Educational and Developmental Psychology is one of the fastest-growing endorsement areas in Australia, with over 1,000 endorsed psychologists and many general psychologists who have completed postgraduate training in the field. Despite this growth, limited research has explored the composition and roles undertaken by this workforce (see Fletcher et al., 2010), and demographic data remains scarce from government and regulatory bodies. To address this gap, a National Survey of Educational and Developmental Psychology was conducted in 2024–25. Over 300 participants reported working across diverse settings, including schools, community settings, tertiary settings, and private practice. Respondents also shared current challenges and positive aspects of their work. This study provides a contemporary overview of the endorsement area and offers valuable insights into the professional identity and scope of practice of educational and developmental psychologists in Australia.

• Understand the current landscape of Educational and Developmental Psychology in Australia, including workforce demographics, training pathways, and areas of professional practice.
• Identify the diverse roles and settings in which practitioners with training in educational and developmental psychology operate.
• Recognise the key challenges and positive aspects reported by professionals in the field, contributing to a broader understanding of the profession’s identity, scope, and future directions.

Educational and Developmental Psychologists (EDPs) possess a unique lifespan‑focused training—from early childhood to older adulthood—yet are increasingly challenged by blurred professional boundaries and diminishing recognition across diverse practice settings. Whether in schools, NDIS, aged care, or private practice, EDPs encounter overlapping scopes with other endorsed psychologists (clinical, clinical neuropsychology, community, counselling) and allied health providers. Moreover, the value of Area of Practice Endorsement (AoPE) in clarifying scope and boosting professional standing has not been fully realised.

This panel asks: Are we too broad to be seen as essential—or too niche to be sustainable in modern workforce planning? Featuring EDPs working at different life stages, alongside workforce policy and regulatory experts, we will:

- Examine how scope overlap affects professional role clarity and public visibility.
- Critique AoPE’s effectiveness in asserting our place within funding and service structures.
- Discuss strategic actions to strengthen the visibility, relevance, and impact of EDPs.

Interactive audience participation will surface lived experiences and collaboratively shape solutions—encouraging attendees to reflect on their own workplace positioning and contribute to a collective vision for our profession’s future.

Attendees will be able to:
1. Critically analyse challenges in articulating EDP scope across developmental stages.
2. Evaluate Area of Practice Endorsement as a mechanism for professional recognition and workforce inclusion.
3. Develop strategic direction for advocacy, scope clarity, and role definition to enhance future practice, policy, and service impact.