The program is structured to meet all the requirements of the Board.

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 for the Internship include:

• 160 hours of supervision of which at least 100 must be face-to-face, with the rest being attendance at training of a prescribed nature. Of the 100 hours of face-to-face supervision, at least 60 must be conducted individually with the Supervisor.
• A minimum of 16 hours per week engaged in the profession of Psychology (note that this does not have to take place at the venue of supervision. This means that Interns may be in employment elsewhere, or they can do practical placements at another setting).

Please note that the above is only a very basic description of the requirements of the Board. For full details, a Registration Information Kit should be obtained from the Board, Ph: (02) 9219-0211.

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.

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 NSW Psychologists Registration 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.

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

The program currently has a limited number of places. In recent years, the number of applicants has exceeded the number of places available, and places have been offered to approximately half the applicants. Places are offered on the basis of a selection process looking at academic record, relevant work experience and an interview with the Coordinator and the Clinical Team Leader.

Who gives the supervision?

The Coordinator of the Intern Program (currently Mary Higson, Clinical Psychologist) provides most of the primary supervision. However, other registered Psychologists at TMHC provide some supervision on a sessional basis.

What does group supervision involve?

At various stages in the program, group supervision involves either training in a number of areas, as outlined below, client presentations by the Interns, or a discussion of a professional topic of relevance.

What type of training is available to Interns?

All Interns in the program are trained in models of counselling, cross-cultural counselling, ethics, the clinical interview, diagnosis, psychometric testing, cognitive-behavioural techniques, research techniques and report-writing. Interns are also informed of other training opportunities within TMHC (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 TMHC and the SWAHS is at the Intern's own cost. The Interns are notified of such training courses on a regular basis.

Are placements provided by TMHC?

TMHC will place all Interns who do not have either paid or voluntary work of a psychological nature. However, as there are a limited number of placements available, Interns may not always be able to work in their area of preference. Placements will be rotated in order to maximize the learning experience. Current placements are with TMHC's Clinical Services, the Multicultural Problem Gambling Service, and a small number of community mental health services.

What other resources are available to Interns at TMHC?

Full library facilities are offered to the Interns as well as access to a large number of publications that have been produced by the Centre. Interns are also entitled to borrow from the test library, which has all the tests needed to complete requirements for the Assessment certificate for the Board. In addition, there is the opportunity to become involved in ongoing research programs and to have access to all the resources of a large multidisciplinary team.

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. Some supervision can be provided after-hours during the week for Interns in full-time employment.

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.

What is the cost of the program?

The cost of the program is currently $4000 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.