ABOUT US

Committees

The Board currently operates four committees, one at the governance level and three at the operational level:

  • The Accreditation Committee
  • The Audit, Finance, and Risk (AFR) Committee
  • The Conduct, Competence & Fitness (CCF) Committee
  • The Communications and Public Relations (CPR) Committee
  • Tūmāia Kaiārahi

The Accreditation Committee

This operational committee provides efficient review, consideration, and determination of accreditation matters. The Board has delegated to the committee its powers under section 118(a) of the HPCA Act to accredit (and subsequently monitor) educational institutions and degrees, courses of studies, and/or programmes.

The Committee meets as and when needed (usually two or three times a year), either in person or by videoconference, with some business also being conducted by email.

The Committee’s membership includes lay and psychologist Board members, secretariat staff and external (stakeholder) nominees. Additional expert advice is sought as and when needed.

The Audit, Finance, and Risk Committee (AFR)

This governance-level advisory committee provides efficient and timely monitoring of financial and non-financial risks, organisational achievement of the Board’s Ends policies, and the General Manager’s adherence to the Board’s Executive Limitations policies.

The Committee liaises with an external auditor on behalf of the Board. Committee members review the findings in audit reports and monitor the General Manager’s implementation of the Auditor’s recommendations.

The Committee meets monthly (and as required), usually by videoconference, and makes quarterly reports to the full Board. Any particularly sensitive or high risk matters are, however, reported more promptly.

The Committee’s membership includes three Board members:

  • the Board Chairperson,
  • the Deputy Chairperson, and
  • one other member appointed by the Board).

The Board Chairperson also chairs this committee. The General Manager attends AFR meetings, but have no voting rights. The committee is reconstituted annually.

The Conduct, Competence and Fitness Committee (CCF)

This operational committee provides efficient screening, consideration, and determination of complaint, competence, and fitness matters, in accordance with Administrative Law, legislative requirements under Parts 3 (“Competence, fitness to practise…”) and 4 (“Complaints and discipline”) of the HPCA Act, and Board policy.

The Board has delegated to this committee all of its functions, duties and powers contained in sections 35, 36, 37, 38(1,2,4), 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48(1,2,3,4,5), 49(1,2,3,4,5), 50(1,2,3,4,5), 51(1,2,3,4,5), 65, 66, 67, 68 and 81(3). The Board has also delegated to the Registrar all of its functions, duties and powers contained in sections 64, 74 and 75.

Most of the Committee’s business is conducted by email, and/or videoconference. Meetings are held monthly or as and when required.

The CCF Committee includes lay and psychologist Board members, secretariat staff and external psychologist representation, and may seek advice when required.

The Communications and Public Relations Committee (CPR)

The CPR Committee’s role is to ensure the Board communicates in a clear, effective and inclusive way with the New Zealand public, the psychology profession, government and other stakeholders.

This includes promoting the purposes of the Health Practitioner’ Competence Assurance Act 2003. The CPR Committee includes both Board and secretariat members.

Tūmāia Kaiārahi

Tūmāia Kaiārahi is an advisory group established to advise, guide and support the Board in developing and implementing revised standards for Māori cultural competence for psychologists. The Board and Tūmāia Kaiārahi will work in partnership, acknowledging complementary roles in this important mahi. The Committee includes both the Board’s Māori members and senior Māori psychologists. It is assisted and supported by the Board’s Tikanga Advisors.