Specialist Fields in Psychology
Research
Excellent opportunities exist within universities, hospitals, organisations like the CSIRO and DSTO, and other social research institutes and agencies, to undertake research into questions that will advance our knowledge of psychology.
Clinical
Clinical psychologists are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health needs. Their aim is to help people with psychological disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, or anxiety; people with disabilities (intellectual, linguistic, sensory, motor); and other people with neuropsychological problems associated with acquired brain damage or dementia; people having problems with substance abuse (alcohol, nicotine or other addictive drugs) or with gambling; and children and adolescents with specific learning difficulties, conduct disorders or problems with psychosocial adjustment.
Academic
Academic psychologists conduct research and teach in Universities. Research is often done in conjunction with other Disciplines, other Universities or non-academic organisations.
Community
Community psychologists help people to achieve their goals in areas such as welfare and community projects.
Counselling
Counsellors provide help to individuals, couples, families or groups (in vocational or family settings, for example). Their clients are people who are seeking assistance to resolve relationship difficulties, conflicts, or other problems that are seriously impacting on their lives. The broad aim of counselling is to facilitate communication, decision-making, problem-solving and conflict resolution.
Education
School psychologists seek to help students with behavioural problems or learning difficulties. These psychologists typically have teaching experience and have elected to study psychology in order to work with students with special educational needs. Their role is to identify the factors that may be limiting the ability of individual students to respond well to the school curriculum, and to design interventions that will help them to cope more effectively with the demands that are being placed on them.
Forensic
Forensic psychologists work in legal and criminal justice settings. Their roles range from the investigation and prevention of various crimes, to the provision of expert opinions on matters that are brought for trial within the court system. Significant numbers of forensic psychologists are also employed in corrective services. One of their roles is to conduct programs aimed at rehabilitating convicted offenders, so that, on completion of their sentence, they will be more likely to lead productive, law-abiding lives.
Health
Health psychologists are employed in the health system. They help people with illnesses like asthma, cancer, and other conditions that are associated with chronic or recurrent pain and affect quality of life. Health psychologists also help to promote good health through adherence to a balanced diet, exercise programs, stress management strategies, and compliance with prescribed medication.
Neuropsychology
Clinical Neuropsychologists are involved in the diagnosis and rehabilitation of disorders that are associated with some type of brain damage caused either by a congenital disorder or acquired later in life. Included among the causes of brain damage are: traumatic brain injuries, strokes, brain tumours, exposure to neurotoxic substances, alcohol abuse, oxygen deprivation, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's Disease, and Parkinson's Disease. Clinical Neuropsychologists are interested in the cognitive, emotional, and psychosocial changes that are associated with these disorders.
Organisational Psychology and Human Factors
These psychologists perform a wide variety of roles within business and industry. These roles include personnel selection, organisational and human resource management, product design and marketing, staff training, and occupational health and safety. The objective of organisational psychologists is to optimise the fit between the individual employee and the workplace so that both job satisfaction and productivity are maximised. Human factors psychologists are concerned with the factors that may contribute to human error, including the degree to which the design of technology takes into account the capacities of those who are required to use it.
Sport
Sports psychologists work principally with elite athletes and teams to help them prepare mentally for competition, and to cope with the psychological stresses that are inevitably involved in performing at the highest level.
