New Zealand Association of Counsellors

The New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) (Māori: Te Ropu Kaiwhiriwhiri o Aotearoa) is the national professional association that acts for and with counsellors to monitor and improve the service they provide. Their aim is to promote counselling services which are safe and accountable.

History

The New Zealand Association of Counsellors was established in 1974 under the name the NZ Counselling and Guidance Association.[1] The first members were counsellors appointed to secondary schools as guidance counsellors or those involved in their training and employment. The initial purpose of the New Zealand Counselling and Guidance Association was to develop a counselling identity and set up standards of training for counsellors in New Zealand.[2]

Starting off mainly as a voluntary organisation with nearly 3000 members, the national office is now in Wellington, employing two full-time and three part-time staff.[3] The association maintains a website that allows potential clients to look up affiliated counsellors in their area and their current membership status.[4] In 1990, the name "New Zealand Association of Counsellors" was formally adopted and registered; 1991 saw the addition of the Māori name. The Maori name translates as “The weaving group of Aotearoa”. This name was approved by the Māori Language Commission.[5] The decision to change the name was made on the basis that the previous name did not represent New Zealand’s bicultural situation.[6] Following the adoption of the new names the association also shifted towards broadening the scope of its interest, away from issues solely related to education.[7] Since the 1990s the association has sought to build international ties with other nations' counselling organisations; particularly the American, British, and Canadian associations.[8]

Notes
  1. New Zealand Association of Counsellors: History, Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  2. Miller, Judi H. (2014). "Professionalism interrupted? Professionalism's challenges to local knowledge in New Zealand counselling". Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  3. "New Zealand Association of Counsellors - National Office". www.nzac.org.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  4. "Welcome to the New Zealand Association of Counsellors". Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  5. Hermansson 1999, p. 108.
  6. Hermansson 1999, p. 103.
  7. Hermansson 1999, p. 166.
  8. Hermansson 1999, p. 167.

References
  • Crocket, K.; Agee, M. N.; Cornforth, S. (2011). Ethics in Practice: A Guide for Counsellors. Dunmore Publishing. ISBN 1877399574.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Hermansson, Gary L. (1999). Pieces of Silver: 25 Years of the New Zealand Counselling and Guidance Association / New Zealand Association of Counsellors, 1974–1999. New Zealand Association of Counsellors. ISBN 0473060035.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Ludbrook, Robert (2003). Counselling and the Law. New Zealand Association of Counsellors. ISBN 9780473095505.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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