AHPRA Compliance and Professional Conduct 

This page outlines our compliance with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), the Psychology Board of Australia, and other professional bodies that govern psychological practice in Australia. It also explains the relationship — and the limits of that relationship — between Steady and Connected as a psychoeducation brand and the clinical practice of its founder, Dr Narelle Duncan.

1. Practitioner Details
Name: Dr Narelle Duncan
Profession: Clinical Psychologist
Endorsement: Clinical Psychology (Psychology Board of Australia)
Qualifications: PhD in Clinical Psychology (Griffith University)
Experience: 30+ years across naturopathic practice, counselling, and clinical psychology
Registration body: Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), via the Psychology Board of Australia
Registration status: Current

You can verify Dr Duncan's registration at any time through the AHPRA public Register of Practitioners

2. Two Distinct Services
Dr Duncan operates two separate brands, with two different professional roles:

Steady and Connected (this website) is a psychoeducation brand. Its purpose is to provide general information, reflection prompts, and digital resources to the Australian public about anxiety, attachment, and emotional regulation in relationships. It does not provide individual clinical care.

Get Life Direction (getlifedirection.com) is Dr Duncan's clinical psychology practice. Individual psychological treatment — assessment, therapy, and clinical care — is provided exclusively through Get Life Direction, where a formal therapist-client relationship is established with each individual client.

These two brands are deliberately separated because they involve fundamentally different professional roles, governed by different ethical considerations.

3. What This Site Is and Is Not
The content provided through Steady and Connected — including the podcast, the Free Attachment Quiz, the newsletter, and any digital products — is educational and reflective in nature.

It is:
- General information based on current research in psychology, neuroscience, and attachment theory
- Reflection prompts designed to help you think about your own patterns and experiences
- Clinically informed by Dr Duncan's training and experience as a Clinical Psychologist

It is not:
- A diagnostic assessment
- Individual psychological treatment
- A substitute for therapy or medical advice
- A crisis support service

If you are experiencing significant distress, mental health symptoms, or are in crisis, please seek individual support from a qualified practitioner. Crisis support resources are listed at the bottom of this page.

4. No Therapist-Client Relationship Is Created
Listening to the Steady and Connected podcast, taking the Free Attachment Quiz, subscribing to the newsletter, or otherwise engaging with content through this site does not create a therapist-client relationship between you and Dr Duncan.

This distinction matters because a therapist-client relationship carries specific professional, ethical, and legal obligations under the AHPRA Code of Conduct and the Psychology Board of Australia's standards — obligations that can only be fulfilled through formal individual care, not through general content delivery.

5. Dual Relationship Policy
The AHPRA Code of Conduct and the Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics both prohibit psychologists from entering therapeutic relationships with people they know in a non-professional capacity, where that relationship could compromise the objectivity, effectiveness, or appropriateness of clinical care.

What this means in practice:
- Engaging regularly with Steady and Connected content — listening to the podcast, subscribing to the newsletter, taking the quiz, or purchasing digital products — does create a kind of public-facing relationship between you and Dr Duncan as a content creator.
- If you wish to seek clinical psychology services from Dr Duncan through Get Life Direction after significant engagement with Steady and Connected content, Dr Duncan will assess on a case-by-case basis whether entering a therapist-client relationship would be ethically appropriate.
- In some cases, the most appropriate action will be a referral to another qualified Clinical Psychologist. This is not personal — it is the application of professional ethics designed to protect you as a potential client.

If you have questions about whether you could become a clinical client of Dr Duncan, please contact us at support@steadyandconnected.com.au before making any clinical decisions.

6. Professional Standards We Adhere To
Dr Duncan and Healing via Nature Pty Ltd operate in compliance with:

- The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Queensland) — the legislative framework administered by AHPRA
- The Psychology Board of Australia's Code of Conduct — the professional code governing psychologists in Australia
- The Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics — the ethical framework adopted by Australian psychologists
- The AHPRA Guidelines for advertising a regulated health service — governing how registered health practitioners may advertise their services
- The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles — governing how personal information is collected, used, and disclosed (see our Privacy Policy)
- The Australian Consumer Law — governing our digital products and services (see our Terms of Use)

7. Continuing Professional Development
Dr Duncan meets the continuing professional development (CPD) requirements set by the Psychology Board of Australia for Clinical Psychologists. CPD is reviewed and documented annually as a condition of ongoing registration.

8. Concerns and Complaints
If you have a concern about content on this site, the conduct of Dr Duncan, or any service provided through Steady and Connected, the steps for raising it are:

Step 1 — Contact us directly
Most concerns can be resolved quickly through direct conversation. Please email support@steadyandconnected.com.au with the details of your concern. We will respond within 7 business days.

Step 2 — Escalate to AHPRA or the Office of the Health Ombudsman
If your concern relates to Dr Duncan's professional conduct as a registered Clinical Psychologist, and you are not satisfied with our response, you may notify:

- AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency)
  Website: ahpra.gov.au
  Phone: 1300 419 495
  Email: notifications@ahpra.gov.au

- Office of the Health Ombudsman (Queensland) — the body that receives health service complaints in Queensland
  Website: oho.qld.gov.au
  Phone: 133 OHO (133 646)

If you are in another Australian state, your local health complaints body is listed at ombudsman.gov.au.

Privacy concerns
If your concern relates to how we have handled your personal information, please see the complaints section of our Privacy Policy). You may also contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at oaic.gov.au or 1300 363 992.

9. Crisis Support Resources

If you are in crisis or need immediate emotional support, please reach out to one of these services. They are free and available 24 hours a day in Australia.

| 000 | Triple Zero | Police, Fire, Ambulance — for life-threatening emergencies |
| Lifeline | 13 11 14 | 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention |
| Beyond Blue | 1300 22 4636 | 24/7 mental health support, particularly depression and anxiety |
| Suicide Call Back Service | 1300 659 467 | 24/7 phone and online counselling for people affected by suicide |
| 13YARN | 13 92 76 | 24/7 crisis support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander counsellors |
| MensLine Australia | 1300 78 99 78 | 24/7 phone and online support for men |
| 1800RESPECT | 1800 737 732 | 24/7 sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling |

Steady and Connected is not a crisis support service. If your situation is urgent, please contact one of the services above directly.

10. Contact Us
For questions about this page, our professional practice, or to raise a concern:

Email: legal@steadyandconnected.com.au
Business: Healing via Nature Pty Ltd trading as Steady and Connected
ABN: 13 117 794 911
Practitioner: Dr Narelle Duncan, Clinical Psychologist, AHPRA-registered