Auckland University of Technology will be helping develop training for the new associate psychologist role to help more New Zealanders access mental health and addiction support.  

The university will be joining the work to develop training for the new role which aims to help meet growing demand for mental health and addiction services and build the workforce.

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) Acting Director Mentally Well Lisa Gestro said “This is part of a programme of work to increase the mental health and addiction workforce in both the short and long term, so we can continue to build capacity over time. We’re working to strengthen and continue to develop a sustainable multi-tiered workforce.”

“People seeking help from mental health services have widely varying backgrounds and needs,” Gestro said. “The associate psychologist will add a new tier of complementary skills to our services, working as part of a multi-disciplinary team that considers the whole person, providing support tailored to the needs of each individual and their whānau.”

AUT will be working alongside the University of Canterbury to develop a curriculum to train students for the new qualification. Students graduating with an undergraduate degree with a psychology focus may now be able to continue their studies to complete a one-year post-graduate diploma to become an associate psychologist.

“We are delighted to be collaborating with the University of Canterbury to deliver this important initiative,” says Dr Liesje Donkin, Associate Professor in Psychology and Neuroscience, who will be co-leading the work at AUT.

“The qualification will offer students a new accessible pathway into a career in mental health. We anticipate that will include opportunities for students who want to become psychologists to step out of study, and move into the workforce, gaining valuable experience and a chance to earn while they learn. We expect some may return to further psychology training,” Donkin says.

The post-graduate diploma will be underpinned by psychological theory, clinical skill development and practical experience, ensuring any graduates are well-prepared for entry into the workforce.

“We are aiming to train 20 students in the first intake for the new programme in 2026, with the first graduates joining the workforce in 2027. We hope this number will grow over time,” says Donkin.

“We are grateful for the constructive feedback we’ve had from registered psychologists and these views from our professional colleagues will help inform the programme development and stakeholder engagement work ahead.”

“Associate psychologists will be registered health professionals with regulatory oversight from the New Zealand Psychologists Board (NZPB),” says Lisa Gestro from Health NZ. “They will work with the supervision of a registered psychologist within services and teams to provide integrated psychological care to people with low to moderate needs. This will enhance the support provided by mental health and addiction services and teams, while also freeing up psychologists to focus on more complex work and people who require more intensive support.”

“Psychologists will continue to play an essential role, and we are working with universities to increase the numbers of students training to become registered psychologists,” Gestro said. “The associate psychologist role doesn’t reduce the need for psychologists, it supports them. Together with the NZPB, we’re working to develop models of care so that associate psychologists can provide care with access to appropriate supervision. This will expand the ability of our services to provide more people with psychological care who otherwise might have had a longer wait to access the help they need.”

AUT’s Professor Brett Cowan, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, says the Postgraduate Diploma in Associate Psychology responds to a national call for a mental health workforce that has high flexibility to deliver impact.

“Responding to sector needs and requirements, this qualification reflects AUT's commitment to innovation and preparing graduates to support the wellbeing of communities across Aotearoa."

Health NZ and the NZPB continue to work to guide the development of the scope of practice, competencies and accreditation process for the role. The two universities will work collaboratively alongside Health NZ and the NZPB to ensure the qualification meets workforce needs and regulatory requirements. The

NZPB will also advise on a final title for the role, so the name “associate psychologist” is being used as a placeholder.