Psychology Intern Program  Frequently Asked Questions 

Download a PDF version of these FAQs here 

Q1. Does the TMHC Psychology Intern Program fulfil the requirements of the Psychology Board of Australia (the Board)?

Yes, the program is structured to meet all the requirements of the Board.

Q2. What are the requirements of the Board?  

It is essential that you have a four-year degree in Psychology before commencing an Internship.

Basic requirements to apply for registration with the Board include:

• A minimum two-year program based on a 35-hour week and seven-hour day
• A minimum of 17.5 hours per week psychological practice with 1232 hours of direct client contact over two years
• A minimum of 176 hours of supervision and 120 hours of professional development

Please note that the above is a very basic description of the requirements of the Board. For full details, the Guidelines for 4+2 internship program: provisional pscyhologists and supervisors should be obtained from the Board: Website: www.pscyhologyboard.gov.au

Q3. Who is suited to the program?

Four-year Psychology graduates who have an interest in transcultural mental health and are considering working in this or related areas. An ability to communicate well in a second language is advantageous but not essential.

Q4. Can people who are not Australian residents apply for the program?

Applicants for the program need to be eligible to apply for provisional registration with the Board. As the program involves two years of supervised practice in the field of psychology, applicants who are not Australian residents need to have a visa permitting them to work in Australia for the duration of the program.

Q5. What are my chances of getting a place on the program if I apply?

Entry to the TMHC Psychology Intern Program is competitive. The program currently has a limited number of places available. Places are offered on the basis of a selection process involving consideration of academic record, relevant work experience and an interview with the Psychology Intern Program Coordinator and the TMHC Clinical Consultation and Assessment Service Coordinator.

Q6. Who provides the supervision?

The Coordinator, Psychology Intern Program (currently Mary Higson, Clinical Psychologist) provides most of the principal supervision. Other registered Psychologists working for the TMHC (or its associated services) may provide some principal and secondary supervision.

Q7. What does group supervision involve?

Group supervision involves presentation by the Interns of material relevant to Psychology at registration level, for example work they have been conducting with a client, followed by discussion of the issues raised.

Q8. What type of training is available to Interns?

Training is provided on a variety of topics including ethics, legislation, interviewing, assessment and problem formulation, diagnosis, models of counselling and therapy, working with interpreters, cultural competence, psychometric testing, cognitive-behavioural techniques, research procedures, record keeping, report-writing and practice across the lifespan.

Interns are also informed of other professional development opportunities within the Diversity Health Institute (DHI) (including multi-day conferences in transcultural mental health) and Sydney West Area Health Service (SWAHS). Many of these are free or at discounted prices for Interns.

Training external to the DHI and the SWAHS is at the Intern’s own cost. The Interns are notified of such training courses on a regular basis.

Q9. Are placements provided by TMHC?

TMHC is currently able to provide a placement to one Intern at a time. Applications are also encouraged from applicants who have organised their own psychological work placement.

Q10. What other resources are available to Interns at TMHC?

Interns are entitled to membership of the Cumberland Hospital mental health library. They are also entitled

to borrow from the TMHC test library, which has all the tests needed to complete requirements for the psychological assessment and measurement component of Board requirements. Interns who are participating in a placement at TMHC are provided with access to a desk, computer and printer, and are given the opportunity to experience being a part of a large multidisciplinary team.

Q11. How flexible in terms of Intern supervision is the program?

There is a reasonable amount of flexibility within the program, and every attempt is made to make it as

suitable to Intern needs as possible.

Q12. Can people who have already commenced an Internship elsewhere transfer to the TMHC program?

Subject to the approval of the Board, this is not a problem. No difficulties with such transfers have been experienced in the past.

Q13. What is the cost of the program?

The cost of the program is currently $6000 per annum. Payment can be made as a lump sum annually, in which case, a 10% discount is allowed, or by three equal payments spread across each of the two years.

For further information or to submit an application, please contact:        Mary Higson Co-ordinator - Psychology Intern Program Transcultural Mental Health Centre Locked Bag 7118 Parramatta BC CBD NSW 2124 Ph: 9840 3800 Fax: 9840 4180 Email: Mary_Higson@wsahs.nsw.gov.au Web: www.dhi.gov.au/tmhc

 Download a PDF version of these FAQs here