1. Risk to Public Safety: Psychology is a highly skilled profession requiring extensive postgraduate education, clinical training, and supervised practice. A one-year training programme following an undergraduate degree does not equip individuals with the necessary clinical competence to assess and treat individuals with mental health conditions safely and in accordance with evidence-based treatment recommendations.
- Undergraduate psychology degrees in New Zealand are primarily research- and theory-focused, without substantial interpersonal or clinical skills training.
- Insufficient training may lead to mismanagement of people with serious conditions such as suicide risk, psychosis, eating disorders, and personality disorders.
- Associate psychologists may lack the ability to engage in essential therapeutic skills, such as validation, open-ended questioning, setting boundaries, and recognising when a case is beyond their competence.
- Although there is some talk of associate psychologists seeing less complex people, it is extremely difficult to assess complexity at face value and there are indications that people in the proposed role will work across the range of complexity people face.
2. Lack of Appropriate Supervision: There is no clear reassurance that associate psychologists will be supervised by registered psychologists, despite the protected title of "psychologist."
- Many psychologists in New Zealand are already stretched thin with high caseloads and complex cases, making adequate supervision difficult to guarantee.
- There is no commitment that associate psychologists will work in teams with psychologists, further diminishing the structured, evidence-based, and ethically sound care that characterises our profession.
- There is significant risk to the associate psychologists themselves when they work in mental health without extremely high levels of support and training. They can be taken advantage of, including financially as they may be seen as “cheaper” to hire.
- If supervision is delegated to other disciplines, this raises serious ethical and professional concerns about the appropriateness and oversight of psychological interventions delivered by under qualified personnel
3. Erosion of Professional Standards and Public Trust: The introduction of associate psychologists risks confusing the public about the expertise and qualifications of those providing mental health care.
- Without stringent oversight, the reputation of the psychology profession may be compromised by individuals practising beyond their competencies.
- Members of the public seeking psychological services may not fully understand the difference between a psychologist and an associate psychologist, potentially receiving suboptimal care.
- The title “Associate Psychologist” risks misleading the public and diminishing the professional standing of fully qualified psychologists. If the intention is to create a support role within mental health services, alternative titles such as Mental Health Support Worker, Wellbeing Practitioner, or Therapy Assistant could be used. These titles would more accurately reflect the level of training and scope of practice, without creating confusion or undermining the qualifications required to practise as a psychologist.
4. Threat to Psychology Workforce Sustainability: There has been no commitment from Health NZ that associate psychologists will not be used to replace clinical psychologists or fill vacant psychologist FTEs in the public sector. This raises concerns about cost-cutting measures that devalue the profession and create a long-term workforce crisis.
- Psychologists provide evidence-based treatments that are proven to be cost-effective in the long term, reducing the burden on the healthcare system by preventing relapse, hospitalisation, and chronic mental health issues.
- In contrast, associate psychologists with limited training may not have the expertise to deliver these interventions effectively, potentially leading to poorer outcomes, increased service demand, and higher overall costs.
- Practising psychologists play a critical role in training and supervising the next generation of psychologists, ensuring a sustainable and competent workforce. Weakening our profession by introducing underqualified roles could undermine this vital function.
- Australia recently abandoned a similar proposal following strong opposition from professional bodies, citing concerns about patient safety and the devaluation of the psychology profession[7]. New Zealand must learn from this and reconsider the implementation of a role that could have long-lasting negative consequences for mental health care in this country.
The UK has two distinct roles relevant to this discussion: “Assistant Psychologist" and "Clinical Associate in Psychology" (CAPs). The role of “assistant psychologist” is not a separate scope of practice but rather a transitional role intended to provide work experience before higher levels of training. The role was never intended to provide direct, unsupervised clinical care or to serve as a substitute for registered psychologists. New Zealand risks misapplying this concept in a way that compromises the quality and safety of mental health care. Additionally, the UK requires assistant psychologists to receive at least 90 minutes of supervision per week, ensuring they do not work beyond their competencies. Their role is explicitly a stepping stone to further professional training rather than an alternative workforce solution. Clinical Associates in Psychology (CAPs) in the UK require an honours degree, an 18-month applied Master's training programme, restricted scope of practice, and intensive supervision. Notably, they do not hold the title of "psychologist." In contrast, the New Zealand proposal suggests a lower entry requirement (bachelor's degree), shorter training (12 months), broader scope, and the protected title of "psychologist." The risk of misapplying this model in New Zealand is significant, potentially compromising quality and safety in mental health care.
We envision an Aotearoa that is safe and welcoming for vulnerable people, where people who need support can feel safe and contained by experienced psychologists. Unfortunately, the Government’s proposal falls significantly short of reaching that goal. By signing our petition, you are adding to a chorus of voices that tells the Government that we can do better, for all of our benefits!
