Home | Professional Standards Councils

Our vision, mission, work.

Our vision

Professional and occupational associations lead the way in continuously improving the high standard of professional services to Australian consumers.

Our mission

Regulating associations to facilitate and promote consumer protection through improvement in professional standards under professional standards schemes.

Our work

The Professional Standards Councils work with associations to help them improve their professional standards by implementing risk management strategies and regulatory systems.

The Councils commission research, provide regulatory guidance and assistance, and conduct forums. We aim to promote engagement and improvement in the areas of professional standards, consumer protection, professional indemnity insurance, codes of ethics and conduct, and risk management.

Our mandate

Venn diagram with three circles, the first labelled 'protect', the second labelled 'improve', and the third labelled 'help'.

About the Professional Standards Councils

Group photo of Councils' members Ross Springolo, Timothy Mellor,
Catherine Wood AM, Lisa King, Elizabeth Shearer, Rachel Webber,
Tiina-Liisa Sexton and Councils’ Chair John Vines OAM.

There are eight statutory bodies – one in each Australian state and territory – established to administer professional standards legislation. They are referred to collectively as the Professional Standards Councils. The Councils administer the legislation as a national system for professional standards regulation to strengthen consumer protection.

The objectives of professional standards legislation are to:

Enable the creation of schemes to limit the civil liability of professionals and others.

Facilitate the improvement of occupational standards of professionals and others.

Protect the consumers of the services provided by professionals and others.

Constitute each Professional Standards Council to supervise the preparation and application of schemes and to assist in the improvement of occupational standards and protection of consumers.

Our operational context

The work of the Councils supports the vital role of professions and occupations in contributing to the overall wellbeing of Australia’s economy and society.

The values of professionalism – integrity, competence and service in a client’s interests – are at the core of professional standards schemes. Schemes offer limited liability for those who adopt appropriate insurance, risk management and professional obligations, providing an innovative way for associations to enhance consumer confidence in the professional advice of their members.

Associations with approved professional standards schemes as at 30 June 2024

A basic outline of Australia with logos of Associations with schemes. Logos are: Australian Computer Society Australian Institute of Building Surveyors Australian Property Institute Valuers Bar Association of Queensland Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand Consulting Surveyors National CPA Australia Limited Institute of Public Accountants New South Wales Bar Association Queensland Law Society Strata Community Association (NSW) South Australian Bar Association The Law Institute of Victoria The Law Society of New South Wales The Law Society of South Australia The Law Society of Western Australia Victorian Bar Association Western Australia Bar Association

Association of Consulting Surveyors National
Australian Computer Society
Australian Institute of Building Surveyors
Australian Property Institute Valuers
Bar Association of Queensland
Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

CPA Australia
Institute of Public Accountants
Law Institute of Victoria
Law Society of New South Wales
Law Society of South Australia
Law Society of Western Australia

New South Wales Bar Association
Queensland Law Society
South Australian Bar Association
Strata Community Association (NSW)
Victorian Bar
Western Australian Bar Association

Welcome to the Councils’ 2023-24 Annual Report