Following an investigation by the Health Complaints Commissioner, Greg Leonard Jackman, who offers counselling services in the Geelong region, has today been issued with a prohibition order banning him from providing any general health services involving counselling or psychotherapy services for a minimum period of 9 months.

In addition, Mr Jackman can only return to providing any general health services involving counselling or psychotherapy services once he has successfully completed prescribed training course(s) to the Commissioner’s satisfaction. Should he be permitted to provide services in the future he must also undertake regular supervision for a period of 12 months. A copy of the prohibition order, detailing these conditions is available here

The Commissioner, Adjunct Professor Bernice Redley, said “the safety of Victorians continues to be our number one priority. I have issued this 9-month ban on Greg Leonard Jackman providing any general health services involving counselling or psychotherapy services as I believe he poses a serious risk to the health, safety and welfare of the Victorian public until he has completed prescribed training and activities that ensure he is fit to practise.”

Mr Jackman has been the subject of an investigation by the HCC since May 2021. A prohibition order is only issued once an investigation is complete and the Commissioner feels that measures need to be taken to protect the public from serious risks to their health, safety or welfare. Details of how the investigations are conducted can be found on on our website here.

The Commissioner noted that while there are many safe and ethical counselling treatment providers, not all comply with their obligations and do the right thing. “That is why it is important for any person considering psychotherapy or counselling treatment to consider what can go wrong and what they have a right to expect from their health service provider so that they can make fully informed decisions. Any person considering treatment should ask the provider about their qualifications and experience, any risks involved in the treatment and if they, as providers of the service, have insurance in the instance that something does go wrong.

Putting the 9-month prohibition order in place, Professor Redley, said this should serve as a timely reminder to not only psychotherapy and counselling treatment providers, but all General Health Services who do not observe the Code of Conduct for General Health Services that her office continues to investigate those providers who pose a risk to the public and to take action against them. “We rely on community members to come forward with their concerns so that we are aware of possible breaches of the code. If your expectations for safe and ethical healthcare are not met, or if you believe a health service provider is operating outside the code of conduct for general health services, please contact us via the online complaint form at hcc.vic.gov.au or call us on 1300 582 113.

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