Consumer information

What does this mean for consumers?

Professional standards schemes are designed to support better outcomes for consumers by encouraging professional associations and their members to:

• maintain high and ethical professional standards
• identify and address consumer risks
• continuously improve their services and practices
• respond appropriately to complaints and misconduct
• maintain professional indemnity insurance that meets minimum standards.

This helps build confidence that professionals covered by a scheme belong to an association that is actively working to improve standards and protect consumers.

If something goes wrong

Professional standards schemes require participating associations to have complaints and disciplinary systems for their members. These systems are intended to help identify issues, address misconduct and improve professional standards over time.

Schemes also require members to hold professional indemnity insurance that meets minimum standards, helping to ensure there is financial protection available if a valid claim is established.

The Councils do not regulate individual professionals directly, and do not usually investigate complaints about professionals or associations. 

If you have a complaint about a professional service, you should contact:

• the relevant professional association
• the profession’s regulator or licensing authority (where applicable)
• the relevant consumer protection or complaints body in your state or territory.

While the Councils cannot intervene to resolve individual complaints or disputes, if you believe there are systematic issues with an associations risk management or complaints handling processes, we encourage you to contact us at pscinfo@psc.gov.au to provide details about your experience. This information may assist in the Councils’ decision-making and monitoring functions.