Is Studying Psychology in Australia a Scam?

[@abigaylebalanag-dayusan1245]

Hi! I've just finished my first year of a psychology degree and have been looking towards the future of my degree, I've found your content + videos incredibly helpful and want to thank you immensely for your advice and insights!! Especially because you are Australian based, to me info on aus psych is kinda vague regarding pathways, career details etc. But thanks to you, I'm really considering a Master of Professional Psychology and will be able to work on achieving the grades I need for that in my second year :)

[@kathleenanne]

Thank you so much for sharing this comment! Im really glad the content has been helpful and wish you all the best with the rest of your bachelor + psych journey! 😊

[@demitherapy]

Hey Kathleen I’ve recently been accepted into a Master of Professional Psychology to commence in Feb next year. I am in the process of filing an application for provisional registration. I would like to know how long this process takes to become registered?

[@kathleenanne]

Congratulations on the professional masters offer! It will take 1 year FT study and 1 year working FT to gain registration - all the best!

[@chloewhite9426]

I am very interested in the field of phycology. I come from a lower social economic background and never graduated HS. I am 30 and currently working as an apprentice hairdresser. But i find myself wanting learn phycology for a few reasons. 1. I feel as a hairdresser we should have to study a small unit of phycology because we spend time developing relationships with our clients and sometimes maybe we are all our client has to talk to in their life troubles. 2. As i said i grew up in a lower social economic houshold with a single parent who was in a abusive relationship for over a decade. And i really want to help women who have been in those experiences because i feel i can halp more since i can relate. 3. I really love looking into things such as attachment styles and family dynamics. It interests me. I honestly wouldn't know where to start or if i should. Obviously i want to finish my apprenticeship so i can have an income because im also a single parent. Being a hairdresser i meet different people and a couple clients are physiologist, though they come from an upper social economic family, its about who you know not what you know sometimes. Are there tafe courses i could take as a pathway subject? Like a cert in Mental health or something?

[@mariahboop4603]

Hi, I don't know about Tafe courses, but if you are looking for a quicker way to get out of University with the goal of helping people, I would look into a degree in Social Worker. It's a quicker way to get out and help people, since they don't have to go on to do masters in a competitive program or anything like that! I don't know how much they learn regarding my psychology focused things such as attachment style so more research would be better but just a recommendation:)

[@jaredt8526]

IMO there should not be such a large Medicare rebate difference between generalists and clin psychs. They do virtually the same thing in practice. The clin psych only has a bit more study under their belt but does not mean they're a better psychologist. Perhaps the difference in the rebate should be reduced from about $40 to $20 between them to reflect this.

[@kathleenanne]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@vidhithadani]

Hey Kathleen, What do you think are the prospects for counseling psychology?

[@kathleenanne]

Hey @vidhithadani, it’s a good question. Unfortunately there are no ‘endorsement counselling psychology masters’ to my knowledge, but there is a lot of scope to learn counselling skills in a professional or clinical masters. Alternatively there are masters in counselling however you wouldn’t be considered a psychologist and the salary would likely be lower - I hope this helps!

[@lindanguyen7389]

Hi! Just wanted to jump in and mention you can do a Masters of Psychology (counseling) at the University of Queensland.

[@SanikaaPThakurdesai]

Hi Katheen! Thank you for all your wonderful and insightful videos. I am an international student from India but I have completed my Bachelors from the USA. I am currently thinking of applying to the Clinical Neuropsych Masters for 2025. I just wanted to confirm, are international students eligible to work as a Psychologist in Australia after completing their Masters? Thank you so much once again and looking forward to hearing from you :)

[@kathleenanne]

So glad the videos have been helpful!! I can confirm, international students are able to work as psychologists in Aus after completing a masters if you study here. If you do your postgrad in another country then you may have to do some extra steps to be recognised. Hope this helps and best of luck :)

[@SanikaaPThakurdesai]

@@kathleenanne thank you so much! Is it okay if I email you with additional questions? I would love to build my network in this field in Australia. Thanks once again :)

[@moniquemay5393]

Hi, love the video. What’s the courses offered at the two universities mentioned that allow you to skip honours and go straight into masters? 😊

[@kathleenanne]

They’re both called “masters of professional psychology” but they’re two years - so it’s still the ‘5+1’ pathway 😊

[@B-B-B-]

I’ve always dreamed of doing clinical psych, started undergrad in 2013 and had to drop out to be a carer. Now, ten years later and almost 40, I’m wondering if it’s even worth me attempting it again. Like, it seems like such a huge risk to dedicate half a decade to something when you only have such a small chance to progress to post grad anyway 😱

[@kimkeane]

youll never stop dreaming, or wanting what you want. take the risk! you got this :)

[@kathleenanne]

Completely understandable! For a bit of perspective my mum started her journey towards becoming a clinical psych at 39. She did her bachelor, honours and clin-PhD all part-time. In hindsight she regrets the PhD but doesn’t regret her job, she loves it! She started a business in her 50s and has been running this for the last decade. I’m probably bias but I do think it’s a career worth pursuing, especially if you’re passionate about helping people. Although competitive, it’s become a lot more accessible to do. There’s platforms on FB where you can ask students for advice as well - I hope this all helps. Wishing you all the best! 😊

[@catherineklaffer4651]

@@kathleenanne Hi there Kate, curious - why does your Mother regret the PhD ?

[@magerulz616]

How about psych + honours and master of prof psychology 1 yr to become a registered psych?

[@kathleenanne]

This is the pathway I generally promote to students unsure about what they want from a career in psych - it’s the shortest, most efficient (time/cost) and allows you to try out heaps of areas, and then specialise (e.g. in clinical) down the track 😄

[@magerulz616]

Is there a big difference between general registration and clinical registration other than the rebate if one were to practice in a clinical setting doing therapy?

[@abundance_crystal698]

could you please talk about the possibilities that they will ever bring 4+2 back :D the 2 year internship program?

[@kathleenanne]

Thanks for reaching out! From my perspective, I highly doubt the 4+2 will come back. For the last couple of decades there’s been debate/push to remove this pathway, and the 5+1 is seen as its replacement. However, I also do believe (again my own speculation) that over time the 5+1 will become the norm and there will be more 1 year clinical bridging pathway options for registered psychologists wanting to specialise in clinical psych. We’ve already seen 2 come up over the last few years (4 in total) and major universities like ANU and Uni of Melbourne introduce 3 year bachelor + 2 year professional masters (5+1), which indicates support of this movement. Hope this helps! 😃

[@prawingurung]

how tough is it to get a job after the masters??

[@kathleenanne]

Psychology is a growth based industry in Australia- it’s not difficult at all 😄

[@FabricioSilvaCañete]

Thanks for the video!!. It really helped me a lot, but now I’m full of questions. Does somebody has the heart, the patience and the time to help me solve some of them?. I’m from Latin America and im considering to do a masters degree in Australia. Thanks again for the video and for your time 🥹🥹🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@kathleenanne]

Best way for me to support with questions is if you ask on insta - Kathleen.anne.psychologist 😄

[@shivamve1]

hi kathleen, your videos and thumbnail can be edited better and can be improved, do you need help in editing? your videos are actually helpful to me, just subscribed your channel.

[@kathleenanne]

Thanks! I’m all good atm