Neuropsychology-Student s-society-- c/okirrilyrogersandhonorcolemanpsychologicalsciences,theuniversityofmelbourneparkvillevic3010egmail: neuropsychology.students.society@gmail.com!web:https://sites.google.com/site/neuropsychologystudentssociety/ Date:1 st October2015 ProfessorBrinGrenyer,Chair PsychologyBoardofAustralia Psychologychair@ahpra.gov.au AHPRASubmissionforConsultationPaper25:Consultationonendingthehigher degreeexceptionfromsittingthenationalpsychologyexamination Psychconsultation@ahpra.gov.au. DearProfessorGrenyerandtheconsultationboard: TheNeuropsychologyStudent ssociety[nss]isanindependent,notforprofit, studentgrunsocietyofpostgraduatestudentsundertakingapacaccredited MastersandDoctoralneuropsychologycoursesacrossMelbourne.TheNSS wouldliketostronglyendorsethatthepsychologyregistrationboardcontinues toexemptpostgraduategtrainedpsychologistsfromsittingtheproposed NationalPsychologyExaminationupongeneralistregistration. Postgraduatepsychologystudentsalreadymeettherigorousnationalstandards fortheeducationandtrainingofpsychologistssetdownbyapacandthehealth PractitionerRegulation(AdministrativeArrangements)NationalLawAct 2008.ThecurriculumoftheNationalPsychologyExaminationiscommendedfor itsthoroughassessmentofabroadrangeofprofessionalcapabilities.this curriculum,however,isalreadytaughtcomprehensivelytopostgraduate psychologystudentsinapacaccrediteduniversitycourses.theeight capabilitiescoveredbythenationalpsychologyexaminationareformally examinedacrossavarietyofformats writtenexams,reports,praticuum,essays, placementsupervisiongaspartoftheseaccreditedcoursestoensurethatall postgraduatepsychologystudentsinaustraliademonstrateahighlevelof understandingandaptitudeacrossthedomainsoutlinedintheconsultation paper.toregassessusviathenationalpsychologyexaminationwouldtherefore behighlyredundant. ExemptingpostgraduatepsychologystudentsfromhavingtosittheNational PsychologyExaminationwouldalsorelievethemoffurtherfinancialand vocationalcosts.notonlywouldthenationalpsychologyexaminationplacean additionalandunnecessaryfinancialburdenonpostgraduatestudents,itwould alsofurtherdelayentryintotheprofessionaspostggraduatestudentsarenot allowedtopracticeinthesameindependentmannerasaprovisional
psychologistundertakinganunaccreditedtwogyearinternship.astheexam wouldlikelyonlybeheldatcertaintimesofyear,itwouldnotonlyunfairly postponecareercommencement;itwouldalsohavethepotentialtodenysome postgraduatestudentsofseveralmonths income. TheNSScontendsthattheNationalPsychologyExaminationisanexcellent initiativetoensurethatthehighstandardssetbyapacandahpraare systematicallyupheldacrosspsychologistsinaustralia,includingprovisional psychologistsundertakinganunaccredited2gyearinternship,aswellas psychologiststrainedoverseas,thosereturningtoworkafterlengthyperiodsof absence,andclinicianswhoseprofessionalcompetencehasbeencalledinto question.westronglybelieve,however,thatthenationalpsychology ExaminationisnotappropriateforMastersandDoctoralstudentswhose understandingofthecurriculumhasalreadybeenformallyassessedand certifiedbyapacgaccrediteduniversities. TheNSShasscopedtheattitudesofarangeofpostgraduatepsychologystudents (includingthosefromclinical,clinicalneuropsychologyandeducational psychologycohorts)whoalsosupportthebeliefthattheproposedexamisan unnecessaryadditionalrequirementonpsychologystudentstransitioninginto clinicalwork,andthatitunderminestheregistrationprocessalreadyrequired. WebelieveinAHPRA sabilitytoensurethateducatorsandsupervisorsare appropriatelyaccreditedandmeetthenationalrequirements.furthermore,we donotbelievethatanyadditionalmeasurestoensurecompetenceshouldbeat thecostofstudents. Ifsuchanexamdoescomeintoeffect,weadvocatethefollowing.Firstly,that thereshouldbenocostforstudentstosittheexam.requiredcostofsuch anexamshouldbemadetransparent,andcompletedonanotgforgprofitbasis. Andsecondly,weputforwardthepointthatsucharequirementshouldnot retrospectivelyapplytostudentswhobegantheircoursepriortothiscoming intoeffect(i.e.priorto1stjuly2016). ThankGyouforyourconsiderationofoursubmissiononthisdiscussionpaper. Sincerely, NeuropsychologyStudent ssocietyexecutivecommittee, onbehalfoftheneuropsychologystudent ssociety