Educational and developmental psychology

What is educational and developmental psychology?

Educational and developmental psychology is concerned with the development and learning of people throughout their entire lifespan. For this reason educational and developmental psychologists work in a wide range of settings and may have many different titles - school psychologist, guidance officer, disability services officer, child and adolescent counsellor, and geropsychologist are just a few. Within these settings educational and developmental psychologists may work with individuals, couples, groups or systems.

Skills of educational and developmental psychologists

Educational and developmental psychologists have knowledge and skills in the following areas:

• Identifying and clarifying problems
• Diagnosing disabilities and disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Assessing developmental, learning and behavioural difficulties
• Designing effective treatment programs
• Counselling
• Consulting with individuals or groups
• Designing training programs
• Evaluating programs and interventions
• Designing professional development programs.

Areas of specialisation

Early childhood

Parents may seek help for:

• Concerns with a child's development and/or parent-child relationship issues
• Managing a child's difficult temperament or behaviour
• Assisting a child with disabilities
• Sibling rivalry in the family.

School years

Parents, teachers or children themselves may seek assistance to deal with:

• Problems with transition
• School avoidance
• Learning difficulties
• Poor peer relationships
• Low self esteem
• Problems with behaviour
• Family relationships
• Physical or sexual abuse
• Illness and injury.

Adolescence

Adolescents, their parents or others concerned with their welfare may seek help to deal with:

• Conflict between adolescent and parents
• Peer pressure
• Career guidance
• School to work transition
• Sexuality issues
• Drug and alcohol problems
• Identity issues.

Adulthood

Individuals, their partners or employers may seek assistance with:

• Relationship problems
• Parenting issues
• Mid-life concerns
• Career restructuring
• Work stress
• Education and training in the workplace.

Later adulthood

Elderly people or their adult children may seek information or assistance with:

• Healthy ageing
• Coping with decline in functioning
• Dependency
• Issues of loss or grief.

Qualifications and registration

Educational and developmental psychologists have usually completed a minimum of six years full-time university training. This includes, but is not restricted to, postgraduate study in a recognised educational and developmental psychology training program.

All practising psychologists are legally required to be registered with the Psychologists Registration Board in their State or Territory, and, as of 2010, a national registration board. This is to ensure they meet specified standards of competence and ethical practice.

In addition, psychologists follow strict guidelines for professional conduct that cover client privacy and confidentiality. Ethical codes are set and monitored by the APS and have been developed to safeguard the welfare of recipients of psychological services and the integrity of the psychology profession.

APS College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists

In addition to the required postgraduate training outlined above, 80 hours of College-stipulated activities (which can include professional supervision) within a 12 to 36 month period are required to become a member of the College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists. College members are also required to undertake a program of ongoing professional development to maintain College membership.

For further information regarding the College go to www.groups.psychology.org.au/cedp/.

Locating an educational and developmental psychologist

You will not often find an educational and developmental psychologist under this name, but may locate one under one of the titles listed in the first section of this brochure.

• Use the APS online referral service ‘Find a Psychologist' (www.findapsychologist.org.au) to locate a psychologist by performing a search and selecting issues under the relevant categories.
• Enquire through a government department or private agency concerned with child and adolescent development, ageing, disability, education or social and community service.
• Look for the APS listing under ‘psychologists' in the Yellow Pages.
• Speak to your doctor and ask for a referral.