The NSW Department of Education employs over 1200 school counselling staff, including school psychologists.

A record six students from Macquarie’s Master of Professional Psychology program have been offered NSW Education Department scholarships.

The Department’s Psychology Graduate Scholarship Program supports high-achieving psychology graduates to complete a Master of Professional Psychology and become school psychologists working in metropolitan, regional and rural public schools across the state.

A scholarship covers course costs up to $38,000, plus extras including a textbook allowance, supervised placements in schools, a one-year full-time internship when they finish study, and a permanent position as a school psychologist.

The Department of Education employs more than 1200 staff in the school counselling service across 2220 schools and the number of school psychologists continues to increase.

Master of Professional Psychology Course Director Dr Josephine Paparo says the scholarship program is an excellent pathway for graduates who want to work with children and young people in the diverse environments of NSW public schools.

“All our students do placements as part of the course, but the only way to get a placement in a public school is through this program,” she says.

“Usually, most of the recipients are from universities that offer specialty training programs in school psychology.

“Macquarie’s previous record was two scholarships in a year, so the fact that this year we have received more offers than any other non-specialist psychology program is very pleasing.”

Danya Braunstein, Pratica and Skills Training Co-ordinator in the School of Psychological Sciences, says becoming a school psychologist in the Department of Education requires specific experience that many graduates don’t have.

“Working in schools requires a comprehensive knowledge of assessments, and that’s something that the provisional psychologists can learn during their placements and internship,” she says.

“This is the perfect opportunity for them to learn vital skills on the job.

“This year, we made a concerted effort to support students to apply for the program. We really want them to land well after graduation.”