Annual College of Clinical Neuropsychology Conference Blog

In case you haven't already, check out the CCN2012 Conference blog for important information regarding the upcoming CCN2012 conference in Launceston [http://ccn2012.blogspot.com.au/].

The annual CCN conferences are always a highlight of the year and students and registrars are highly encouraged to attend. This is also the perfect opportunity for students and registrars to participate in presentations and posters of their research - all done in an encouraging and non-threatening environment. Closing date for submissions is June 18th, and the submission process is explained on the CCN2012 blog. Please direct any questions you may have to the CCN2012 Blog.

Check out the beautiful pictures of Tasmania on the CCN2012 Conference blog if you need any further encouragement of attending :)

Getting Started with the Registrar Program

A big thank you to Danielle Moore, who is currently in the registrar program, for her detailed responses to the following questions.


1) What forms need to be filled out?

Applicants will need to complete the following form, have it signed by their supervisor, and submit it to AHPRA [Application for approval of registrar program in an endorsed area of practice as a Psychology Registrar - AEAP-76]. The form is fairly straightforward. The applicant will also need to arrange for their academic transcripts to be sent by their uni directly to AHPRA. Importantly,the supervisor must be board endorsed (or eligible to be) and this is something important to check with AHPRA before submitting the form.


2) What process is involved with finding a supervisor?

In my own and others experience finding a supervisor is largely the responsibility of the registrar, although some employers have assisted with this process. Also, I believe that the PBA are setting up a list of board approved supervisors, which is another way to find asupervisor in your area: http://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/Registration/Supervision/Search.aspx

3) What paid jobs can a registrar undertake while in the program?

The guidelines on area of practice endorsements (page 7) states:

To be approved by the Board for the purpose of the registrar program, the psychological practice must:

• be within an area of practice approved for endorsement

• consist of a minimum of 176 hours per annum of direct client contact (client contact means direct client contact performing specific tasks of psychological assessment, intervention, prevention, consultation and management planning)

They define psychological practice as: 

Practice means any role, whether remunerated or not, in which the individual uses their skills and knowledge as a psychologist in their profession. In accordance with the Board’s recency of practice registration standard, practice is not restricted to the provision of direct clinical care. It also includes using professional knowledge in a direct non-clinical relationship with clients,working in management, administration, education, research, advisory, regulatory or policy development roles, and any other roles that impact on safe, effective delivery of services in the profession.

Of the registrars I know (including myself), most are employed in hospital-based positions as neuropsychologists, which of course meets the boards requirements as being within the area of practice. A few are also employed as clinical psychologists, although the bulk of their work is to conduct neuropsychological assessments. As far as I am aware, this is also acceptable. The above suggests that research and other non-clinical hours would also count towards the program, although I am unsure about how AHPRA assesses this. I would advise contacting AHPRA about this issue as the guidelines seem a little vague.

Importantly, being in the registrar program does not affect pay scale - it is the same as before the program was introduced. I have heard a few rumors that pay is reduced, so thought it best to clear this up.

As a general suggestion, the Guidelines on area of practice endorsements -August 2011 is a good place to start when getting ready to apply to the program. It outlines all of the registrar program requirements including the responsibilities of the registrar and their supervisors, required hours of supervision and details the CPD requirements.

Student and registrar questions answered by Psychology Board and CCN

Brin Grenyer, Chair of the Psychologist's Registration Board of Australia, has kindly answered a number of questions posed by CCN student members. Brin's responses are listed below each question below (BG). I have added some notes on behalf of the CCN to the first 3 questions (FB)

1.     Are 'General Psychologists' able to practice under the Medicare scheme if not enrolled in the Neuropsych Registrar Program?

BG: Yes

FB: However, with the Better Access to Mental Health scheme, they are only able to offer items under the FPS, or "focussed psychological strategies." Neuropsychological assessments and cognitive assessments are not included under these items.

2.     Are 'Neuropsych Registrars' able to practice under the Medicare scheme?

BG: Yes if they have a Medicare number (as general medicare providers not providers of clinical services)

FB: Again, under the FPS items, not the clinical psychology items. The legislation for the Better Access items clearly state the types of services that psychologists can offer under these items. They are not typically the kinds of services offered by neuropsychologists. The permitted services do not include neuropsychological assessments. Although some psychologists have called the Medicare help line enquiring about providing neuropsychological assessments under the items, and have been told that they are not excluded, this does not mean that they are included. The permitted services are listed in the item description. Any services not listed in the legislation for the item are not permitted. Medicare items do not usually list the excluded services - imagine how many there would be!!! Providing services under Medicare codes that do not cover these services is wrong, even if a GP sends a referral for neuropsychological assessment to be done under the Better Access scheme. Doctors have been charged with fraud for billing for services that are not covered under the item used. They have had to pay back thousands of dollars if they have billed for services under the wrong code. Don't even think about doing it in order to get more neuropsychological experience. 

The CCN has been working hard with the APS for the last 6 years to get our services covered under Medicare. We are hopeful that we might finally be successful in the next 12 months.

3.     Does the Neuropsych Registrar program necessitate that the individual be employed in a paid position? A number of institutions appear willing to take on Neuropsych Registrars but do not have the funding available for a salary and have suggested the program be undertaken on an unpaid basis. (Are institutions allowed to do this?)

BG: Positions do not necessarily have to be paid and the Board does not differentiate between paid and voluntary positions – as long as the work role enables the registrar to meet the competencies for the registrar program. It is the responsibility of the registrar to negotiate their own salary arrangements with the employer.

FB: it should not be necessary for Registrars to enter into unpaid work arrangements in order to gain their supervision. There are vacancies in neuropsychology positions around the country, particularly in South Australia and regional areas. Employers should provide appropriate specialist supervision to all psychologists as a matter of course, and especially to new graduates. It can be useful to join your state's psychology union to gain assistance in industrial issues like this. The CCN is endeavouring to compile a list of vacancies to make it easier for neuropsychologists to find paid employment.

4.     Do at least one of the Registrar's supervisors need to be employed at the institution where the Registrar is undertaking their work? Most students realise that at least 50% of their supervision must come from a fully registered Neuropsych and member of the college. They are, however, unsure as to the requirements for working in the same institution as their primary supervisor or any of their supplementary supervisors that make up the other 50%.

BG: Not necessarily, while an onsite supervisor is preferable, the regional boards may approve off site supervision arrangements as long as the supervision requirements are still met. At least 50% of supervision must be provided by the principal supervisor who must have unconditional general registration and a clinical neuropsychology area of practice endorsement. APS College membership is not a Board requirement. Up to 50% of the supervision may be provided by secondary supervisors who do not necessarily need to have a clinical neuropsychology endorsement.

5.     Is the Registrar obliged to work only at one institution or are they able to take positions, paid or unpaid, at a number of sites? Does the nature of their supervision impact on this?

BG: More than one work role for the registrar program is acceptable. Supervision plans that propose two or more work roles are considered case by case by the regional boards and the primary considerations are whether the requirements of the registrar program can be achieved in those roles.

6.     What are the limitations around clinical hours being completed as part of research (PhD in the combined Masters/PhD program, RA work, Post Doc) being used towards the total number of hours required to be undertaken in the Registrar Program for endorsement?

BG: Hours completed as part of research would not usually be counted towards the hours for the registrar program, however applications are considered on their individual merits by the regional boards when the application is received.  The registrar program accepts the broad definition of psychological practice, therefore research and other psychological roles including administration and management can all be counted as hours within the registrar program, and there only needs to be a minimum of 176 client-related hours per year. 

7.     The entrance exam for General Reg is being brought in mid-2013. Students completing the Masters or combined Masters/Ph.D degrees are unsure if they must complete their Masters component and apply for general Reg before this time to be exempt from examination, or whether the currently enrolled students have until mid 2016 to apply for General Reg. Please clarify.

BG: Transition provisions for the National Psychology Examination are currently being considered. However it is proposed that applicants who have completed a Masters, Doctorate, or combined Masters/PhD be exempt from the exam regardless of when they complete their qualifications, so these students should not expect to have to complete the exam.

8.     some universities are reluctant to assist neuropsychology postgrad students to obtain general registration after completion of their coursework and placements and the required progress on their research project because it may interfere with the students' completion of their PhD. Are universities allowed to do this? It seems manifestly unfair to deny students the opportunity to gain employment as registered psychologists while completing their PhDs, and it means the universities are contributing to the workforce shortage of psychologists by slowing down entry of qualified psychologists into the workforce.

BG: The Board’s Policy for higher degree students applying for general registration enables early registration in order to commence the registrar program once the student has completed what is substantially equivalent to a Masters qualification. It is the responsibility of universities to determine whether the student has made sufficient progress. If universities do not want to sign the PDEC-76 form to enable early general registration the Board cannot compel them to do so. This policy is currently under review and the Board intends to improve the policy to assist Heads of School with certifying completion of the Masters components needed for general registration. Updates on this will be published on the website.

9.     Is there any update on whether fees for probationary psychologists undergoing postgraduate training will be waived or reduced, given that these students are often living close to the poverty line, are not allowed to work more than 8 hours/week, and that they are covered by the university insurance policies for their professional placement activities?

BG: The waiver of the application for provisional registration fee that was approved in 2010 is still in place. The Board will review this waiver before the end of the current financial year and any changes will be published on the website.

9. The title "clinical neuropsychologist" is protected under national law to psychologists with PsyBA endorsement in the field. The advertising standards say that psychologists should not give the impression that they hold expertise in an area of specialist endorsement for which they are not endorsed. Does it not follow that psychologists without endorsement in clinical neuropsychology are in breach of the advertising standards and general guidelines if they say they conduct "neuropsychological assessments", or if they write in their reports that they have conducted a "neuropsychological assessment"?

BG: Psychologists with general registration may practice in any area of psychology that is within their scope of competence. However only psychologists who have been granted an area of practice endorsement may use the protected title associated with that endorsement, such as Clinical Neuropsychologist. Additionally a registered health practitioner must not knowingly or recklessly claim to hold an endorsement that they do not hold.  The essential issue is whether the public is likely to be misled into thinking a person was a clinical neuropsychologist in the way they present themself and their professional work. If you are concerned that a psychologist is in breach of the advertising guidelines you should make a notification to your local office of AHPRA so that the matter can be investigated.