A new psychology post-graduate course will be provided at Auckland University of Technology and the University of Canterbury next year. Photo: AUT / University of Canterbury
It is hoped that a new psychology qualification will boost the number of people trained to provide New Zealanders with much needed mental health and addiction support.
From 2026 it will be possible to train as an associate psychologist by taking a one-year post-graduate course at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) or University of Canterbury.
AUT Associate Professor in Psychology and Neuroscience Liesje Donkin who was one of the co-leads developing the course said the first intake would offer up to 40 places across both institutes.
It was "widely recognised" that mental health support was under-resourced and those needing help faced long waits in the public and private sectors, she said.
"We know that we're seeing increased people accessing services or seeking help for services, we have increased need for ADHD diagnoses, plus we also have, in Aotearoa, high rates of suicidality and distress."
It could take up to seven years to train as a psychologist in Aotearoa, she added.
It was hoped that the course would lead to a wider range of people working in psychology and mental health support by offering an alternative way into the profession, Donkin said.
There was a huge need for psychologists but it was also a tough qualification to achieve, she added.
"It's competitive to get into. Many people don't want to do six or seven years of study, or can't, because they don't have the financial resources or support to do that. It requires a lot of resourcing to be able to study for that long, particularly continuously."
"This role would help to bolster the workforce, it would provide more mental health clinicians on the ground. It would also help free up psychologists to work at the top of the scope and to work within the skillset that we are trained in as psychologists, as well."
Health NZ acting director Mentally Well Lisa Gestro said the associate psychologists - whose official job title is still to be confirmed - would be registered health professionals with regulatory oversight from the New Zealand Psychologists Board.
"They will work with the supervision of a registered psychologist within services and teams to provide integrated psychological care to people with low to moderate needs. This will enhance the support provided by mental health and addiction services and teams, while also freeing up psychologists to focus on more complex work and people who require more intensive support."
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