CAREERS IN PSYCHOLOGY 28 April 2010 SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY I CAREERS CENTRE I PSYCHE WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS 1 David Burrows, B. Arts III (majoring in Psychology and Government) President of Psyche
INTRODUCTIONS Careers in Psychology is jointly coordinated by: Sadhana Raju Manager of Teaching Quality and Outreach School of Psychology Barbara Mackie Career Development Officer, Careers Centre David Burrows President of Psyche 3 GUEST SPEAKERS Dr Blake Hamilton Clinical Psychologist & Research Associate Rebecca Mallia-Blanco Acting Regional Manager and Psychologist/Rehabilitation Consultant Tamara Cakman Consultant, Page Personnel Ms Despina Sfakinos PhD Student, Job Capacity Assessor/Psychologist at Centrelink 4
PROGRAM 5:05 5:15 Welcome and Introductions Overview of Careers in Psychology David Burrows President of Psyche Sadhana Raju School of Psychology 5:30 6:20 6:30 Panel of Speakers Introductions Set questions Q & A from audience Summary 3 Top Tips from each speaker Close Dr Blake Hamilton Rebecca Mallia-Blanco Tamara Cakman Despina Sfakinos Barbara Mackie Career Development Officer, Careers Centre 5 CAREERS CENTRE FREE SERVICES Extensive Jobs Database: subscribe to Job Alert Careers Fairs Career Workshops Employer Information Sessions on campus Information about Graduate Programs Careers Resource Centre (Monday Friday: 9 am to 5 pm) Individual consultations with Career Development Officers Careers in Psychology handout sydney.edu.au/careers Level 5, Jane Foss Russell Building 6
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES www.careerfaqs.com.au ($) www.graduatecareers.com.au (free) 7 REGISTRATION PROCESS Semester Two Seminar on the new national regulations for the registration of Psychologists Simon Milton, Professional Officer NSW Psychologist Registration Board www.psychologyboard.gov.au 8
SEEK OPPORTUNITIES SYDNEYTALENT SydneyTalent connects students with opportunities for paid employment and work-related development. A diverse range of course-related employment options Enhance your work place skills through learning and development programs. All registered students have access to the WorkReady Essentials Workshops Available to all students Flexible working hours sydney.edu.au/sydneytalent OVERVIEW OF CAREERS IN PSYCHOLOGY 2 Sadhana Raju, Manager of Teaching Quality and Outreach School of Psychology
PICK THE PSYCHOLOGIST 11 The term psychologist WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A PSYCHOLOGIST? Provisional registration requires - 4 year APAC accredited sequence of study in psychology Full registration requires - An additional two years of supervised training: - in an accredited postgraduate degree or - whilst employed under the supervision of a registered psychologist or - in an accredited supervision program provided by a private college Registration as a psychologist will be overseen by Psychology Board of Australia from July 1 st, 2010. 12
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Dependent on your interests and your qualifications - Major in psychology - Fourth year in psychology - Professional postgraduate coursework - Postgraduate research 13 NOT EVERYONE PROCEEDS TO FOURTH YEAR PSYCHOLOGY Display knowledge and understanding of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, and empirical findings in psychological research. Understand and evaluate basic research methods used in psychology, including research design, data analysis and interpretation, and the appropriate use of technologies. Respect and use critical and creative thinking, sceptical inquiry, and the scientific approach to solve problems related to thought and behaviour. Value empirical evidence; act ethically and professionally; and understand the complexity of socio-cultural and international diversity. Communicate effectively in a variety of formats and in a variety of contexts 14
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES WITH A MAJOR IN PSYCHOLOGY Advertising Careers counsellor Correctional service Child welfare Health promotions Management consultant Occupational health & safety Market & social research Marketing Journalism Public relations Recruitment Social research Public health Human Resources 15 JOBS 16
JOBS 17 JOBS 18
JOBS 19 CAREER OPPORTUNTIES WITH A FOURTH YEAR IN PSYCHOLOGY General roles such as those listed in previous slides, PLUS: Basic Research in Psychology - Including neuroscience, cognitive science Applied Research and Social Policy e.g. - Educational Methods - Health Promotion, Psycho-oncology - Traffic Accident Research - Criminology Eligibility for provisional registration Eligibility to enrol in postgraduate study in Psychology - Professional coursework degrees (clinical, organisational, forensic etc) 20
JOBS 21 JOBS 22
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOLLOWING PROFESSIONAL POSTGRADUATE QUALIFICATIONS Clinical Psychology School Counselling Forensic Psychology Organisational Psychology 23 JOBS 24
JOBS 25 JOBS 26
POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH 27 POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH 28
POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH 29 POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH High level research in private or public sectors Academia 30
JOBS Dr Don Weatherburn Director of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research Dr Soames Job Director, Centre for Road Safety, RTA Dr Tasha Prabhakar Vice President of Playgroup NSW Inc; Board Director of YHA NSW Ltd 31 ACADEMIA 32
SALARY INFORMATION Source: www.gradsonline.com.au The data currently displayed are derived from the 2007 Graduate Destination Survey of graduates who completed their courses in 2006. Each year in April and October, Graduate Careers Australia surveys university graduates as part of the Australian Graduate Survey (AGS). The salary figures are national averages We suggest you do further research about salary information by checking job vacancy advertisements in the general press, on seek.com and on www.psychxchange.com.au 33 BACHELOR DEGREE Salary SALARY INFORMATION Median salary $43,000 In full time employment 88.2% Top 3 occupations Clerical & Administrative Worker 22.2% Social Professional 19.0% Business, Information, Marketing Professional 18.4% What do Psychology graduates do after finishing their courses? Working 88.2% Searching 21.1% Studying 41.8% 34
MASTERS DEGREE (coursework) Salary SALARY INFORMATION Median salary $59,000 In full time employment 92% Top 3 occupations Social Professional 64.7% Other 7.7% Business, Information, Marketing Professional 6.8% What do Psychology graduates do after finishing their courses? Working 92.0% Searching 8.0% Studying 3.1% 35 SUMMARY Psychology is a diverse discipline Broad range of opportunities Dependent on your interests and your qualifications - Major in Psychology - Fourth year in Psychology - Professional postgraduate coursework - Postgraduate research 36
THE PANEL 3 Hosted by Sadhana Raju, Manager of Teaching Quality and Outreach School of Psychology THE PANEL Dr Blake Hamilton Clinical Psychologist & Research Associate Rebecca Mallia-Blanco Acting Regional Manager and Psychologist/Rehabilitation Consultant Tamara Cakman Consultant, Page Personnel Ms Despina Sfakinos PhD Student, Job Capacity Assessor/Psychologist at Centrelink 38
DR BLAKE HAMILTON Clinical Psychologist & Research Associate headspace MCSH & Lifestyle Clinic UNSW DCP/MSc (Syd), PG Dip (Child and Adolescent Psychology) UWS, PG Dip Comm. (Human Resource Management) UNSW, BSc (Psychology) UNSW Blake is a clinical psychologist and researcher working at headspace Macarthur, Campbelltown and Southern Highlands and the Fatigue Clinic based at the Lifestyle Clinic at the University of New South Wales. He is also a consultant clinical psychologist for the Centre for Corporate Health. His interests include psychological treatment of fatigue syndromes, young people s mental health; particularly early detection, assessment, and intervention, and medico-legal assessment of psychological disorders. In 2005 he was awarded a NSW Institute of Psychiatry research fellowship and in 2008 he completed doctor of clinical psychology and Master of Science degrees with a thesis titled Detection of at-risk mental states for psychosis in young Aboriginal and non-aboriginal people (DARMSPA). He has completed psychiatric research work for health services and universities in Sydney and London and was recently elected president of the University of Sydney Psychology Alumni Association. Email: bhamilton@med.usyd.edu.au 39 REBECCA MALLIA-BLANCO Acting Regional Manager and Psychologist/Rehabilitation Consultant Specialist Services Unit (SSU) Parramatta at Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service (CRS) Australia Private Practitioner at Paradigm Shift Psychology Postgraduate Diploma of Science (Psychology) USYD, BA (Psychology & Philosophy) UNSW Rebecca has worked in psychological testing for recruitment purposes for Hudson where she developed assessment centre models for Westpac for national recruitment of all positions both volume and individual recruitment. Since leaving Hudson, Rebecca has applied organisational psychology skills to Vocational Rehabilitation. She specialises in assisting clients with brain injury and/or mental health conditions to return to previous employment or secure new suitable employment based on their new capabilities. Rebecca is a senior rehabilitation consultant with a team of 11 health professionals from all disciplines and at present is acting Regional Manager at Parramatta overseeing the strategic management of the region. Rebecca is also doing some private practice work under her company Paradigm Shift Psychology. Email: rebecca.mallia-blanco@crsaustralia.gov.au 40
TAMARA CAKMAN Consultant, Page Personnel BA (Industrial and Organisational Psychology), University of Canterbury NZ B Commerce (HRM), University of Canterbury NZ Tamara studied Psychology at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and majored in Industrial and Organisational Psychology. She supplemented this degree with a degree in Commerce majoring in HR Management. After graduating at the end of 2008 Tamara came to Sydney and is currently working at Michael Page International as a Recruitment Consultant in Finance. She has been working here for the past 6 months and attained the role through an internal referral. Tamara was always planning on moving into Human Resources as this was the area of her Psychology degree she enjoyed the most. Email: tamaracakman@pagepersonnel.com.au 41 DESPINA SFAKINOS Job Capacity Assessor/Psychologist at Centrelink Currently completing PhD (University of Sydney), BA (majoring in Psychology) Hons (University of Adelaide) PhD topic: The relationship between self-awareness, personality and leadership performance Despina completed her degree and honours at the University of Adelaide in 2000. After completion of her honours she went to Japan and taught English in a variety of contexts for a period of almost six years. Upon her return from Japan she commenced a PhD at the University of Sydney and soon after began undertaking the process for registration as a psychologist. She became a registered psychologist in August 2009. She is currently working one day a week for Centrelink as a Job Capacity Assessor/Psychologist as well as completing her PhD. Email: despinas@psych.usyd.edu.au 42
PANEL Q and A Dr Blake Hamilton Clinical Psychologist & Research Associate Rebecca Mallia-Blanco Acting Regional Manager and Psychologist/Rehabilitation Consultant Tamara Cakman Consultant, Page Personnel Ms Despina Sfakinos PhD Student, Job Capacity Assessor/Psychologist at Centrelink 43 TOP TIPS FROM THE SPEAKERS 4 Barbara Mackie, Career Development Officer Careers Centre
BLAKE HAMITLON TOP TIPS Enthusiasm often trumps experience It s not too early to find a niche find something you are really interested in Seek out experiences work experience, voluntary work; get involved in whatever you can 45 REBECCA MALLIA-BLANCO TOP TIPS Trust your intuition If you think your first graduate job is not exactly what you had hoped but you feel positive about it, then trust your hunches. Don t expect the job to progress your career directly or immediately. However, if you are enjoying the experience, then use the opportunity to explore possibilities. Being in a helping profession is exceptionally rewarding. You will be helping people in a way that is unique and professionally satisfying. Your job will be interesting and full of learning and development. If you are unhappy in a job, don t stay 46
TAMARA CAKMAN TOP TIPS Linked-in Set yourself up a professional network of contacts. Referrals through friends and peers are incredibly effective at securing interviews and roles, don t look down on nepotism! Interview Try to understand the purpose of the interview and make your skills and experience relevant to the role and the company s values. Your motivation for the job and goals coupled with your match with the team are just as important as your knowledge base. A degree will get you through the door, however the way you conduct yourself at interview stage is crucial. Plan ahead Sit down and think about long term goals i.e. 5 year plan. Explore what kind of company, industries and roles you want to move into so that you eventually reach that plan. Approach those companies or have agents do so on your behalf. 47 TOP TIPS DESPINA SFAKINOS Get organized No study is ever a waste of time Learn to use Endnote 48
BARBARA MACKIE TOP TIPS Follow your career interests and passion Ask yourself what drives you. What motivates you? For example: research, working with clients and their families, designing new tools and interventions, investigation, analysis, education, assessment, performance, prevention, behaviour, rehabilitation, development Planned happenstance Keep an open mind about opportunities and chance events. Have conversations with people that may lead to a new idea about your career direction. Make things more likely to happen by getting involved, asking questions, joining professional bodies and engaging with your studies Don t diagnose your friends and family! Learn to listen and listen well. 49 DAVID BURROWS TOP TIPS Get involved and gain experience Do subjects you enjoy Be flexible with your plans Disability Employment Internship Email jenny@ontrackemployment.com.au 50