasses  the richness of child counselling practice whilst being evidence-based and centres the voices and rights of children.

ABSTRACT: The field of child counselling and psychotherapy (CCP) in Australia is rich and diverse, with therapists dedicated to the issues particular to childhood and that matter to children. Comprising a significant percentage of the workforce, child counsellors, psychotherapists, and Indigenous healing practitioners respond to the increasing developmental and mental health concerns of children aged 4 to 12 years.

Although the need for child counselling is well established and recognised by Federal, State and Territory, and local Government, CPP competencies remain an under-researched area. To date, a comprehensive review identifying key characteristics, themes, factors, and gaps has not been conducted in Australia.

Prioritising this research will address issues of coherence and consistency that plague the field such as blurred definitions that see “child counsellor” roles filled by untrained and/or non-counselling professionals. Additionally, existing practice guidelines are not necessarily appropriate or comprehensive with inconsistencies between the theories, paradigms, practice knowledge, and therapeutic skills considered foundational in becoming a child counsellor. At the heart of this are the lives and well-being of children who deserve the highest standard of mental health care. However, without a competency framework to guide regulation and ensure the training and supervision requirements meet minimum standards, this cannot be assured.

This project proposes a scoping review to critically evaluate the existing scholarship to better understand the nature and extent of these challenges in Australia and identify the factors that make CCP unique whilst highlighting any gaps. Furthermore,

Learn more here: https://pacfa.org.au/portal/News-and-Advocacy/news/2025/October/research-grant-recipients.aspx