On February 27, 2015, the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal made a finding of professional misconduct against Mr Ian Firth, a then registered psychologist.  

The complaint involved the sexualisation of the professional relationship with a patient and a mother of a patient.

On March 19, the Tribunal made orders, which were published on August 17, cancelling Mr Firth’s registration. The Tribunal  further ordered that Mr Firth cannot re-apply for registration for at least two years and is  prohibited from providing therapy, counselling, psychotherapy, welfare services any other mental health service, clinical supervision of psychology students and any other alternative/healing health care/therapies until he is registered as a psychologist.

Professional misconduct was determined on the basis that in 2012, Mr Firth began a professionally inappropriate sexual relationship, and participated in  inappropriate texting of a sexual nature, with the mother of a patient.

In a statement submitted to the Tribunal, Mr Firth said "I recognise the mistakes I have made and I want to change" and outlined steps he had taken to ensure professional boundaries were maintained in his practice.

The Tribunal did not accept this saying there was little to no evidence to suggest that Mr Firth was not fully aware of what he was doing.