The Australian Psychological Society (APS) commends the Federal Government for listening to long-running APS advocacy by investing in psychology, as revealed in today's ministerial announcement of a $91.3 million funding package to boost the psychology workforce.
The funding package is expected to boost psychology numbers through the addition of:
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500 psychology post-graduate placements
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500 one-year internships, and
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2,000 supervisor training sessions, 1000 of which will be delivered by the APS
APS President Dr Catriona Davis-McCabe said the investment would have a positive impact on the mental health of everyday Australians.
"Investment in the psychology workforce will increase accessibility to services and reduce wait times for Australians in need, taking pressure off GP clinics and emergency departments that are bursting at the seams.
"We are the largest mental health workforce and yet we have suffered from chronic underinvestment, despite record breaking demand.
"These initiatives will have real world impact on Australians, almost immediately, by helping psychologists provide even more effective care to Australians," she said.
Dr Davis-McCabe said Federal Health Minister the Hon Mark Butler MP and Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention the Hon Emma McBride MP should be thanked for taking this important first step in resolving the psychology workforce crisis.
"Assistant Minister McBride has today acknowledged the disconnect between the number of students studying psychology and the number of registered psychologists.
"Ninety percent of undergraduate psychology students are not undertaking postgraduate study to attain registration, partly due to limited availability of postgraduate university places, despite high student demand for these courses. So while we can't solve everything with one funding package, this is a step in the right direction.
"I'd like to thank the Federal Government for constructively consulting with the APS to consider our evidence-based solutions," she said.
