16 July 2024
From July 2024, PACFA is excited to be transitioning to new interactive Digital Badges from our static digital badges previously released in 2022. The new Digital Badges will be sent from Credly, a Pearson owned company, which hosts the largest and most-connected digital credential network. (For more on Credly, please click here).
This change will help to support recognition of the skills and expertise of our members and will be sent to all our members who have renewed for the 2024/25 membership year.
This initiative will help our members showcase their clinical skills and accomplishments to prospective employers and the public in a verifiable, trusted, and simple manner. Digital badges issued through our partnership with Credly, not only serve as visual symbols but also link to detailed information on how the badge was earned and the skills it represents.
This investment has the potential to boost professional recognition and community awareness of counsellors, psychotherapists and Indigenous Healing Practitioners. It strategically complements our ongoing quality assurance and advocacy work in line with the development of National Standards for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
If you have not renewed, you will not get your badge until your renewal is complete.
Plan for roll out
Registration badges for Certified Practising Counsellor and Registered Clinical Counsellor will undertake a weekly staggered roll out, starting from end of July 2024.
When your badge is ready, you will be sent a pre notification message from PACFA at least three days prior to your badge being sent through to you via the Credly platform.
The Registered Clinical Psychotherapist is currently in the final stage of development with the College of Psychotherapy, and we plan to include this in the staggered roll out once finalised.
During this time, we kindly request your patience as we distribute the badges and update information for you.
Clinical membership data
Registered Clinical Counsellors who have been members of PACFA for over 5 years, may find a discrepancy with the issue date on their new Digital Badge as opposed to the date they upgraded to Registered Clinical.
In 2019, PACFA upgraded our internal platform from paper to digital through an online Engagement Management System, iMIS. Due to this change, files may not have their clinical upgrade date recorded within the online system accurately. You may find the issue date on your new Registered Clinical Counsellor Digital Badge, may be date which you initially registered with PACFA rather than the date you upgraded.
We apologise for any confusion or inconvenience this may cause and encourage you to contact us via [email protected] if you notice the date is inaccurate to your records.
Information to prepare
We aim to make this transition as hassle free and easy for you and we are always here to assist if you have any questions. In preparation for your new Digital Badge, please review the information below to familiarise yourself with the steps for receiving and accepting your Digital Badge.