Introduction: Misconduct behaviour can vary in severity, ranging from minor transgressions of ethical practice to serious violations that may result in a psychologist being reported to the regulatory body for investigation. Over the past decade, the regulatory body for the psychology profession in Australia has investigated and made court or tribunal findings on cases of psychologist misconduct.
Purpose & Method: This qualitative study aims to identify patterns and themes of professional misconduct cases in Australia between 2014 and 2025 through thematic analysis of publicly available court documents.
Results: Preliminary findings indicated there were 84 cases of misconduct involving registered psychologists (or those posing as psychologists) in Australia between 2014 and 2025. The most frequently reported category of misconduct was boundary violations, particularly violations of a sexual nature. Male psychologists were more likely to be reported for sexual boundary violations than female psychologists. The second most commonly reported violation was professional incompetence.
Conclusions: Understanding the nature and patterns of psychologist misconduct cases contributes to enhanced ethical training, professional development, and promotes transparency and accountability within the profession. The findings are considered in light of prior research, and recommendations are made for promoting public safety and avoiding client harm enacted by psychologists.