Adding to the controversy is Safavi's professional standing as a registered provisional psychologist. Her registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has sparked a visceral reaction from some members of the Iranian-Australian community who have sought psychological support to deal with trauma inflicted by the very regime her father represents. The thought of a relative of a senior IRGC figure—an organization associated with the violent suppression of protests in Iran—practicing in the mental health field in Australia is, for many, a bridge too far. This professional placement has created a sense of "betrayal" among those who fled Iran to find safety from such influences.
