Background:
Interest in and uptake of the 5+1 pathway to registration as a psychologist in Australia continues to grow exponentially. Currently, there are 29 Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited 5th year programs, often called the Master of Professional Psychology (MPP), offered nationally. Following conversations among MPP course coordinators in 2022, the need for a forum to discuss and respond to issues impacting MPP programs was identified. The Master of Professional Psychology Course Coordinators Network (MPPCCN) was thus founded in June 2023 as a forum for collegial discussion and reflection on issues affecting MPP programs, enabling members a space to collaboratively and collectively tackle and problem solve these issues, with the goal of optimising the delivery MPP programs.
Objective:
The MPPCCN aims to:
- Identify and articulate issues affecting MPP programs at the local and national levels. This might, for example, include changes implemented by APAC or the Psychology Board of Australia that impact MPP programs.
- Generate ideas and solutions that aim to address these issues with the goal of collectively improving MPP programs.
- Collaborate on actions that aim to improve the sector. For example, through advocacy, research, publications, position papers, and benchmarking.
Membership:
Members of the MPPCCN are current MPP Course Coordinators, Placement Coordinators, and Postgraduate Psychology Leads. Where appropriate, an MPP course may be represented by other relevant staff/nominee (e.g., discipline lead).
The MPPCCN is led by two co-Chairs who serve for two years duration, with each co-chair stepping down on alternating years. Nominations for one new co-chair will be sought annually each October.
Current MPPCCN Co-Chairs and Contacts:
- Dr Elizabeth Pizarro-Campagna (elizabeth.pizarro@acu.edu.au)
- Dr Trisha Nowland (trisha.nowland@mq.edu.au)