Mental health plan funds 500 new postgraduate student places

The federal government’s new plan to boost the mental health workforce will fund 500 new postgraduate places for psychology students.

The government’s new mental health workforce plan will fund 500 new postgraduate degree places to train psychologists.

The federal government’s new plan to boost the workforce of trained people able to support mental health will fund 500 new postgraduate degree places for psychology students.

Health Minister Mark Butler said last month the 10-year National Mental Health Workforce Strategy would attract, train and support a diverse workforce to meet the need.

The plan provides $91.3m to create the 500 postgraduate places, as well as address other training bottlenecks, including funding 500 one-year internships for provisional psychologists, and 2000 fully subsidised supervisor training places, including 1000 refresher places.

“The strategy is a first step in the government’s long-term goal to ensure our mental health care system has the workforce in place to care for Australians needing mental health support,” Mr Butler said.

The 10-year strategy will give universities more resources for psychology training. For example, Griffith University will receive more than $5m to help students get practical experience in mental health work.

“We are excited about the expanded contributions our postgraduate psychology students will be able to make to community mental health, both during their supervised placements and after graduating as highly trained members of the mental health workforce,” said Heather Green, Griffith University’s deputy learning and teaching head in its School of Applied Psychology.

The money also allows students in general health areas to get experience in mental health.

“Supervised placement opportunities in less intensive service settings are integral to positive experiences for students and graduates and encourages them to continue in the mental health sector in their future careers,” said Andrea Bialocerkowski, director of micro-credentialing and short courses at Griffith Health.

“This funding allows us to prepare more students to work in the field which will consequently provide quality health professionals to the workforce and … enhance the quality of care delivered.”

Australian Psychological Society president Catriona Davis-McCabe said only 35 per cent of the federal government’s workforce target in psychology was currently being met.

“If we deliver this strategy in full, properly funded, we will have a more sustainable and well-supported workforce capable of delivering mental health treatment and support tailored to current and future community needs,” Dr Davis-McCabe said.