PACJA's Open Access & Copyright Policy

**For Users** The _Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia_ (PACJA) is published by the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA). Articles published in PACJA after October 1, 2024 (**PACJA Open Access Articles**) are made available to users on an open access basis. PACFA takes the position that the publication of scholarly research is meant to disseminate knowledge in the field of counselling, psychotherapy, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healing practices, and publishing of the PACJA Open Access Articles benefits neither publisher nor author financially. PACJA's open access policy means that PACJA Open Access Articles are made available online without financial, legal or technical barriers for users to access and use the PACJA Open Access Articles. PACJA Open Access Articles are licenced under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). This licence allows users to copy, distribute and alter the PACJA Open Access Articles in any medium or format, even commercially, as long as the author is attributed in a reasonable manner. For more information about the CC BY 4.0 licence terms and attribution requirements, please see this licence's legal deed at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 and legal code at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode for more information. PACJA's open access policy was adopted from October 1, 2024. PACJA Open Access Articles published after this date are available under PACJA's open access policy pursuant to a CC BY 4.0 licence. Articles published in PACJA before this date are not subject to PACJA's open access policy and will be subject to different licensing terms depending on the terms between individual author(s) and PACFA. Please contact PACFA directly for more information regarding historical licensing terms for articles published in PACJA before October 1, 2024. Copyright in all content on this website other than PACJA Open Access Articles (**Website Copyright Content**) is owned by PACJA. Users must not use, copy, distribute or reproduce the Website Copyright Content in any way without the express written consent of PACFA (such consent may be withheld at PACFA's sole discretion). **For Authors** Articles submitted to PACJA for consideration and publication must be original works, not previously published and not being considered elsewhere for publication. Authors will retain ownership of all copyright in articles submitted to PACJA. If the article includes any material for which the author(s) are not the copyright owner, the author(s) must obtain all necessary written licences from the copyright owner(s) before submission. By submitting an article for consideration and publication, authors agree to grant PACFA a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free licence to publish the article in PACJA, and to sub-licence the article under PACJA's open access policy pursuant to a CC BY 4.0 licence. An Author Copyright Licence Deed will be sent to the author(s) for execution before publication of the article. The article will not be published unless the signed Author Copyright Licence Deed has been received by the Editor (editor@pacja.org.au). If an article is accepted for publication, it will be published online in PACJA, and made available to users on an open access basis pursuant to a CC BY 4.0 licence. PACJA will ensure that the author(s) are reasonably attributed whenever articles are published in PACJA in any form.

PACJA's Artificial Intelligence Policy

**Author Policy** PACJA's policy regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI) use is one of transparency. Authors are permitted to use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies such as Large Language Models (e.g., ChatGPT, DALL-E, NovelAI, Jasper AI, Rytr AI) in the writing process but only to enhance the quality of the language and readability of their manuscript and with appropriate disclosure (see below). These technologies are not to be used to analyse and draw insights from data within the research process or to generate or alter images. Manuscripts should be carefully reviewed as AI can generate content that is unoriginal, incorrect, incomplete or biased. Authors are ultimately responsible and accountable for the validity and accuracy of the contents of their manuscript, attribution of sources, and absence of plagiarism. **Disclosure of the Use of AI and AI-Assisted Technologies** If generative AI and AI-assisted technologies are used, authors must include the following statement immediately above the references: Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in the Writing Process In preparing this work, the author(s) used [name of AI technology] in order to [reason for its use]. The task of the technology was to [how the AI technology was used]. After using this AI technology, the author(s) reviewed the content of this work and take(s) complete responsibility for its originality and validity. **Authorship** AI and AI-assisted technologies should not be listed as an author or co-author, nor cited as an author, on the basis that authorship involves tasks and responsibilities which can solely be performed by and attributed to humans who agree to be accountable for the work. **Peer Review Policy** Reviewers should declare when submitting their review if they have used AI or AI-assisted technologies (e.g., to enhance language and word processing). However, reviewers should avoid inputting manuscripts into AI tools so as not to jeopardise the confidentiality of the peer review process. **Decision Making** PACJA will consider if the way in which AI or AI-assisted technologies was used and declared is consistent with its publication policies and practice. The Editor may request more information to be used internally and/or for publication. Manuscripts may be rejected or subject to post-publication changes or rejection in cases of inadequate declaration or the specific circumstances of the AI use.

In the Best Interests of the Child: Ethical Challenges for Counsellors and Psychotherapists