Week 2.3

Question 1

1966

Answer 1

Foundation of the Australian Psychological Society (941 original members)

Question 2

1968

Answer 2

First Specialist Title Registration for Clinical Psychologists commenced in Western Australia’s Psychologists Registration Act

Question 3

1983

Answer 3

Board of Clinical Psychologists formed

Question 4

2006

Answer 4

The Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative has allowed access to psychology services through Medicare

Question 5

2010

Answer 5

National Registration and Endorsed Area of Practice in Clinical Psychology commenced;

Clinical College represents over 50% of all APS college memberships and around 20% of APS membership

Question 6

2018

Answer 6

National examination for 4+2 and 5+1 provisional psychologists

Question 7

Major influences in psychology

Answer 7

1) Federation
2) Government motivation in recognising psychologists
3) Power of the medical model
4) Power/dominance of academic psychology
5) Power/dominance of scientific psychology (Scientist-practitioner model)

Question 8

Federation

Answer 8

To achieve federation (1901), states rights were enshrined in the constitution and as a consequence, the development of psychology has been fragmented and dominated by state issues

Question 9

States and psychology registration

Answer 9

Like the trains, every state had its own registration board, its own regulations and if psychologists moved interstate they were required to register in the new state (state controlled)

Question 10

Government motivation in recognizing psychologists

Answer 10

For example, in Victoria, psychologists were registered and provided with a protected title not because of the positive contribution psychology could make but - The Victorian Bolte Government was under pressure to reduce the growing influence of Scientology – especially the e-meter.

Question 11

E-meter

Answer 11

The Hubbard electro-psychometer (e-meter) is a crude lie detector used by Scientology counsellors to examine a person’s mental state. They claimed the device allowed them to ‘see a thought’

Question 12

1965 Anderson Inquiry

Answer 12

After the 1965 Anderson Inquiry, the Government restricted who could practice counseling and therapy [and created Psychologist registration]

Question 13

Power of the medical model

Answer 13

Medical model:

• Dominates the philosophy of health - hence focuses on primary care (treatment) rather than primary health care (prevention)
• Conceptualises all health problems as having biological causes and thus medical intervention

Question 14

Role of medical practitioners

Answer 14

Medical practitioners are the gate-keepers of health, hence:

• For a while the AMA directed Doctors to only refer patients with mental health problems to other medically trained professionals (psychiatrists)
• Currently, they control Medicare referrals to psychologists and regulate treatment parameters (what to treat - mainly anxiety and depression - and for how many sessions)

Question 15

Medical practitioners are…

Answer 15

Powerful in Australia - government has nominated medical professionals as the gateway to all health (need referrals)