Definition of a profession

While there is no agreed definition of a profession, the Australian Council of Professions (Professions Australia) defines a profession as:

'A disciplined group of individuals who adhere to high ethical standards and uphold themselves to, and are accepted by, the public as possessing special knowledge and skills in a widely recognised, organised body of learning derived from education and training at a high level, and who are prepared to exercise this knowledge and these skills in the interest of others. 

Inherent in this definition is the concept that the responsibility for the welfare, health and safety of the community shall take precedence over other considerations.'

(Dr John Southwick, 'Australian Council of Professions’ view', during proceedings of a joint conference on competition law and the professions, Perth, April 1997)

Examples of professions include:

• health related—doctors, dentists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, pharmacists
• non-health related—architects, engineers, veterinarians, surveyors, lawyers.