The APA Monitor has a nice two-page piece on what advisors (supervisors) and advisees (supervisees) want from each other. It's in the context of academic supervision in the US, but should also apply here in Australia.
The article has a link to a nifty quiz (The Advisory Working Alliance Inventory) in which advisors and advisees can evaluate their working relationship (with built-in scoring and feedback)
http://www.apamonitor-digital.org/apamonitor/20120708#pg76
Wishing you rich and rewarding relationship with all of your supervisors
Fiona
PS Student membership of the CCN only costs $75 per year, and demonstrates your commitment to the profession. It also allows great networking and professional development opportunities, and looks good on your CV...
Have a look at the membership application details at http://www.psychology.org.au/membership/student_subscriber/
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Further Information Related to PBA Endorsement
Following a few questions that have been received, I thought
it would be worth highlighting what is likely the most helpful PBA document
concerning the registrar program (click here: Guidelines on Areas of Practice Endorsements).
This is not a new document, but it is possible that some students may have
overlooked it when searching the PBA website (you may have noticed that I linked
the document to the blog I wrote earlier today).
Important details in the document (which is likely to assist
students who have emailed me) include:
1)A list of specific forms that need to be submitted in
order to start (and complete) the registrar program
2)An outline of the core competencies that need to be
addressed (both general competencies and competencies specific to obtaining the
“Clinical Neuropsychologist” title –see attachment B)
3)An Important definition of ‘psychological practice’ (i.e.
the type of work that counts towards the registrar program). NOTE: the work does
not necessarily have to be paid; and is not limited to direct clinical care and
can, in some circumstances, include such things as administration, education and research and advisory
work.
4)The amount of hours a one-year (1540 hours of practice)
and two-year (3080 hours of practice) full-time registrar program must consists
of. Importantly, the document clearly details how these hours can be spread
(i.e. over a maximum of five years. Though, as outlined in the document, there
are minimum requirements per year that must be maintained).
5)Information on ‘board-approved’ supervisors, including the
distinction between a ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ supervisor. As the title
suggests, both must be board-approved (the ‘secondary’ supervisor does
not have to be endorsed in the approved area).
Importantly, the transitional arrangements are not coved in
the document. Several PBA documents are available regarding transition arrangements,
such as page 5 and 9 of the FAQ.
More detailed information regarding Transitional
arrangements are available in the Fact sheet (Transition and grandparentingarrangements for area of practice endorsements).
Students who had commenced and was undertaking an APAC accredited higher degree
on 30 June 2010 or was a recent graduate on 30 June 2010 are examples of
individuals who can apply for an area of practice endorsement under the
transition rules.
There are important
deadlines specified by the PBA – in some instances to be covered under the
transition rule, the registrar program
must be completed and the application for area of practice endorsement must be
lodged prior to 30 June 2013 (i.e. applicants must submit the application
for approval of a registrar program before 30 June 2012 to start the one-year registrar program) (see page 7).
CCN2012 Conference: Expression of Interest to Attend Social Events
The College of Clinical Neuropsychology Conference Committee is currently planning the social programme for this year's CCN2012 Conference in Launceston (22nd-25th November).
A number of great social activities have been planned throughout the conference including a 5km fun run up the Cataract Gorge, a Cocktail party, a student function and a Tamar Valley Vineyard tour.
You can assist the committee by indicating your interest in attending a number of events planned for the conference on a doodle poll that they have set up:
http://www.doodle.com/4ziigmx7mp57g5we
This poll takes less than a minute to complete and is anonymous - only the conference committee will see the names. Please tick the events you're likely to attend, as this will help the committee work out the budget in the coming weeks. It will be assumed that if you tick any one of the events, you're very likely to be attending the conference.
A number of great social activities have been planned throughout the conference including a 5km fun run up the Cataract Gorge, a Cocktail party, a student function and a Tamar Valley Vineyard tour.
You can assist the committee by indicating your interest in attending a number of events planned for the conference on a doodle poll that they have set up:
http://www.doodle.com/4ziigmx7mp57g5we
This poll takes less than a minute to complete and is anonymous - only the conference committee will see the names. Please tick the events you're likely to attend, as this will help the committee work out the budget in the coming weeks. It will be assumed that if you tick any one of the events, you're very likely to be attending the conference.
PBA, AHPRA, APS, APS-CCN: Introduction to Key Organisations (and lots of links!)
There seems to be some confusion related to registrar requirements and it
seems that some of this might be based on students viewing the PBA endorsement
requirements and the APS-CCN Membership requirements and being puzzled that they do not
completely correspond.
It is important to emphasise that, while there are many similarities, the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) requirements for endorsement (i.e. getting the ‘Clinical Neuropsychologist’ Title) is separate to the Australian Psychological Society (APS) requirements for Full Membership for the College of Clinical Neuropsychologists (CCN). Some students may not even fully realise that the PBA and APS are completely distinct organisations.
So I thought I would briefly detail what the PBA and APS are and how they are different.
The Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) is the national board for the psychology profession in Australia - the PBA regulates registration and ultimately the title of “Psychologist” and "Clinical Neuropsychologist.' The PBA is a part of the broader Australia Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). AHPRA also includes other national boards, such as the Medical Board and Dental Board.
The PBA is a fairly new entity. Before the PBA, the profession of psychology was regulated by separate state psychology boards (e.g., a NSW Psychology Board, a VIC Psychology Board etc.), some with slightly different registration requirements, making it a bit confusing if psychologists wanted to practice interstate.
As the PBA regulates the requirements to gain the title of Provisional Psychologist, General Psychologist and finally Clinical Neuropsychologist, to get the title of Clinical Neuropsychologist, students would ultimately want to primarily take note of the PBA requirements for endorsement. Probably the most helpful document pertaining to the PBA registrar program can be found here
The Australian Psychological Society (APS), does not regulate the registration of psychologists or the specialist titles, however it is the largest professional organisation that represents psychologists in Australia. More specifically the Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Neuropsychologists (APS-CCN) is the section of the APS that represents the specialist area of Clinical Neuropsychology.
APS membership and APS-CCN membership are separate things. One can become a Full Member of the APS without being a Full Member of the more specific APS-CCN (though if an individual is a Full Member of the APS-CCN they are necessarily a Full Member of the more general APS). To become a Full Member of the APS one need to have completed six years of study in Psychology (i.e. be fully registered as a psychologist). To become a Full Member of the APS-CCN one needs to complete additional training similar, but not identical, to the PBA registrar program involving supervised practice. Probably the most helpful link pertaining to the APS-CCN Full Membership requirements can be found here
It is important to emphasise that, while there are many similarities, the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) requirements for endorsement (i.e. getting the ‘Clinical Neuropsychologist’ Title) is separate to the Australian Psychological Society (APS) requirements for Full Membership for the College of Clinical Neuropsychologists (CCN). Some students may not even fully realise that the PBA and APS are completely distinct organisations.
So I thought I would briefly detail what the PBA and APS are and how they are different.
The Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) is the national board for the psychology profession in Australia - the PBA regulates registration and ultimately the title of “Psychologist” and "Clinical Neuropsychologist.' The PBA is a part of the broader Australia Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). AHPRA also includes other national boards, such as the Medical Board and Dental Board.
The PBA is a fairly new entity. Before the PBA, the profession of psychology was regulated by separate state psychology boards (e.g., a NSW Psychology Board, a VIC Psychology Board etc.), some with slightly different registration requirements, making it a bit confusing if psychologists wanted to practice interstate.
As the PBA regulates the requirements to gain the title of Provisional Psychologist, General Psychologist and finally Clinical Neuropsychologist, to get the title of Clinical Neuropsychologist, students would ultimately want to primarily take note of the PBA requirements for endorsement. Probably the most helpful document pertaining to the PBA registrar program can be found here
The Australian Psychological Society (APS), does not regulate the registration of psychologists or the specialist titles, however it is the largest professional organisation that represents psychologists in Australia. More specifically the Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Neuropsychologists (APS-CCN) is the section of the APS that represents the specialist area of Clinical Neuropsychology.
APS membership and APS-CCN membership are separate things. One can become a Full Member of the APS without being a Full Member of the more specific APS-CCN (though if an individual is a Full Member of the APS-CCN they are necessarily a Full Member of the more general APS). To become a Full Member of the APS one need to have completed six years of study in Psychology (i.e. be fully registered as a psychologist). To become a Full Member of the APS-CCN one needs to complete additional training similar, but not identical, to the PBA registrar program involving supervised practice. Probably the most helpful link pertaining to the APS-CCN Full Membership requirements can be found here
Thursday, June 14, 2012
CCN conference - submissions close Monday 18th June
It's very exciting to see the number of submissions steadily increasing leading up to our deadline.
In case you're a student who'd like to present at the conference, but don't yet have data to report, have you considered submitting a presentation based on your literature review under our "Neuropsychological Controversies" section?
This presentation type is intended to be an opportunity for students and recent graduates (or anyone, really) to present the most up-to-date information and controversies that they've identified in their research. We figure that students are immersed in the most recent research in a whole range of areas across the lifespan. They're often even more up-to-date than their supervisors. Giving students (and recent graduates) the opportunity to present a controversies and recent developments that they have identified in their research will update the knowledge of those of us who studied long, or not so long, ago, and will also allow discussion and sharing of ideas and references related to the field of study. Research findings could then be shared in the poster session, potentially allowing the student two abstracts in the conference proceedings.
Just as presenting research findings at conferences can help students in preparing their theses, this session may even help in preparation of literature reviews for publication as stand-alone articles...
Have a look at presentation ideas at http://ccn2012.blogspot.com There's a post on student initiatives that we hope will have you feeling enthused about coming. And sitting down this weekend to write an abstract based on the exciting, new, controversial, clinically relevant information you have discovered in your exhaustive hours of reading the literature....
And don't be intimidated by the Neuropsychology in Action theme - we're interested in any submissions that update our knowledge and understanding of topics in the field - if you're doing research and sharing your insights, that's being active!
Finally, since not all students are aware of the conference, or are even members of the CCN, please feel free to forward the link to this blog to your neuropsychology friends, and encourage them to join! The more the merrier, and the easier it will be for us to develop a collaborative community of neuropsychologists.
In case you're a student who'd like to present at the conference, but don't yet have data to report, have you considered submitting a presentation based on your literature review under our "Neuropsychological Controversies" section?
This presentation type is intended to be an opportunity for students and recent graduates (or anyone, really) to present the most up-to-date information and controversies that they've identified in their research. We figure that students are immersed in the most recent research in a whole range of areas across the lifespan. They're often even more up-to-date than their supervisors. Giving students (and recent graduates) the opportunity to present a controversies and recent developments that they have identified in their research will update the knowledge of those of us who studied long, or not so long, ago, and will also allow discussion and sharing of ideas and references related to the field of study. Research findings could then be shared in the poster session, potentially allowing the student two abstracts in the conference proceedings.
Just as presenting research findings at conferences can help students in preparing their theses, this session may even help in preparation of literature reviews for publication as stand-alone articles...
Have a look at presentation ideas at http://ccn2012.blogspot.com There's a post on student initiatives that we hope will have you feeling enthused about coming. And sitting down this weekend to write an abstract based on the exciting, new, controversial, clinically relevant information you have discovered in your exhaustive hours of reading the literature....
And don't be intimidated by the Neuropsychology in Action theme - we're interested in any submissions that update our knowledge and understanding of topics in the field - if you're doing research and sharing your insights, that's being active!
Finally, since not all students are aware of the conference, or are even members of the CCN, please feel free to forward the link to this blog to your neuropsychology friends, and encourage them to join! The more the merrier, and the easier it will be for us to develop a collaborative community of neuropsychologists.
Monday, May 14, 2012
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 :)
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 :)
Sunday, May 13, 2012
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.
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.
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