Regional SA desperate for more psychologists

A recent national survey found nearly half of post-graduate psychology students found work in unrelated fields after completing their studies.

That's despite regional psychologists and the Australian Psychological Society reporting there is great demand for their services in country areas.

Yorke Peninsula psychologist Chris Golding says he has waiting lists that are months long.

Having moved from Adelaide to establish his own practice, he says more training needs to be country-based to recruit professionals, to help meet demand.

"You then need the psychologists who are qualified to supervise them, to be able to support that. Sometimes that's not always available."

Country Health SA's Acting Executive Director of Mental Health, Ruth McPhail, agrees the pathway to the country isn't entirely clear.

"When you go from country to study in the metropolitan area and then looking for other graduate opportunities, it makes it harder and harder to go back to country."

But she says a graduate program at Port Lincoln has shown encouraging results in engaging with country communities.

"48 people from all over Australia applied, because positions are very difficult to get."

She says the department is also looking at building new psychologist positions across regional South Australia.

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