Photo caption: Minister for Mental Health Hon Matt Doocey alongside Health New Zealand representatives, UC staff and the first cohort studying the new Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology Assistance.
Minister for Mental Health, Hon Matt Doocey visited Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) to meet and speak with students undertaking the new programme.
The visit was also attended by UC senior leadership including Vice-Chancellor Professor Cheryl de la Rey, representatives from Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, and MP for Ilam Hamish Campbell.
The Minister toured the School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing’s clinics to learn more about UC’s psychology training and the services provided through the facilities.
The students began learning two weeks ago, and the visit marked the first time the inaugural cohort had come together in person as a group.
Student Leigh Jewell says the programme provides a clear pathway for psychology graduates to move into the workforce and make a practical difference.
“As soon as I started following the programme’s development, it really resonated with me,” says Jewell. “There hasn’t always been a clear pathway into the workforce for psychology graduates, and many people have ended up moving into other areas.
“This programme offers a direct route into practice. Within a year, we can be in the workforce making a real difference for people who might otherwise have waited longer for support or not received it at all.”
Psychology Assistants will work under the supervision of registered psychologists, supporting people with mental health and addiction needs through low-intensity interventions, assessments, progress monitoring and psychoeducation.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology Assistance builds on UC’s long history of innovation in psychology education. UC established New Zealand’s first clinical psychology training programme in 1962.
The first graduates are expected to enter the workforce in 2027, helping expand access to psychological support across Aotearoa New Zealand.
The next intake for the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology Assistance is planned for February 2028. Find out more about the programme on the UC website.
