Uni grant to address workforce shortages

FEDERATION University Australia has seen an eight-point-seven per cent increase in Masters of Psychology (Clinical) enrolments this year and has consequently been awarded a Federal Government grant.

The more-than $647,000 grant recognises how the program is addressing critical skills shortages and is part of the Department of Health and Aged Care’s national leadership in mental health program.

This is the second consecutive year the university has received funding, which will go towards teaching and supervision within post-graduate psychology programs.

External placement partnerships will be expanded to increase FedCare’s capacity to serve the community.

FedCare, which is located at the university’s Mount Helen campus, offers psychological treatment, formal psychological testing, consultation, community and school outreach programs and workshops.

Federation University’s head of clinical services and programs, psychology, Dr Megan Jenkins, said the program is essential to addressing workforce shortages.

“The greatest shortfall in the mental health workforce is in rural and regional Australia and this funding acknowledges the impact of our programs on workforce development and mental health care access across the country,” she said.

“Our innovative placement program and purpose-designed psychology training clinic, FedCare, allow us to offer more places to train our future psychologists while providing vital psychology services to our region.”