More psychology hubs to grow the frontline

The Government is increasing the number of Psychology Intern Hubs from six to eight next year to address bottlenecks in supervised training for psychology students. Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey stated that expanding the hubs will provide more students with placements in mental health and addiction services. Each hub will support up to 40 interns annually, creating clearer pathways from university into the frontline workforce. The initiative aims to remove barriers preventing students from gaining essential supervised experience.

The new hubs will operate across specialist, primary, and community services in locations including Waikato, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Northland, and Dunedin. Dedicated supervision, peer support, and exposure to diverse services will prepare interns for careers as psychologists. The expansion aligns with the Government’s broader plan to grow the psychology workforce and improve mental health service capacity. Health New Zealand will fund 85 internships in 2027, up from 75 this year.

A new Psychology Assistant role has been established to retain psychology graduates who do not secure postgraduate placements. These assistants will work alongside registered psychologists, providing practical support and accelerating access to care for patients. The role aims to keep graduates engaged in mental health while allowing psychologists to focus on complex cases. This initiative complements the hub expansion to build a sustainable workforce pipeline.

The Government’s plan includes doubling clinical psychology internships from 40 to 80, with a target of 85 internships funded in 2027. These measures are part of a wider effort to deliver faster access to mental health support and improve crisis response. The expansion reflects a commitment to addressing workforce shortages and strengthening frontline mental health services across New Zealand.