37383 (2024). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills

37383 (2024). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills: Will the government increase the number of clinical psychologists trained every year; if so by what proportion and by when will those psychologists be trained?

Hon Penny Simmonds: The Government does not cap the number of places that are available in clinical psychology programmes. Tertiary education organisations (TEOs) are autonomous and determine the number of places they can offer. The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) publishes annual guidance outlining which areas of provision are prioritised for investment which helps inform TEOs in their decision making. Clinical psychology is currently an investment priority. Investment priorities are based on the Tertiary Education Strategy, Government focus and, for 2025, advice from Workforce Development Councils. I am advised that the rate at which new clinical psychologists can be trained and enter the workforce is constrained by several factors, in particular the capacity of practicing clinical psychologists to provide academic and clinical supervision within the University programme.