Postgraduate study isn't your only option

Quick stats on psych grads:

• In 2009 the average Australian starting salary for a Bachelor of Psychology graduate was $45,000.
• Bachelor of psychology graduates are the 12th highest paid graduates in Australia.
• 71% of graduates from an undergraduate psychology degree found full time work in 2009. A further 19.5% found part time work.

Your options:

As a psychology graduate you have a wealth of fantastic transferable skills that can take you into almost any occupation. The below list is not extensive, it is merely an example of the roles that you could find without going on to complete a postgraduate degree in psychology.

Research

Whether you love it or hate it, you have to admit that psychology students devote a LOT of time to statistics and research methods. These skills can come in handy in the business world, as a growing number of organisations are beginning to conduct more market research that relies on statistical skills. There are also opportunities within universities and other research bodies to find work as a Research Assistant.

The Government

Psychology graduates are highly regarded by government departments as they posses strong interpersonal, communication, and analytical skills. Areas such as the Department of Human Services, the Department of Education, or Centrelink will target psychology students in their graduate programs, or will specifically ask for a degree in psychology on their key selection criteria. Most Victorian departments advertise on the Victorian Government Careers site.

Teaching

A well known option for graduates from almost any discipline is to become a primary or secondary school teacher. This option allows you to pass on all of the knowledge that you have gained from your course, which can be very rewarding. The only drawback is that further study is required, but with the introduction of the trimester system at Deakin, some of the courses can be fast tracked and completed in only 7 months. For further information, visit the following pages: Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Primary) and Graduate Diploma of Education (Applied Learning).

Private tutoring

If you really excelled at a subject, why not help out a student who is struggling with it? Students often advertise on the Jobshop website when they are looking for assistance with certain topics within a unit, or in the lead up to exam time. All you need to do is keep a look out on the site, contact students who a looking for help, and then be prepared to answer any questions that they may have about the topic (it might be a good idea to buy an updated version of the study going too). In addition to keeping an eye on Jobshop, you can also register on sites such as Tutor Finder and let prospective 'clients' find you.

Counselling

Organisations such as Lifeline welcome psychology graduates into their program. Although the work is mostly voluntary, the experience is very rewarding and can lead to many other career paths.

ABA therapy

ABA therapists work one on one with children with autism using applied behaviour analysis techniques to teach. Employment opportunities will often come from private employers (families with children who have autism), or from organisations such as the Learning For Life Autism Centre. For more information see the Behavioural Neurotherapy Clinic website.

Add on an Honours degree or a Graduate Diploma in Psychology...

With a recognised 4th year program in psychology on top of your Bachelor degree many more doors will open, including:

Centrelink

As well as running graduate programs, Centrelink recruit provisional psychologists as Job Capacity Assessors; the only catch is that you may need to find an external supervisor. Centrelink usually recruit around March each year. More information can be found at the Centrelink careers website.

Hospitals

Graduates can often gain employment as provisional psychologists within hospitals or other medical facilities. These roles usually include supervision and can lead to full time continuing employment once the 2 year supervisor period is up. Try keeping an eye out for jobs at South West Healthcare, Barwon Health, or Ballarat Health Services.

Occupational rehabilitation

Employment in occupational rehabilitation usually involves the case management of workers who are injured on the job and need assistance with returning to work. These roles can sometimes include 2 years of supervision as a provisional psychologist. Organisations such as Konekt or the TAC often advertise roles that would suit a psychology graduate.

Correctional facilities

Correctional facilities can provide a challenging and very interesting way to gain work as a provisional psychologist. For more information take a look at this article written by a Deakin psychology graduate who works for a correctional facility.