Plans lodged for new psychology practice at 108 Albert Street, near the base and Hillcrest hospital

Plans have been lodged for a new psychologist office as some Rockhampton practices report long wait times, putting pressure on patients and staff. Here’s why people are waiting so long.

New clients wanting to see a psychologist in Rockhampton face waits of up to 12 months, with some private practices even fully booked for 2022 already.

The effects of COVID-19, easier access to funding from National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the lack of availability of psychologists in regional areas are reported to be some of the issues behind the long wait times.

As the waiting times grow, new plans were lodged this month with Rockhampton Regional Council to rezone a residential home near the Hillcrest and Base Hospitals to health care services, for a psychologist practice.

108 Albert Street, The Range sold for $580,000 in February 2021.

The property, 108 Albert Street, just one house back from the corner of Canning Street, sold in February this year for $580,000.

The application is to convert the existing dwelling into the psychology practice, without changing the bulk or scale of the development.

The practice would have two full-time practitioners and a full-time receptionist and would operate from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

The property is located near the Hillcrest and Base hospitals.

From January 1 to October 31 this year, 11,080 patients in the Rockhampton region have accessed Medicare subsidised mental health services, including GPs, social workers and psychologists.

In the 10 months recorded for this year so far, 602 registered and clinical psychologists have provided mental health services.

Rockhampton has around 15 private practices and there are 94 registered psychologists with the Psychology Board of Australia in the 4700 and 4701 postcodes.

Speaking to local practices, one office reported a nine to 12 months wait for a new client to see one of their eight psychologists and another said there was a wait of 12 weeks.

One practice has closed their books for therapy sessions for 2022 and only has appointments available for assessment, which is a six month wait.

In a report from July 1 2021 to September 30 2021, it was recorded there was a total of 47,208 general psychologists and provisional (student/ intern) psychologists actively practising and registered in Australia.

Clinical psychology is main area of practice with 75 per cent of registered psychologists and other areas include forensic, health, organisational, sport and exercise, counselling, community, educational and development psychology and clinical neuropsychology.

New South Wales has the highest number of registered psychologists with 32.42 per cent, followed by Victoria with 27.69 and Queensland is third with 18. 14 per cent.

Queensland has 6,234 general registered psychologists and 1,234 provisional psychologists, with around 80 per cent female and 20 per cent male.

Psychologist registrations have in fact increased in the last 10 years.

Comparing November 2010 with September 2021, there has been a 40 per cent increase in workforce numbers.

In 2010 there were 4,309 provisional psychologists while the latest 2021 report recorded 6, 519.

Central Queensland University has more than 1,400 students enrolled in psychology related undergraduate, honours and post graduate programs with 137 in the Bachelor of Psychological Science degree and 21 in honours.

CQUni Head of Course for Clinical Psychology Associate Professor Claire Thompson said while the long wait times at Rockhampton practices might seem quite long, it has been an issue for a long time.

Looking at data provided by the Department of Health, the number of patients accessing Medicare subsidised mental health services in the Rockhampton region in the last three years has remained quite stable.

The data states from 2018 there was 11, 988, in 2019 there was 12, 341 and in 2020 there was 12, 390.

Since the beginning of Covid, going from March 1, 2020, to October 31, 2021, 17,057 patients have accessed the services in the Rockhampton region.

The government did increase the number of subsidised sessions with psychologists from 10 to 20 during Covid, which is due to expire in June 2022, and telehealth sessions were increased to 20 as well but this is due to expire on December 31 with no word if it will be extended.

“It (waiting times) has been increasing for a few years not just the last year,” Ms Thompson.

“It’s definitely worse since the Covid pandemic and things like lockdown and job losses.”

While some would argue Covid has barely affected in the regions, Ms Thompson pointed out we did go through an initial lockdown and there were job losses which leads to financial stress.

The geographical shift of many people moving to the Rockhampton and Capricorn Coast have also caused a lot of rent and mortgage stress as the availability rate is very low.

Border closures has also meant people haven’t be able to attend wedding, births, funerals and more.

“People have been separated from families and friends and missing out important life events,” she said.

“The uncertainty around what will happen around the pandemic will cause a lot of stress.

“When waiting lists are that long its obviously difficult for people to access the services … For some people things might get worse while they are waiting.”

The demand on the mental health services not only has detrimental effects on patients but also puts pressure on the practitioners.

“Some practitioners have talked about feeling they should be able to help everybody who is needing helping, working longer hours to fit everyone in, and that has negative effects in terms of work life balance,” Ms Thompson said.

When asked what the solution is and what can be done, Ms Thompson said it was problematic.

CQuni is in the midst of extending their graduate program which would see more qualified practitioners which will help but there is definite shortage in the region.

She said there needs to be some sort of positive program to encourage psychologists, and other health professionals for that matter, to move to Rockhampton.

The development application for the psychology practice on Albert Street is yet to be approved by council.