FAQ

  • Are psychedelics legal in Australia?

    Only MDMA and Psilocybin have been placed under Schedule 8 ‘Controlled Drugs’ of the Therapeutic Goods Administration Poisons Standard. This means only an Approved Prescriber is able to prescribe these substances.

  • Where can I find an Authorised Prescriber?

    Australia is in the early stages of implementing these services, and as of now, there is no centralized directory for finding an Authorised Prescriber. We are actively monitoring developments in this area and will update this information as it becomes available. Please check back for updates on how to locate an Authorised Prescriber in the future.

  • Where can I obtain psychedelic medicines?

    PIA is a consultancy and education organisation and as such we do not offer any recommendations or advice in accessing psychedelic-assisted therapy.

  • Where can I find legal access to Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy?

    Currently, the legal pathways in Australia are:

    a) Psilocybin-assisted Psychotherapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression, or MDMA for Treatment-Resistant PTSD. Both can only be provided by an Approved Prescriber, who is a psychiatrist who is registered as having met strict criteria laid down by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

    b) Being part of a research study.

  • Can I become part of a research study?

    Participation eligibility varies based on the study and its specific criteria. Research studies typically outline participant requirements in their advertisements and may be open to discussing your eligibility.

  • I have a condition other than depression or PTSD. Can I be helped?

    Currently, it is not possible to access psychedelic-assisted therapy for conditions other than depression or PTSD due to legal restrictions. However, there are established treatments available for various conditions, and your GP can assist you in finding an appropriate treatment and therapist.

Is this an accredited qualification? What qualification will I receive from this program?

We don't call our program a Certificate since this could be misleading. In Australia, a Certificate is a recognised qualification provided by a Registered Training Organization (RTO). Since psychedelic-assisted therapy is not yet a regulated field with established training standards, there are currently no RTO-recognised certificates available in the practical application and know-how of this specialty.

At present, there is no official body accrediting psychedelic-assisted therapy training in Australia. This is a crucial point that's often misunderstood. No professional organisation currently regulates psychedelic therapy training, which means no program in Australia—including ours—can offer an official or ‘accredited’ qualification in psychedelic therapy. It's worth noting that CPD (Continuing Professional Development) accreditation, while valuable for maintaining professional registration, is not the same as an official qualification or accreditation to deliver psychedelic-assisted therapy in Australia. Some programs advertise CPD accreditation, but this relates to professional development points rather than qualification to practice in this field.

What we can say is that as per TGA guidelines, treating teams need to include a lead therapist that has undergone a psychedelic therapist training program. And currently, practitioners who have undertaken our prior trainings are working as psychedelic therapists in treating teams alongside Authorised Prescribers regulated by the TGA. As such, we are pleased to note that there is sufficient precedent of our training as an accepted program.

What We Provide:

We provide a certificate of completion and focus on what truly matters: high-quality, evidence-based training from highly experienced practitioners. Our course focuses on practical skills, the ethics and safety of psychedelic-assisted therapy, and our program is recognized and accepted in both clinical trials and private practice settings.

When the field is unregulated and no official qualification exists, in-person instructor experience and training quality matter far more than terminology. We encourage you to evaluate any program based on these factors rather than the language used to describe credentials.