Careers for Psychology Graduates
Your Gateway To The Profession - Become A Student Subscriber!!! The Australian Psychological Society (APS) is advancing the standard and reputation of the psychology and the psychology profession in Australia. The Australian Psychological Society Ltd The APS sees students as its future and wants your involvement! By joining the APS you become part of a network of more than 15,000 members across the nation, a network that could provide the difference when looking to secure your first job. To be eligible to become a Student Subscriber of the APS, all you need to do is be studying an APSaccredited psychology course. Join for just $109. So, why join? $109 may seem a lot of money for a student but it is also a sound investment in your future, and enables you to become part of the profession. It offers you an insider s view into what is going on in the field, and a sense of where you might set your future place in psychology. Student Subscriber benefits Student Subscribers of the APS are entitled to many benefits that include: APS website: www.psychology.org.au Log on to keep in touch with the latest APS updates, media releases, professional development events, and links to psychology student associations. The APS website also lists all APS-accredited psychology courses. This includes fourth year postgraduate diplomas and honours degrees and fifth and sixth year Masters and DPsych courses. Professional networking: The APS is a national Society with more than 15,000 members. Members can build up contacts through attendance at APS conferences and Branch meetings. State newsletters advertise the latest networking activities. Code of Ethics and Ethical Guidelines: Invaluable resources for students wishing to become practising psychologists. You can download these resources from the member-only section of the website. APS Matters: Fortnightly email update distributed to members. InPsych: Keep up-to-date about topical issues and new developments in psychology through this informative bi-monthly magazine. APS awards and prizes: Apply for a range of grants & prizes! Colleges and Interest Groups: For no charge, Student Subscribers can join one of the Society s nine specialist Colleges as a student member. You can also join one or more of 22 Interest Groups (for half price) that focus on emerging areas of professional practice, specific content areas or social issues. Products and resources: Order informative and user-friendly APS products. Tip sheets are particularly helpful in informing clients about psychological issues and demonstrating how psychologists can help. Topics include: alcohol and other drugs, anger, depression, eating disorders and youth suicide. How to join Please contact the APS National Office on 03 8662 3300 or membership@psychology.org.au, or visit www.psychology.org.au if you would like further information about any of the above benefits. Please mention this booklet when you call. We encourage you to take part in Society activities and welcome your feedback on any issues that are important to you as a Student Subscriber. Your future is in your hands. Begin your journey in the psychology profession and gain a competitive edge by becoming a Student Subscriber of the APS today.
Contents Introduction...................... 2 Education and Training................. 3 Branches of Psychology................. 4 Trends in Employment.................. 9 Additional Employment Possibilities 9 careers in psychology // Graduate Profiles................... 10 Further Information.................. 14 Acknowledgments.................... 14 NOTE: Wherever you see this icon please go to www.graduatecareers.com.au>>what Job For You>>Career Profiles>>Psychology>>More Information for continued discussion and/or useful websites on that subject.
graduate careers australia // www.graduatecareers.com.au Introduction Psychology concerns the study of human behaviour, as well as the factors that may influence human behaviour. Professional Psychologists use scientifically-established processes to help investigate a range of personal and social issues. Despite popular misconceptions, not all Psychologists are directly concerned with personal problems. Many work in positions where they: create social change to improve or prevent human problems undertake assessment, intervention and counselling for learning and developmental issues in people of all ages work with the law, police services and in correctional services study accident prevention assist people involved in sport and exercise to maximise their performance and participation design educational material promote the prevention and treatment of illness and promote healthy behaviours research how people function in different environments and situations assist clients to live happier, healthier lives design and implement recruitment and selection strategies examine work, human resource management, training and development and market research and advertising conduct research and teach in universities diagnose, treat and prevent a wide range of mental health and general health issues assess, diagnose and manage individuals with brain impairment assist people to achieve goals in areas such as welfare and community projects counsel people to assist with issues such as personal wellbeing, relationships, work, health and crisis management. Psychology is a very popular discipline in Australian universities. While many Psychology students go on to become registered Psychologists, others use it as a stepping stone to different occupations, or to broaden their knowledge and understanding of human behaviour. Psychology may be studied as a dedicated degree program (Bachelor of Psychology) or as a major sequence within a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Social Science degree, or may be included in degrees as diverse as Education, Business or Health Science. I ve always been interested in what motivates people and why people think in different ways. It started out as an interest and led me into a career. I m still fascinated with psychological research and clinical issues. Change Management Consultant, international management consultancy firm People wanting to become Psychologists need to be driven, and to be passionate about the work they want to do, as these positions are challenging. You need to be committed to seeing results. Be aware of your own boundaries and the need to look after yourself, and give back to yourself. You ll see things that you don t necessarily hold as your own values be open-minded. Psychologist, mental health rehabilitation and community integration program Important qualities in a Psychologist include self-awareness and a genuine interest in other people. You also need excellent interpersonal communication skills, such as active listening, and you should receive good, regular training. Assistant Director, university careers centre The most rewarding part of this job is when someone succeeds, finishes parole, when they call you years down the track and say I m still clean! The worst thing is not being able to help when they want to change but things aren t working for them, and you have limited power to help them. Probation and Parole Officer, NSW State Government Counselling is a very challenging way to spend your working time it is both intellectually and emotionally demanding. You re dealing with real things, every day. Counsellor, university student services unit
3 People consult Psychologists for issues as diverse as: addictions or habits (eg. smoking, gambling and blushing) child and adult learning depression, anxiety and grief eating and weight control issues fears and phobias maximising human resource capacity, such as in staff selection career planning personal growth behavioural issues in children studying consumer needs sexual difficulties sleeping disorders stress or chronic pain marital, family or relationship issues ascertaining whether a person charged with a criminal offence has sufficient cognitive ability to understand the nature of the charges and can assist in their defence. Education and Training Practising Psychologists are required by law to register in the state or territory in which they work, in the same way medical practitioners and solicitors must register to practise. Registration is the responsibility of the state and territory Psychologists Registration Boards. Each Board determines the requirements for registration in that state or territory. These requirements differ slightly, but all require the completion of four fulltime years of academic study in Psychology plus two additional full-time years of either postgraduate training in Psychology or supervised workplace experience as a probationary/conditional registered Psychologist. The four full-time years of academic study in Psychology usually consists of either a three-year pass degree majoring in Psychology plus an Honours year or Postgraduate Diploma, OR a four-year Psychology degree. The two additional full-time years of postgraduate training would consist of a Masters degree or Doctorate (which in fact takes three years). Note that study in this area requires mathematical and scientific aptitude, as statistical and biological subjects must be completed within psychological qualifications. Employers advertising for Psychologists normally require applicants to be eligible for state/territory registration and/or full membership of the Australian Psychological Society. careers in psychology // Figure 1: Qualification Requirements for Registration as a Psychologist* Three-year Psychology Degree PLUS Honours year OR Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology OR Four-year Psychology Degree PLUS At least two additional years of study (Masters Degree in Psychology or Doctorate in Psychology) OR Two full time years of supervised workplace experience as a probationary/conditional registered Psychologist *Registration with the Australian Psychological Society (APS)
4 graduate careers australia // www.graduatecareers.com.au The Australian Psychological Society is not concerned with registration of Psychologists. Rather, it is the largest professional association for Psychologists in Australia and is concerned with advancing Psychology as a discipline and profession. Student membership of the APS is available and provides students with the opportunity to develop networks and further their knowledge through training and events. Even if you choose not to progress through the qualifications necessary to practise as a registered Psychologist, a Psychology degree can still be useful in a range of occupations, including research, human resources, policy and planning, welfare, counselling and employment positions. Why study Psychology? It s eclectic, broad, flexible! There s room to be imaginative, and I like problemsolving. Assistant Director, university careers centre It is extremely satisfying, being able to use my initiative and creativity in this job. Psychologist, mental health rehabilitation and community integration program Branches of Psychology Professional Psychologists undertake general training in Psychology, and then some specialise by undertaking further study. (Data from the Australian Psychological Society indicates that around onethird of their members report a specialisation.) They work in a wide range of settings in both the public and private sectors. Clinical Psychologists are concerned with the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of a wide range of psychological problems and mental illness affecting adults, children and families. They are also involved in designing and implementing a wide range of prevention and mental health promotion programs. Clinical Psychologists are employed by: //...Community Psychologists work in partnership with people, groups and policy makers to achieve the goals of the community that may be individual, social, political or environmental.// state health authorities working in psychiatric clinics and hospitals general and rehabilitation hospitals community health centres specialist agencies (eg. caring for people with physical or mental disabilities, people with drug and alcohol addictions) research centres. Many practitioners also offer private clinical psychological services. In addition to involvement in many of the issues mentioned above, Clinical Psychologists may also diagnose and treat: adjustment disorders attention deficit disorders behaviour disorders brain injury (eg. attention, memory, judgement) delirium and dementia intellectual disability obsessions and compulsive behaviour personality problems post-traumatic stress disorder suicidal behaviour. Clinical Psychologists have specialist training in the assessment and diagnosis of major mental illnesses and psychological problems. They are trained in the delivery of a range of techniques and therapies, excluding drug therapy. Following detailed discussion with the client, the Clinical Psychologist will: assess emotional, behavioural and intellectual functioning of the client explore the client s thoughts, emotions and behaviours and track their origins assist the client to develop effective ways of coping with and controlling these difficulties help the client to implement changes to alleviate the problems. Clinical Neuropsychologists specialise in the assessment and diagnosis of brain impairment and how this affects thinking skills, emotions, behaviour and personality. These may have arisen from brain dysfunction such as head injury, epilepsy, neurological disease and stroke, drug and alcohol abuse, psychiatric disorders, attention deficit disorders, learning disabilities and dementia. They are also involved in the rehabilitation and management of the effects of brain impairment and often work with other allied health professionals. Most Clinical Neuropsychologists are employed in major hospitals, rehabilitation centres, psychiatric services and private practice.
Areas that Clinical Neuropsychologists may assess include: attention and concentration deficits memory problems difficulties in thinking clearly and logically problems making decisions language/learning difficulties. They are skilled in assessing the presence or nature of brain dysfunction and will use skills such as interview, observation and psychological testing (eg. in areas of memory, concentration, thinking skills). Community Psychologists are concerned with community issues and with understanding and supporting the needs of people in their communities. They focus less on problems and more on community strengths, creating social change to prevent or reduce human problems. Community Psychologists work in partnership with people, groups and policy makers to achieve the goals of the community that may be individual, social, political or environmental. Many work in community-based agencies developing strong, competent and resilient local neighbourhoods. Some work in areas of social need such as with the homeless and people who are socially, mentally or physically disadvantaged. They may also work in local government, education and community health settings. Community Psychologists: provide counselling and advocacy coordinate and evaluate programs and projects facilitate groups train staff assess group or community needs conduct research manage and promote change in systems, organisations or communities. Counselling Psychologists assist individuals, families and groups with issues related to relationships, work, recreation, health and personal wellbeing. They facilitate personal and interpersonal functioning across the life span with a focus on emotional, social, vocational, educational, healthrelated, developmental and organisational issues. The quality of the relationship between the client and the Psychologist is a critical component of Counselling Psychology. Through the integration of theory, research and practice, Counselling Psychology encompasses a broad range of practices that help people improve their wellbeing, alleviate distress and maladjustment, resolve crises and increase their ability to live more highly functioning lives. Counselling Psychology focuses on both normal developmental issues and problems associated with physical, emotional and mental disorders. careers in psychology //
graduate careers australia // www.graduatecareers.com.au Counselling Psychologists may assist people to: deal with grief or trauma manage fear and phobias deal with eating disorders cope with disabilities or health problems improve parenting skills manage conflict deal with crisis situations increase self-esteem or confidence cope with separation or divorce manage anger improve communication cope with depression or anxiety handle obsessions or compulsions or, in the case of organisations: select staff evaluate programs resolve interpersonal work conflicts. The skills that a Counselling Psychologist employs include: counselling and psychotherapy conflict resolution health and life management career development program development and evaluation assessment and reporting. They are employed in private practice, government departments, community agencies, welfare organisations, schools and tertiary education settings. Educational and Developmental Psychologists provide assessment, intervention and counselling services relevant to the management of developmental and educational issues across the lifespan. Specialisations include early intervention, disability, problems of learning and adjustment in schools, career and family development, lifespan transitions and ageing. They work in a range of settings with individuals, groups, couples or systems and may have many different titles including: //...a Psychology degree can still be useful in a range of occupations, including research, human resources, policy and planning, welfare, counselling and employment positions// Child and Adolescent Psychologist School Counsellor Guidance Officer Geropsychologist. Educational and Developmental Psychologists may work with young children on issues such as difficult temperament or behaviour, development or sibling rivalry. During the school years, issues such as transition, abuse, family relationships, behaviour, learning or self-esteem problems and problems with peer relationships can arise. Adolescents may seek help with parental conflict, sexuality issues, career guidance, substance abuse or body issues and peer pressure. Into adulthood, people may consult an Educational and Developmental Psychologist about work stress, career issues, parenting, midlife problems or relationships. With later adulthood come issues such as decline in functioning, healthy ageing and issues related to grief or dependency. Forensic Psychologists deal with the intersection of Psychology and the legal process. They apply psychological knowledge to assessment, intervention and research in the legal and criminal justice system. These Psychologists often work in criminal, civil and family legal matters and provide services for perpetrators, victims and justice personnel. They provide expert opinion to the courts in such matters as criminal behaviour, child abuse and custody disputes. Forensic Psychologists work in forensic settings such as prisons and detention centres, the family court and child protection services. They also work with the police, on community programs (eg. domestic violence) and in forensic mental health. Forensic Psychologists use their skills in areas such as: designing and delivering treatment programs for offenders providing consulting services to legal and justice organisations performing psychological assessments and writing reports for courts and parole boards assisting with child neglect cases designing crime prevention programs appearing as expert witnesses and providing professional views on psychological matters assessing and treating victims of crime. Health Psychologists are engaged in the promotion and maintenance of health-related behaviour, prevention and treatment of illness, identification of causes and diagnostic correlates of illness and the analysis and improvement
of the health care system. There are two main specialisations, health promotion, which is concerned with illness prevention, and clinical health psychology, which is concerned with diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. In the area of health promotion Health Psychologists may be involved in: designing public health education programs (eg. Sun Smart) researching the distribution of disease and health needs of Australian communities providing programs to assist with illness prevention (eg. heart attack, STDs), smokingrelated illness and, in cooperation with other health professionals: determining what behaviours are contributing to illness (eg. eating a high fat diet). Within clinical health areas, Health Psychologists may: help people cope with trauma, disability or chronic illness develop education and therapy programs to assist people handle issues such as weight management or cancer psychologically aid people with problems that can accompany ill health and injury such as depression, pain, addiction and sleep problems help people understand how to deal with terminal illness. Health Psychologists work in the public health sector, in large hospitals, community health centres, rehabilitation centres and in other public health organisations (eg. the Cancer Council). Organisational Psychologists are concerned with people functioning effectively in relation to their working environments, specifically to enhance organisational effectiveness, productivity and the wellbeing of the individual. Areas of expertise include: recruitment and selection training appraisal and review vocational guidance and career development industrial relations occupational health and safety planning technological and organisational change organisational behaviour ergonomics job redesign and marketing. Organisational Psychologists apply psychological principles and methods to understand and influence work behaviour and attitudes and the structure of organisations. The area includes: Industrial and Organisational Psychology Occupational Psychology Human Resource Management Vocational Psychology Managerial Psychology (including coaching) Consumer Psychology. careers in psychology //
graduate careers australia // www.graduatecareers.com.au Organisational Psychologists may use psychometric tests to measure the knowledge, skills, abilities and personality characteristics of people for a variety of employment-related purposes, such as selection for employment or promotion or for training and development. They may devise questionnaires to measure employee attitudes such as morale, job satisfaction or feelings towards management or customers. Organisational Psychologists work in large organisations, government departments and agencies, consultancies and private practice. Research and Academic Psychologists conduct experimental research in a wide range of areas including the physical, cognitive, emotional or social aspects of human behaviour. Research Psychologists study how humans feel, think, learn and act. They also study physical problems with the brain and work to develop treatments for problems such as memory loss. Research Psychologists formulate hypotheses, design research, collect data and undertake statistical analysis. They evaluate the effectiveness of programs and campaigns, and contribute towards the improvement of services, and the implementation of appropriate interventions, based upon their research findings. They generally work in universities, research centres, private and not-forprofit organisations and government departments. Examples of such areas include: traffic and road safety organisations hospitals (eg. undertaking pain research) institutes (eg. depression research with the Black Dog institute) research centres (eg. CSIRO, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, sleep research centres and Centre for Parenting & Research Department of Community Services) market research organisations. //Academic Psychologists specialise in a particular area of Psychology and generally concentrate research and teaching in this area.// Academic Psychologists work in tertiary institutions, conducting research, writing (in particular, writing related to their research) and teaching students. They also supervise postgraduate students, develop the teaching curriculum and organise seminars. Academic Psychologists specialise in a particular area of Psychology and generally concentrate research and teaching in this area. A PhD qualification is the minimum level that is required in order to work in academia. Sport Psychologists provide psychological assistance to people involved in sport and exercise at all levels who are seeking to function more effectively through enhanced achievement, enjoyment and social interaction. They examine the psychological and mental factors that influence and are influenced by participation in sport. Sport Psychology focuses on performance enhancement, personal development, wellbeing and adjustment skills. Sport Psychologists work with individual athletes, coaches and teams, and often function as part of a multidisciplinary sport science and medicine team. Employment opportunities exist in sports institutes, tertiary institutions and private practice. Sport Psychologists work with both individuals and teams in areas such as goal setting, confidence, relaxation, concentration and mental preparation, anxiety management, team building and leadership, program evaluation, recovery and injury rehabilitation. Other issues they touch on may include work/life balance, dealing with life after sport and career transition, burnout and conflict resolution. They work with a range of people including athletes, trainers and sports scientists, umpires, coaches, managers and administrators. Some additional areas of Psychology include: Experimental Psychology the conduct of research into areas such as perception, memory, learning, language, motivation, attention, cognition, etc. This may be either human and/or animal research. Most Experimental Psychologists are employed by universities as researchers. Environmental Psychology examines the behavioural implications of natural and man made environments. It involves areas such as human biology, human geography, spatial and urban anthropology and the design professions. Quantitative Psychology (also known as Psychometrics) involves the use, interpretation and development of intelligence, personality and aptitude tests. It may also involve designing experiments or interpreting results. Employment areas include universities, testing companies, government departments or research firms.
9 Rehabilitation Psychology involves working with those who have suffered accident, injury or illness and also those who have suffered physical deprivation or loss before or after birth. They assist people to overcome barriers to effective functioning. Social Psychology studies how our behaviours, beliefs and feelings are affected by others. It studies areas such as aggression, compliance, prejudice and interpersonal attraction. Most Social Psychologists work in universities, but some perform research in hospitals, government agencies and business. Family Psychology is concerned with the treatment of family and marital problems, and prevention and treatment of family conflict. Family Psychologists design and conduct programs for pre-marital preparation, improved family relationships and parent-child interactions. Trends in Employment Recent labour market research suggests that there is a strong demand for people with Psychology qualifications in Australia. Demand is likely to remain constant with the population ageing and society s growing use of Psychologists to assist in managing a range of life issues. Recent Psychology graduates have been employed in occupations as diverse as counsellor, research assistant, human resource consultant, market researcher, employment officer, community development worker and, of course, Psychologist. These graduates worked in a range of settings: federal and state government departments professional practice industry/commerce community-based organisations educational institutions health care provider organisations. Additional Employment Possibilities Not all students who study Psychology go on to become Psychologists. Entry into fourth year programs and Masters degrees is extremely competitive and only a certain percentage of applicants are successful. In addition, many students who study Psychology at undergraduate level do not choose to continue their studies in the area. These students are looking for a sound background in Psychology but not necessarily a career in the field. Many graduates branch out into diverse areas of the workforce, not always directly related to their Psychology study. careers in psychology // In 1996, I joined Andersen Consulting in their change management practice. This work was quite diverse and very commercial. It was concerned with maintaining and enhancing human performance, often during large-scale organisational changes. On a day-to-day basis, this could mean designing and developing training, developing communication strategies and materials, designing organisation/team/job structures or analysing and streamlining human resources processes. Change Management Consultant, Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), international management consultancy firm With a university population, you re working with people defining their lives, redefining their identities. It is very exciting working with these people. University student services unit I wouldn t change this job for anything! I have worked as a plain clothes officer in Cabramatta targeting drugs. I have derived a great deal of satisfaction from being able to assist victims of child abuse and domestic violence. I have also worked on gathering intelligence on organised crime groups. My previous studies have been invaluable. My Psychology studies can be applied in different ways every day, such as criminal and geographical profiling used in gathering intelligence. It s a great way to put theory into practise. Police Officer, NSW Police The most satisfying aspect of my job I d have to say is working in the university environment. You re privileged in terms of clients; they re bright and motivated. There is also a free-thinking, flexible culture. Plus, I enjoy the variety of roles here. It s not just one-to-one counselling, or administration, but a combination of activities. Assistant Director, university careers centre People wanting to work in this area need to have sorted out their morality issues; they need to be firm but caring, and have patience. Juvenile Justice Counsellor, NSW State Government It can be very hard to get your foot in the door, but opportunities abound once you do. The best way to do that is to volunteer, network, try a few fields. Psychologist, mental health rehabilitation and community integration program
10 graduate careers australia // www.graduatecareers.com.au Graduate Profiles Linda Dokmanovic Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Arts (Psychology & Criminology) I m not in this job for the money but for the job satisfaction. I joined the service to get experience and I m doing what I really want. I am employed by NSW Police and is currently in the Arson Team, Property Crime Squad investigating matters such as serial arson. I also currently work as a Police Negotiator and will complete my Advanced Diploma in Police Negotiation soon. I am not currently a registered Psychologist; I completed some study towards accreditation and then joined NSW Police prior to completion. Psychology is important in my job as it often assists investigations to look at what drives people, and behaviour which often directs investigators in the most appropriate area. I joined NSW Police as I wanted to use my skills in debriefing for witnesses and my training to help people but also use the power and authority that comes with this career in a positive manner. I completed the Bachelor of Policing (Investigation) from Charles Sturt University and this study complemented the work I have done over the past four and a half years investigating sex-related crimes. I have also worked on a Joint Investigation Team looking into child protection cases. While with NSW Police, I have also completed the Certificate in Policing from the Goulburn Police Academy and the Scientific Content Analysis Course at Canberra (forensic linguistics). //I find colleagues are always willing to help and share their experiences and advice which I consider one of the benefits of being employed as part of a graduate program.// Nicholas Stead Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) I hope to complete my registration to the Psychologists Registration Board at some stage but I am unsure at this point in my career whether I will pursue some further training in criminal profiling or whether I may look at the Federal Police or other government agencies. My advice to students about to graduate? They should undertake work experience, or volunteer in various areas prior to graduating to ascertain what they really enjoy doing and then follow through with that career path. Nicholas Stead Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) I was fortunate enough to be placed in the exact role that I wanted, Human Resource Management in the HR Services Branch of Corporate Group. I am employed as a graduate by the federal government Department of Finance and Administration (Finance) in Canberra. I found that although I enjoyed my undergraduate degree, I was more interested in the organisational areas of Psychology rather than the traditional clinical and counselling side. I thought that working in HR would be the perfect compromise between Psychology and business. Corporate Group ensures the effective and efficient functioning of the Department through the provision of crucial services and advice. On a day-to-day basis my role consists of liaising with other departments in relation to policy and regular human resource management practices,
11 researching and analysing staffing trends, working on the management and improvement of outsourced contracts and managing the Department s Workplace Diversity Program. I was attracted to Finance specifically because the Department offered the opportunity of being placed into an actual position rather than spending the graduate year doing rotations. I was also aware that Finance offered a comprehensive graduate development program that included the development of skills beyond the scope of the Finance environment to assist in all areas of business and personal development. Finance s assessment process was quite rigorous compared with other departments. The writing, presentation tasks, interviews and group exercises were based on real life finance issues and as such gave a good insight into the type of projects that you could potentially be working on. The final interview in Canberra gave an insight into the actual physical Finance environment and the opportunity to talk with a diverse range of Finance employees. Since commencing at Finance I have been informed that my confident and outgoing interpersonal style and my willingness to learn and further develop my skills were key components in attaining my current position, along with my strong academic transcript. I enjoy my role and the learning it involves. I find colleagues are always willing to help and share their experiences and advice which I consider one of the benefits of being employed as part of a graduate program. I aim to further my education by enrolling in a Diploma of Management or a Masters of Business. Psychology serves as a good broad undergraduate degree and offers the opportunity to diversify into areas outside of your direct study. I have found that my Psychology background has greatly assisted in the research and statistical components of my current HR position. I aspire to eventually attain a management position in HR or a related area. For those Psychology students who are nearing graduation, I recommend investing time in researching organisations you may wish to work for. I highly recommend applying for graduate positions, particularly with the government, as they offer very competitive starting salaries and, for those who wish to continue with their studies in the future, government agencies often offer generous study entitlements. careers in psychology //
12 graduate careers australia // www.graduatecareers.com.au Sophie Kriven Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) (Honours) and Graduate Certificate in Public Health...research methods or statistics...are likely to be the skills that will gain a professional position after graduation... I am employed as a Senior Research Officer at the Office of Crime Statistics and Research in Adelaide. I work on the National CARS Project, which is funded by the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council to provide regular up-to-date statistics on motor vehicle theft in each state and territory of Australia. The data is used by police, the insurance industry, governments, local councils and others to plan and evaluate crime reduction strategies and to monitor vehicle crime in Australia. My job involves producing regular statistical reports and also doing more in-depth research into specific motor-vehicle theft-related issues. // Why study Psychology? It s eclectic, broad, flexible! There s room to be imaginative, and I like problem-solving. // Assistant Director, University Careers Centre We access data from police in each Australian jurisdiction, and most of my work involves analysing data regarding details of theft incidents. However, we also have access to some additional data from police and courts, meaning I am able to do some work looking at offender characteristics, court outcomes and penalties. My job mostly involves conducting statistical analyses using SPSS (which I learnt at university) and Excel, and writing scientific reports, including short briefing reports. I also complete a lot of data requests, which are usually short and involve simple analyses, and occasionally give presentations to other staff or stakeholders. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) degree with Honours, from the University of South Australia. This is the third research position I have held since graduating, and believe my studies in Psychology have been an important factor in gaining all these positions. Accredited Psychology courses are known for the excellent training they provide in research methods and statistical analysis, and not many other courses provide such a solid background in this area. Having an Honours year (or equivalent Graduate Diploma, which involves managing your own research project or completing a thesis) certainly gives graduates looking for a research job an advantage over other graduates. My two previous research positions were in public health and health promotion, and I now work in the area of criminology. I have found that Psychology is very relevant to these fields, and many of the theories used in health promotion and criminology are based on psychological theories. Although I have not used a lot of my Psychology training directly, I have still found it extremely helpful and relevant in my professional positions. Recently I have been studying part-time toward a Masters in Public Health, and hope to complete it soon. Although I intend to remain in my current job and the field of criminology at least in the short-term, I would also like to work in public health again. This could involve work in developing countries, which may include counselling, case work, research or health promotion. When I was at university I thought I would like to work in Clinical Psychology, and it is still possible that at some point I will do some more people-oriented work such as counselling and study Clinical Psychology. I have never regretted studying Psychology as this training has proved so versatile and is valued in a wide range of industries.
13 My advice to students and graduates? I would say to Psychology graduates that unless you have a really clear idea about what work you want to do, don t rule anything out. I have ended up where I am because as a graduate I applied for every job under the sun anything that didn t exclude me. This included anything from counselling or youth work to research or project work. Although my first job wasn t exactly riveting (working in a dental research unit and managing a mail-out survey of dentists), it gave me important professional experience which has really helped me ever since. I never thought I would want to work in research but sometimes you don t know what things will be like until you try them! Also, any job provides networks and important contacts, from which who knows what opportunities may arise. Sue Pedri Bachelor of Science (Psychology) and Masters in Applied & Organisational Psychology Realising the value of my knowledge and skills, I was sponsored to complete my Masters in Organisational Psych at UNSW. I was always interested in studying Psychology, and was attracted to UNSW as it had a broad Psych program. I learned about the different areas of specialisation in Psychology and realised there was a great deal more than just the clinical/counselling side. In particular, I realised that I was more interested in the field of Organisational Psychology, which I then went on to study at a postgraduate level. After completing my undergraduate Honours degree, I joined the Commonwealth Bank where I commenced as a Psychologist in the Corporate Human Resources area. Realising the value of my knowledge and skills, I was sponsored to complete my Masters in Organisational Psych at UNSW. I then moved through various divisions of the CBA to more general Human Resources roles. My last role with the CBA was General Manager Talent and Organisational Development in the Institutional and Business Bank. This role involved leading the creation of a high performance business culture by providing talent identification, career management and retention programs to develop the required work force capabilities. I was responsible for the strategic development of frameworks for recruitment, work force planning, diversity, learning and development, service culture and talent management. The next career move was to Qantas where I partnered strongly with the Corporate Finance area to design and implement a Performance Management System for the top 1000 staff. I was also accountable for Change Management programs across Qantas. I have now decided to set up and run my own business, specialising in strategic Human Resources Consulting. I am currently working with a range of clients from finance to consulting and mining, assisting them with HR systems and practices that enhance the delivery of their business objectives. I have the value add of coming from an educational background that is centred on working from conceptual frameworks, understanding human behaviour in organisations, systems thinking, etc. This is a plus when I compare my training to that of many other HR professionals. I have also had to learn other skills along the way primarily around what makes businesses tick, what are the business value drivers, etc. and using this to guide the advice I give and the solutions I offer. People I studied with during my Masters have provided me with great networking opportunities that have led to several work contracts. My advice? If you see yourself working in a capacity similar to me, my advice would be to position yourself as a Human Resource Specialist with a background in Organisational Psychology. Most people still believe that Psychology is all about clinical work. I am happy to say that this mind-set is slowly changing, but there is still a way to go. careers in psychology //
14 graduate careers australia // www.graduatecareers.com.au Further Information Careers adviser and careers information library at your institution. Australian Psychological Society the professional body representing the interests of psychological practitioners in Australia. Also contains a listing of Psychology courses at Australian universities. State and territory psychologists Registration Boards. (Contact details available via APS website.) Centrelink Career Information Centres located in capital cities and some regional centres. Job Guide Department of Education, Science and Training. As well as a range of materials from the Australian Psychological Society, further assistance relating to graduate careers in Psychology may be obtained from: Career Reference/Information Centres in major centres. GradsOnline Current information regarding graduate employment trends and graduate starting salaries in various fields including Psychology. Graduate Careers Australia GCA hosts Australia s official Higher Education graduate employment website. The site contains information of relevance to both student jobseekers, and those wanting information on career options and guidance. GCA s website includes information on the supply and demand of new graduates and interactive job search for graduates. Contact details for Careers libraries in universities are also available under Campus Contacts on the GCA site. Graduate Opportunities Australia s premier graduate employer directory available online and in hard copy from GCA or university Careers Services. Acknowledgments Graduate Careers Australia (GCA) wishes to thank the Australian Psychological Society for its invaluable information. Thanks to all who provided their stories for this booklet. This booklet is one of a series produced by GCA and intended for use by Careers Advisory Services in Higher Education in Australia. The booklets will also be of interest to secondary students and others considering further study. A full list of titles is available on the GCA website www.graduatecareers.com.au. Selected booklets are also available online. 2008 GCA Author: Karin Hosking, updated by Di Rachinger Editors: Di Rachinger & Graham Watson, GCA Graduate Careers Australia PO Box 12103 A Beckett Street VIC 8006 GCA Helpdesk: 03 9670 5860 Facsimile: 03 9670 5752 Email: info@graduatecareers.com.au Web: www.graduatecareers.com.au All rights reserved by publishers ISBN 978 0 909592 69 1