Accreditation

Sexology is the multidisciplinary scientific study of human sexuality, including sexual behaviours, interests and function. Sexologists specialise in human sexuality and the intersections of sex, environment, past trauma, learned behaviours and relationship factors. They may work in the fields of behavioural research and public policy, health promotion, mental health, medicine, education, violence prevention and many more areas.

Some sexologists choose to use their skills and knowledge to become psychosexual therapists or sexuality educators, who work directly with clients to help them integrate and enhance sexuality into their lives. The accreditation pathway exists specifically for these two professional streams due to the direct contact with vulnerable people and the wider social confusion about professional sexology. 

Psychosexual therapy and sexuality education are self-regulated as no statutory regulation or protected title is available. SAS has therefore developed an accreditation pathway to ensure the public is protected with trained, qualified and experienced therapists and educators providing professional psychosexual therapy and sexuality education in Australia.

The evidence-based guidelines and standards SAS has developed for the accreditation pathway have been developed inline with the standards set by international accreditation bodies such as the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) in the United States, and the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT) in the United Kingdom.