FACULTY FOCUS
campusreview.com.au
Psychology
field
won’t shrink
Technology, rural shortages and changing
definitions of mental health will all affect the
profession, but opportunities for careers will remain.
By Nikki Rickard
M Swinburne
R
ising rates of mental ill-health in
recent years have been matched by
an overall increased awareness and
understanding of such issues. At the same
time, there has been much commentary
of late regarding the range of careers set
to be affected – and in a number of cases
wiped out – by the ongoing technology
revolution. However, unlike in many sectors,
such as manufacturing, the prospects
appear bright for those seeking to pursue
careers in psychology and mental health.
Psychology is consistently among the
fastest-growing career areas. Focused
psychological services have also recently
become eligible for Medicare rebates,
which has made seeing a psychologist
more accessible for many people. While
job prospects for psychologists and
psychiatrists have always been strong,
what’s increasing now is training and jobs
for allied mental health roles and support
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roles, such as social workers, mental health
aids, client support workers and counsellors.
Psychologists are also increasingly being
included in organisational teams to improve
the performance and wellbeing of staff,
and in schools to support the wellbeing of
students. There’s also a growing recognition
that being mentally healthy doesn’t just
mean an absence of mental illness, but
also experiencing a sense of positive
psychological functioning, or flourishing.
People who demonstrate positive wellbeing
tend to live longer and be healthier and
more productive than those who don’t.
As such, there will probably be more roles
for psychologists in promoting social
connectedness, positive emotions and
meaning in all members of the community,
not just those who have mental illnesses.
Psych-related jobs also won’t be replaced
by technology. Rather, technology will
be a powerful enabler for getting people
the psychological support they need. For
example, internet-based services can help
people recognise and access the right mental
health professional for their needs, and in their
area. Also, apps are becoming available that
will help provide support to a user between
scheduled visits with their psychologist, and
keep them engaged in their treatment.
Many people with mental health issues
don’t realise they need support, or are too
embarrassed to ask for help. Some just
don’t realise their problems are common
and that help is available. Technology
can play an important role in addressing
this confidentially – raising people’s
understanding of mental health and
reducing the stigma associated with mental
illness. It can also be a lifeline for people
living remotely with limited access to
face-to-face support. Live psychological
sessions may increasingly use technology
like Skype to add accessibility for clients.
People are also using technology to
address issues such as stress. A host of
wellbeing apps helping to decrease stress
are now readily available to the public.
Stress can have adverse effects on physical
and mental health, and it affects everyone,
so it’s an important area to target. The apps
provide instructions and tools with which
individuals can better manage stress and
achieve balance in their lives.
In rural and remote areas, there is already
a shortage of psychologists. One of the
benefits of online learning is that students
can study accredited psychology programs,
even if they’re living in remote areas. It’s
entirely possible that, in a few years, courses
such as Swinburne Online’s psychology
degree will have helped to increase the
number of registered psychologists in
such areas. But, as indicated previously,
technology can also assist, by linking
psychologists with clients in remote areas.
Finally, the proportion of psychologists
with full-time jobs is below average, but
that’s not a bad thing. Psychologists often
wear many hats. We are trained in the
‘scientist-practitioner’ model, so many
continue to be involved in research and
supervising trainees when they’re not
practising. This means their practice is
often part-time, allowing them to continue
in other roles for one or two days a week.
It guarantees a bit of variety, which can
certainly be a good thing. ■
Nikki Rickard is director of the
psychology program at Swinburne Online.