On Tuesday 8th November 2022 Dr Kellie Cassidy attended the inaugural Clinical Psychology Career Expo hosted by the WA Clinical Psychology Placement COnsortium. For those of you who are not aware, the consortium meets to arrange the clinical placements for masters students across the WA universities and includes Rebecca Anderson (Curtin), ALison Marsland (Murdoch), Lisa Saulsman (UWA), Raffia Salvo (ECU) and ICP’s own Helen Correia.
This expo is an opportunity for all Clinical Masters students to hear more about placement and employment opportunities available to them in the public and private sectors in WA.
The expo had 100 students registered with approximately 30 attending on the day. Others due to other commitments were to watch the recording at a later time.
The expo afforded the ICP the opportunity to raise its profile to a new cohort and discuss the benefits of students and registrarsof joining the ICP. We are hopeful that this may lead to increased members for us in the future.
In her presentation Kellie discussed the pros and cons to registrars undertaking their registrar program within a private practice setting. Specifically she explored points that registrars must consider to evaluate whether a particular workplace (public or private) is going to be able to offer them what they need to thrive in their career.
Positive feedback was received from the consortium members. Dr Rebecca Anderson from Curtin University commented that the presentation “gave a really balanced view on private practice and answered so many of the questions students come to us with about PP work.” She further noted that there is “lots of great work being done by ICP and we (the consortium) are grateful.” Following on from this the ICP has been invited to provide information to all new clinical masters students in 2023.
Following on from his success, our next task is to set up some support groups for students and registrars in private practice which will be provided in 2023.
Do you employ people within your practice? Clinicians and/or support staff?
Do you understand your obligations to your employees under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award of 2020?
ICP will be co-hosting a one-hour webinar on Monday 4th April 5.30pm AWST to help practice owners ensure they understand and are compliant with the Health Professionals and Support Services award.
This award applies to psychologists, medical staff, allied health professionals and support staff (this includes receptionists, practice managers, gardeners).
We appreciate the award can be confusing and contradictory. Many practice owners may be surprised to know that they are interpreting the award incorrectly and may in fact be underpaying their staff! This is particularly true for the span of Ordinary hours which is different for different professions under the award.
Attendees will be better able to understand:
• the classification levels under the award
• the impact of ordinary hours under the award
• the implications for ‘shift-workers’ under the award
• when penalty rates are to be applied and if you are paying enough
• leave entitlements of employees (including leave for COVID-19 related issues)
This webinar will be co-hosted by Dr Kellie Cassidy, Clinical Psychologist, and Ms Frances Orr, HR Advisor with Strawberry Seed.
Dr Kellie Cassidy is the Director of Prosper Health Collective, a group psychology practice in Perth Western Australia. Kellie has been a Clinic Psychologist for over 14 years and currently leads a team of 10 psychologists and 5 administration staff. Kellie is also the current Treasurer for the ICP and has been on the committee for the past 2 years.
Ms Frances Orr is a HR Advisor for Strawberry Seed. Strawberry Seed are a HR company based in Victoria who support many allied health professional businesses Australia wide. You can find out more about Strawberry Seed at https://strawberryseed.com.au/
The event will be recorded and a recording provided for those that can not make it on the day.
ACPA / ICP Joint Statement – February 2021
New funding ensures expert care for veterans & families
Veterans most in need of specialist mental health services are now able to access the highest level of psychological care after an outreach funding commitment from leading veteran’s mental health service Open Arms to appropriately reimburse clinical psychologists for their services.
Open Arms Outreach Program Services has endorsed an increase in fees for clinical psychologists, to ensure veterans most in need of specialist mental health services will have access to expert care. This funding commitment to reimburse clinical psychologists for their services through Open Arms is part of a $94.3M funding commitment from the Australian Government.
The Australian Clinical Psychology Association (APCA) and Institute of Clinical Psychologists (ICP) welcomed the decision by Open Arms to ensure our most vulnerable veterans have access to the highest level of care.
ACPA President Prof Caroline Hunt said ACPA and ICP recognised the enormous value mental health professionals working in a range of fields were able to offer veterans and their families. However, this new funding is a crucial investment to support veterans.
‘’The funding commitment for outreach clinical psychologists will ensure those most in need of specialist mental health services will have access to expert care,” Prof Hunt said.
“The support provided to veterans through the Open Arms program is crucial and in line with Medicare and other funding arrangements, which recognise the expertise of accredited postgraduate training in clinical psychology.
“We are encouraging clinical psychologist members to be aware of the funding commitment from the Open Arms Outreach Program and to prioritise these urgent referrals.”
ICP President Dr Marjorie Collins said clinical psychologists had high levels of expertise in mental health disorders through accredited post-graduate training.
“High level training prepares clinical psychologists to provide the highest-level diagnostic assessments, formulation and specialist treatment, social skills training, family therapy, and group therapy. Clinical psychologists, by virtue of their high-level postgraduate training in mental health are well placed to provide the highest level of specialised care for Australian veterans and their families,” Dr Collins said.
Help is available on 1800 011 046 or visit Open Arms .
