Practice-based psychology will again be offered to Gippsland students, since the change-over of the former Monash University campus.
Federation University Gippsland is offering a Bachelor of Psychological Science and Bachelor of Health Sciences in 2015.
The degrees are formally accredited programs and recognised by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council.
FedUni Head of Psychology Suzanne McLaren said teachers of theoretical psychology were excited to offer accredited psychology with a scientific basis.
Professor McLaren said the Churchill campus would also be hiring additional staff with plans to offer a fourth year program in the future, which would allow students to work as provisional psychologists upon completion.
“We want to train local people that are prepared to stay, and that’s true of any profession we’re talking about,” Professor McLaren said.
“The loss of accredited psychology (at the former Monash University Gippsland) impacted the psychology profession in the Gippsland region. Students had to leave to do their undergraduate degree in metropolitan areas and were unlikely to come back.”
Latrobe Regional Hospital mental health services director Cayte Hoppner said the availability of psychology programs in Gippsland would positively impact the recruitment of local students for placements and future careers in the mental health service.
“The mental health service relies on the availability of specialist staff and the commitment of FedUni to the psychology program in the region supports the specialist workforce development a Latrobe Regional Hospital,” Ms Hoppner said.
