Psychologist suspended after sexually assaulting a patient, harassing others

A Melbourne psychologist has been stripped of his registration after engaging in severe professional misconduct with vulnerable clients, including sexually assaulting a patient who had a known history of family violence and sexual abuse.

Scott Barnett, who practised at The Three Seas’ Melbourne CBD clinic, repeatedly exploited his position as a psychologist by pursuing patients for his own personal gratification, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) ruled.

The Psychology Board of Australia brought the case against Barnett in 2024 after an investigation centred on his conduct toward five clients over six years.

The case included Barnett’s 2021 attack on an “extremely vulnerable” patient, known to the tribunal as Katie. The psychologist invited Katie to stay at his apartment during a “particularly vulnerable period” of her life. Once there, he plied her with alcohol before sexually assaulting her for several hours on one occasion, and also sexually assaulting her on another occasion.

“Mr Barnett’s conduct was a desecration of the psychologist-client relationship,” VCAT Judge My Anh Tran said of the assault.

The former clinical psychologist was criminally convicted of two counts of sexual assault in December 2024.

His misconduct also included impregnating a client he pursued during treatment, sending sexually explicit texts to another patient he later tracked down on Tinder, and berating two other clients during separate sessions. All the patients were deemed vulnerable.

The client who was bombarded with sexually explicit texts, known to the tribunal as Ellen, complained to Barnett’s clinic about his behaviour just two months before the psychologist began treating Katie.

In her findings this month, Tran ruled that all allegations levelled against the psychologist had been proven. “[The former patients] wrote with great bravery and vulnerability about the severe and ongoing impact of Mr Barnett’s conduct upon them,” Tran found.

Barnett was barred from practising for eight years and will be ineligible to provide any mental health service during that period.

‘[Barnett’s] conduct caused actual, significant and ongoing harm to the vulnerable clients he was duty-bound to help.’

VCAT member Judge My Anh Tran

“[Barnett’s] conduct caused actual, significant and ongoing harm to the vulnerable clients he was duty-bound to help,” Tran said.

Barnett did not dispute the regulator’s submissions to VCAT.

“I do not wish to dispute the facts, findings or determinations. I agree to the facts, and accept the findings and determinations,” Barnett wrote to VCAT in an August 2025 email.

In July 2021, Barnett began treating Katie, who suffered from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, an eating disorder and suicidal ideation. During treatment, she also disclosed a history of surviving family violence and sexual abuse.

Barnett often complimented Katie’s appearance during sessions, gave her his personal mobile number and sent a series of inappropriate and personal text messages.

In November 2021, amid a dispute between Katie and her housemates, Barnett invited her to stay in the spare room at his apartment. The night she stayed over, Barnett bought alcohol and drank with her until she was intoxicated, and then sexually assaulted her.

Tran noted that one of the sexual assaults was “prolonged” and continued over many hours. “He claimed to be supporting a vulnerable client, while exploiting those vulnerabilities for his own personal gratification,” the judge found.

Barnett had already grievously breached his professional duties with two other patients before assaulting Katie. In 2016, the psychologist began treating a client known as Tracy, who suffered anxiety, low self-esteem and abusive experiences.

During treatment, Barnett said Tracy “looked cute in the waiting room” and provided her with his personal email and mobile. The day after her last session, Barnett had sex with Tracy, who became pregnant and suffered a miscarriage.

Barnett maintained an intimate relationship with Tracy until 2018, during which time he sent emails attempting to dissuade her from reporting his behaviour.

Another patient, known as Ellen, sought treatment for trauma and anxiety in 2020. One year into treatment, Barnett asked Ellen to download an encrypted messaging app, where he began messaging her with offers to buy her drawing paper, grant her access to his personal printmaking equipment and assist in selling her art.

After Ellen sent a photo of her artwork – which depicted a woman’s body – Barnett sent a barrage of sexually explicit messages, including: “Those images are a total turn on”; “you’re lucky to have the body you have”; “you’re really hot, you should be proud” and “I’m not working so hopefully that’s off the record”.

Soon after receiving the texts, Ellen cancelled her appointments with Barnett and lodged the complaint with the clinic, The Three Seas.

Months later, Barnett attempted to contact Ellen on the dating app Tinder.

The tribunal also found that Barnett was rude, condescending and inappropriate towards a fourth patient, known as Esther, during three telehealth sessions in December 2020. Barnett raised his voice and berated Esther, calling her “rude, difficult and unpleasant”.

The pyschologist sent several emails littered with insults to Esther soon after their last appointment.

Barrett also swore at a fifth patient during a 2020 assessment session, and asked the client: “Why are you here?” and “What do you want from me?” He also said: “I don’t need this f—ing shit.”

Barnett first registered as an Australian psychologist in 2012 after completing his studies at Canterbury University in Christchurch, New Zealand.

He was removed from the Three Seas website in March 2022, around the same time the Psychology Board of Australia launched its investigation.

Barnett remains registered with the New Zealand Psychologist Board, which he joined in 2006. His status is listed as “registered but not practising”.

An archived version of Barnett’s “about me” section on The Three Seas website claimed he had worked in government, hospital and private practice settings.

“Scott’s clients describe him as down to earth, calm, insightful and non-judgmental,” the bio read.

“Scott is open to working with all people, and he respects the opportunity to work alongside them to achieve their psychology goals.”

Support is available from the National Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Counselling Service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

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