AAPO encourages Professional Organisers to become members and actively participate in the programs we offer. Through these programs, AAPO is establishing standards and by hiring an Accredited Professional Organiser, the public can be confident these standards have been met or exceeded.

There are three levels of Accreditation – Member, Accomplished and Expert. Accreditation supports clients in making the choice of who to work with, and also provides a professional development path for our members. For further details of the three levels, see the Accreditation overview table.

Each organiser has their own style of working with clients and can offer a unique set of skills, experience and methods.

You should feel comfortable with your organiser. The extent to which you "click" with your organiser can make or break the process, so take the time to find an organiser with whom you feel at ease.

You want to be treated with respect and compassion. A good organiser is there to support and assist you and will not be judgemental, critical or overly pushy.

Your organiser will give you flexible, personalised assistance - your organiser should be able to adapt tools and techniques to fit your individual needs. Be sure to ask about their experience and expertise.

Your organiser should offer you complete confidentiality. Organising is a personal process, and you can expect your consultant to hold all information you share as confidential.

Your organiser should fully inform you of the costs (which vary from one consultant to another).

There are many variables involved in an organising project, so it can be difficult for an organiser to quote for an entire job. Even so, you can expect fees to be openly and honestly represented and for your organiser to be upfront about any factors that will affect costs.

A good organiser will educate you. They want you to have the skills to stay organised well after the hands-on work is completed.

Yes. AAPO Professional Organisers are bound by our Code of Ethics.

Please email info@aapo.org.au. You will be sent a new login ID and temporary password. Use these details to login and change your password immediately.

Once you have logged in, please updated all your details so they appear in your profile.

We suggest you:

1. Thoroughly research the industry. Using the Internet is a great way to do this, and the United States has a wealth of information.

2. Investigate setting up a small business so you have a better idea of what's involved. Also, we recommend you check the members' directory as some of our members offer coaching, mentoring or more informal support.

If you have natural organisational skills and a desire to help others then there is a strong possibility that becoming a Professional Organiser is the right choice for you. Having good problem solving skills and being good with people are also valuable.

A: Regardless of their background, all successful "veteran" organisers share certain characteristics -- a passion for organising principles, a strong set of people skills, the ability to teach new ideas to people, sharply honed "problem-solving" skills, and the ability to organise their own business dealings. But don't worry if you feel lacking in some of these areas -- becoming an organiser is a continual process of evolution, so you will acquire these skills as you grow and evolve. Like many other businesses a Professional Organiser needs to...

• Be a good listener - to ensure the client feels heard.
• Be non-judgemental - to provide the client with safe environment
• Be creative - to ensure that we provide the right solution for the client's challenge
• Be flexible - to understand that one size does not fit all
• Be intuitive - to ensure we listen for what is not being said
• Be committed - to ensure we provide value for the client
• Be collaborative - to ensure we engage the client in the process so that they have ownership
• Possess basic administrative and business skills.

A: Many people entering the organising industry start on a part-time basis. It's an industry offering great flexibility in the number of hours and days worked. Many start-up organisers continue with part-time work until they are ready to run their business on a full-time basis.

A: We encourage you to join AAPO so we can continue to promote and grow our industry and provide support and resources to members. Membership with associations that support your business can also help, groups like BNI, networking groups etc.

You may also consid joining NAPO or the NSGCD - National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization. The greatest benefit is printed materials and discounted fees if attending their conferences overseas.

At the present time there is no certification program offered in Australia or New Zealand, but it is something current members have expressed interest in developing. It is hoped that such a program will be developed within the coming years. There are private training programs available but they are not endorsed by any professional association.

Those already working as a POs in Australia and New Zealand come from diverse backgrounds. Their training (formal or otherwise) may be in many different fields and from many different sources.

Your client expects you to be competent in your area of specialty, to be honest yet non-judgemental, to be committed and willing to stand behind your work and most importantly to maintain a level of confidentiality. We strongly suggest that you discuss with your client their expectation so that the client is fully aware of what you can and cannot do for them. Knowing how to organise is one thing, knowing how to consult - that is to teach, structure your time with a client for the best results, make an assessment and deliver a result - is another.

Professional Organisers assist with many different areas of organisation including:

Domestic / residential

Business

Corporate offices

Time management

Paper management and systems for filing

Clutter control

Space planning

Wardrobe organising

Event planning

Errands

Personal shopping

Financial management

Memorabilia/photographs

Packing/moving

Information management

Training

Computers

Kitchens

Public speaking/ seminars/training

Home offices

Corporate offices

Downsizing

Relocating

Students

Children's rooms

Professional Organisers maybe very specific in the types of organising they offer or they may be general and offer a wide array of organising services. Some professional organisers offer products and/or have written books and/or offer seminars/workshops. Some POs work locally, while others have national or international availability.

That depends on several factors including the amount of time you're prepared to invest, whether you will start your business on a part-time or full-time basis, and who will be your target market.

Business statistics indicate that it can take somewhere between two and five years to build the average small business.

If you believe in yourself, your ability and you are prepared to work hard (like any small business) then the answer is yes. Having said that, the majority of PO's in Australasia operate part-time and have another stream of income, which AAPO recommends.

More and more busy people and businesses are recognising the value of streamlining and simplifying their lives as life becomes more and more hectic. We probably don't need to tell you - being organised saves time, money and avoids lots of stress!