Grow your team. Build the future

Additional support is available to employers who provide internships for provisional psychologists from priority cohorts, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander interns, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and interns living or working in regional, rural and remote areas (Modified Monash Model (MMM) 3 - 7).

Priority will be given to organisations working in areas of workforce need, including:

• Community mental health

• Child and youth services

• Regional, rural and remote services (MMM 3 - MMM 7). You can use the Australian Government’s Health Workforce Locator to check the MMM classification of your organisation.

Employing a provisional psychologist is an opportunity to invest in your organisation and the future of the psychology workforce.

The Program can help you:

• Grow the psychology workforce by developing emerging talent.

• Access financial incentives to help offset the cost of employing and supervising an intern.

• Build workforce capacity in areas experiencing shortages.

• Expand access to psychology services in communities where they are most needed.

• Develop and retain future psychologists within your organisation and community by providing them with experience, supervision and support, building a strong foundation for long-term workforce retention.

Financial incentives

Employers will receive a $4,500 employment stipend* for each internship, with an additional $2,500 stipend* for recruiting an intern from a priority cohort.

Supervision support

Employers who provide interns with access to internal supervision may receive an additional stipend* of up to $6,000. Where external supervision is required, the APS can assist in connecting interns with suitable Board-approved supervisors.

Connect with provisional psychologists

The APS can help connect employers with eligible provisional psychologists looking for internship opportunities, helping you find candidates who align with your organisation, location and areas of interest.

Support throughout the internship

Employers receive practical support to help facilitate a successful 5+1 internship, including access to an online system to track internship hours and requirements.

Professional development and career support for your intern

Interns participating in the Program receive access to 170+ hours of free, high-quality continuing professional development (CPD; including the National Psychology Exam: Planning and Preparation course), as well as reimbursement for one sitting of the National Psychology Exam. This provides additional professional development and learning opportunities throughout the internship year. Interns will also have access to the APS Professional Advisory Service, which provides guidance and support with professional, ethical or practice-related matters.

*All stipends will be paid by the APS in instalments based on the intern meeting the required practice and supervision hour milestones

We are seeking employers who are committed to providing high-quality internships that meet the 5+1 internship requirements set by the Psychology Board of Australia. To be eligible, employers must be able to provide an internship that includes:

An approved work role

The intern must undertake the practice of psychology in an approved work role that provides appropriate opportunities to develop the competencies required by the Psychology Board of Australia for general registration.

Appropriate supervision

The internship must include a principal Board-approved supervisor and one or more Board-approved secondary supervisors. An onsite supervisor is desirable. Where an external supervisor is required, the employer must support the intern to access appropriate supervision. The APS can assist with finding an external supervisor where necessary.

Education and training

The internship must provide appropriate opportunities for the intern to undertake education and training activities. As part of the Program, interns also receive access to 170+ hours of free, high-quality CPD (including the National Psychology Exam: Planning and Preparation course) to support their ongoing learning and development throughout their internship.

Required hours and client contact

The internship must be able to support the intern to complete the 1,500 internship hours, including the required 500 hours of client contact, in accordance with Psychology Board of Australia’s requirements.

Professional competencies

The internship must provide sufficient scope and range of practice opportunities for the intern to develop and demonstrate the professional competencies required by the Psychology Board of Australia for general registration.

Direct observation

The employer must support the intern to complete direct observation requirements in accordance with Psychology Board of Australia’s requirements.

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Review the employer eligibility criteria and FAQs to make sure your organisation can provide an eligible 5+1 internship.

Step 2: Register your interest

Complete and submit the online expression of interest (EOI) form.

Step 3: EOI assessment

The APS 5+1 Pathway to Registration Program Team will assess your EOI, and contact you within 4 weeks to confirm your eligibility and discuss the next steps.

Step 4: Connect with an intern

If your organisation has been selected, the APS will connect you with an eligible provisional psychologist who has applied to the Program.

Step 5: Establish your internship

The APS team will work with you to progress the internship and access the available Program support.

You may be eligible to apply if the intern commenced their internship on or after 1 July 2026 and the internship meets the Program's eligibility requirements. Unfortunately, internships that commenced prior to 1 July 2026 are not eligible due to the Program's funding constraints.

As the Program ends on 30 June 2029, all internship activities must be completed by this date.

No. The provisional psychologist must be an employee rather than engaged as an independent contractor. Employment may be on a fixed-term contract on a full-time or part-time basis, provided the arrangement meets the relevant Psychology Board of Australia’s 5+1 requirements.

Yes. The APS works with provisional psychologists who have applied to the Program and may be able to connect your organisation with suitable candidates.

Matching will depend on factors such as location, availability, employer requirements and areas of interest.

Yes. Where external supervision is required, the APS can help connect the intern with a suitable Board-approved supervisor.

The employer must support the supervisor to observe the intern's practice and provide supervision in accordance with the Psychology Board of Australia’s requirements.

If you encounter difficulties that will impact the progression of the internship and therefore stipend release, please contact the APS 5+1 Program Team. The team can discuss the potential impact on stipends and where appropriate consider which supports and resources may be available to you.

Please contact the Australian Taxation Office to determine the tax implications of receiving stipends under this Program.