Psychologists fully inform clients regarding the psychological
services they intend to provide, unless an explicit exception has
been agreed upon in advance, or it is not reasonably possible to
obtain informed consent.

Psychologists provide information using plain language.

Psychologists ensure consent is informed by:
(a) explaining the nature and purpose of the procedures they
intend using;
(b) clarifying the reasonably foreseeable risks, adverse effects,
and possible disadvantages of the procedures they intend
using;
(c) explaining how information will be collected and recorded;
(d) explaining how, where, and for how long, information will be
stored, and who will have access to the stored information;
(e) advising clients that they may participate, may decline to
participate, or may withdraw from methods or procedures
proposed to them;
(f) explaining to clients what the reasonably foreseeable
consequences would be if they decline to participate or
withdraw from the proposed procedures;
(g) clarifying the frequency, expected duration, financial and
administrative basis of any psychological services that will be
provided;
(h) explaining confidentiality and limits to confidentiality;
(i) making clear, where necessary, the conditions under which
the psychological services may be terminated; and
(j) providing any other relevant information.

Psychologists obtain consent from clients to provide a psychological

service unless consent is not required because:

(a) rendering the service without consent is permitted by law; or

(b) a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

or other appropriate ethics committee has waived the

requirement in respect of research.

Psychologists obtain and document informed consent from clients
or their legal guardians prior to using psychological procedures that
entail physical contact with clients

Psychologists who work with clients whose capacity to give consent
is, or may be, impaired or limited, obtain the consent of people
with legal authority to act on behalf of the client, and attempt to
obtain the client’s consent as far as practically possible

Psychologists who work with clients whose consent is not required
by law still comply, as far as practically possible (i.e. Disabled, Culturally Diverse and Linguistically Different individuals).

– Australian Psychological Society (APS) Code of Ethics