Expansion ‘win’ for psychology sector

FEDERATION University’s psychology program is expanding this year with additional partnerships, capacity and support services for the community.

The institution’s FedCare training clinic allows psychologists studing for Masters degrees to develop their practical skills while offering low-cost mental health support to people in the community.

After last year’s intake, the clinic’s pilot partnership with the Grampians Health Assessment clinic has been extended for 12 months, while the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative has signed on with a new clinical registrar position as well as a funded clinical placement.

Federation University head of clinical services and programs, psychology, Associate Professor Megan Jenkins, said the clinic’s partnership growth is a win for Ballarat’s psychology sector.

“FedCare Psychology remains committed to training postgraduate students to grow a sustainable mental health workforce in rural and regional Victoria,” she said.

“Our Master of Psychology students do an outstanding job representing the university and provide much-needed mental health services.”

Based at the institution’s Mount Helen campus, the program saw more than 70 students undertaking their Master of Psychology (Clinical), providing mental health services to 940 clients over 6654 sessions.

The clinic is also expanding with new school partnerships, with Our Lady Help of Christians, Ballarat Christian College, and Delacombe and Daylesford primary schools among the institutions joining the dozen primary and secondary schools already undertaking FedCare’s school outreach program.

“Traditionally, FedCare has had strong demand for psychological services for children and adolescents, including assessment services to support the development of learning plans for school-aged children,” Associate Professor Jenkins said.

“But recently we have seen increased demand for FedCare’s low-cost, high-quality services in adults.”

Visit study.federation.edu.au/course/DYL9 for more information on the Master of Psychology (Clinical) course.