What do psychologists do?

Psychologists are interested in how people think, feel and behave. They study this at an individual, group, organisational and community level. Psychologists apply this knowledge to assess, diagnose, prevent, and treat problems.

Psychologists use scientific methods to study the human mind and behaviour. They develop theories and test them, which provides new information that adds to the body of established knowledge.

Despite popular belief, most psychologists do not work mainly with people who are mentally ill. The majority help mentally healthy people find ways of functioning better, for example, training people to handle stress in the workplace.

Psychiatrists, in comparison, work mostly with people who have a mental illness. Read about the differences between psychologists and psychiatrists.

Some of the areas in which psychologists work include:

  • Academic and applied research
  • Counselling or interviewing clients
  • Designing and implementing programmes to modify and improve behaviour
  • Evaluating the efficacy of psychological treatments or programmes
  • Assessment and treatment of psychological problems
  • Designing and administering a wide range of tests to assess and predict how people think, feel and perform.

The title 'psychologist' may or may not be used to describe the role. Many registered psychologists are called a range of titles, such as counsellor, career consultant and human resources manager.

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What are the employment prospects for psychologists?

Future job prospects for psychologists are good and employment growth is expected to be strong, according to Job Outlook, a Federal Government career information service on the Internet.

For information on the psychology workforce in Australia, such as job prospects, average weekly earnings and main employing industries, see the Australian Government's Australian Careers website.

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Where do psychologists work?

Psychologists work in a wide range of workplaces, such as:

  • Private practice
  • Corporations - consulting firms, market research companies, recruitment firms, test development corporations
  • Education - universities, schools, career services
  • Government departments
  • Health and welfare services – hospitals, rehabilitation agencies, substance abuse services, youth services
  • Community agencies
  • Police force, law courts and prisons
  • Counselling services
  • Defence forces
  • Non-profit organisations and professional associations
  • Research institutions
  • Training and development services
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What are the main areas of specialisation in psychology?

Counselling Psychologists help individuals and groups with personal wellbeing, relationships, work, recreation, health and crisis management. Read more

Clinical Psychologists diagnose, treat   and prevent a wide range of mental and physical health issues. Read more  

Clinical Neuropsychologists assess and manage individuals with brain impairments. Read more

Community Psychologists help people achieve their goals in areas such as welfare and community projects. Read more

Educational and Developmental Psychologists provide children and adults with assessment, intervention and counselling services for learning and developmental issues across the life span. Read more

Forensic Psychologists work with police, the law and legal processes, and in correctional services. Read more

 

Health Psychologists promote the prevention and treatment of illness and may work within the health care system. Read more

Organisational Psychologists specialise in the areas of work, human resource management, training and development, and market research and advertising. Read more
Academic Psychologists conduct research and teach in universities.

Sport Psychologists help people involved in sport and exercise maximise their performance, enjoyment and participation. Read more

 

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What do psychologists earn?

There are a number of federal and state awards under which psychologists may be employed. To find out more about psychologist award rates and where to access these awards, please see Earnings in the Practitioner Resources section.

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Where can I find out more information?

You can view the latest employment opportunities for psychologists on our PsychXchange website, http://www.psychxchange.com.au/.

Read the APS booklet "Psychologists' Stories", available to purchase from the APS.

Graduate Careers of Australia provides a range of information on careers in psychology on the site www.graduatecareers.com.au/. Go to www.graduatecareers.com.au/content/view/full/3161 for psychology-specific information.

The University of New South Wales provides wide-ranging information on careers in psychology, such as major employers, expected jobs growth for psychologists, and personal profiles of psychology graduates. Go to www.psy.unsw.edu.au/students/future/futuretraining.html.

The Department of Employment, Training and Youth Affairs produces a national job guide annually. Go to www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au/ and type in the search term ‘psychology’ for information on areas that psychologists work in, including details on education and training in each state and territory.

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