Clinical Psychology
The Clinical Psychology Department at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) offers services to consumers with mental health difficulties across various inpatient and outpatient clinics.
Our Clinical Psychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists work within an evidence-based, consumer-centred framework to enhance the wellbeing and psychological health outcomes of our consumers. We have training in the assessment, formulation, diagnosis, and intervention of mental health conditions and psychological problems across the lifespan. We work collaboratively with consumers, families and clinical staff to identify and manage emotional, psychological, cognitive and behavioural factors that may be impacting on a person’s wellbeing or engagement with treatment and self-management.
Our Clinical Psychologists provide assessment, formulation, diagnosis, intervention and prevention of psychological issues. We can help consumers to:
- Cope with symptoms associated with mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, psychosis and borderline personality disorder.
- Understand and adjust to their illness or injury.
- Better manage somatic complaints such as pain, fatigue, issues with sleep.
- Assist with behaviour changes including engaging in healthy lifestyle habits.
Our Clinical Neuropsychologists provide assessment, diagnostic clarification and provision of treatment recommendations of cognitive, emotional and behavioural issues associated with a range of brain conditions. We can help our consumers and care teams:
- Understand cognitive strengths and weakness and their impact on function.
- Manage complex behaviours and development of comprehensive behaviour plans.
- Diagnose brain dysfunction.
- Provide treatment strategies and discharge planning for consumers with cognitive and/or behavioural changes.
The Department is involved in ongoing quality improvement and research activities and is committed to the training and upskilling of RPBG clinicians.
Some of the training initiatives we have developed include:
- Assessing and Responding to the Suicidal Person (ARSP)
- Borderline Personality Disorder: Introduction to Core Competencies
- Borderline Personality Disorder: Deep Dive into Emotion Regulation
- Why Transference and Countertransference Matters
- Navigating the Line of Professional Boundaries
If you would like to hear more about our research or how you could partner with our team, email Dr Melanie Newton.
As a Clinical Psychologist within our team across Royal Perth Bentley Group (RPBG) you will be supported to grow in your career.
We offer a number of opportunities and benefits at RPBG including:
- A Head of Department who oversees and leads the strategic direction of psychology at RPBG and a dedicated senior team who guides and supports the development of the profession.
- A large team of clinical psychologists with a wealth of experience and knowledge.
- Free professional development opportunities through the EMHS Learning Management System and our in-house clinical programs:
- Early Career Learning & Development Program (LDP) for graduates and those in their early career.
- Complex Review & Academic Development Program (CAD) for seniors and those in their mid career.
- Graduate entry position through our Graduate Placement Program to support completion of the registrar program (see below).
- Clinical supervision.
- Opportunities to participate in research and innovative projects.
- Opportunities to be part of our training team.
- Exposure to a range of clinical presentations in a supportive multidisciplinary team environment to enhance clinical competency.
- Opportunity to work across a range of services within mental health, medical and surgical teams.
- All the benefits of working at RPBG including salary packaging.
The Clinical Psychology Graduate Program is a 2-year comprehensive program for eligible current final year graduate psychologists seeking support through the registrar program to gain clinical endorsement. This exciting new position will support your transition into the workforce after completing your university-based training, while you undertake your clinical registrar program.
During your two-year registrar period, you will rotate through two different services within RPBG’s mental health services, giving you experience in areas such as consultation liaison, adult community programs, and adult inpatient programs.
To support your development, you will have:
- a reduced clinical caseload.
- four hours of protected time per week for reflective practice.
- access to group supervision led by our experienced senior team.
- be enrolled in our Early Career Learning & Development Program (LDP), which includes regular free professional development sessions and the chance to network with other clinical psychologists and clinical psychology registrars working across RPBG.
- in addition to the PsyBA competencies for your clinical registrar program, you will also be supported to develop personal wellness and resilience strategies, and explore career pathways in public health.
How to apply
The Program recruits every 2 years. Recruitment for the next intake will begin in October 2023 with a view for commencement in February 2024. Continue to monitor this page for further information that will be released closer to the date.
For more information please email.
RPBG has a strong tradition of offering student placements to trainee psychologists across a range of clinical settings and locations. Placements may be available in a variety of services including:
- Inpatient adult mental health at RPH, Bentley Health Service (BHS), or Bidi Wungen Kaat Service located in St James.
- Older adult mental health services.
- Inpatient youth mental health at BHS.
- Gender Diversity Service at RPH.
- Consultation Liaison at RPH.
- Trauma Service at RPH.
- Pain Medicine at RPH.
- Breast Clinic at RPH.
- Inpatient medical and rehabilitation services at BHS.
We offer a Student Placement Program that includes opportunity to attend some of the Early Career Learning & Development Program (LDP), which includes regular free professional development sessions and the chance to network with other clinical psychologists and clinical psychology registrars working across RPBG. The Student Placement Program offers other benefits including:
- Tours of our many services to gain an understanding of the areas where clinical psychology can work in the public sector.
- Opportunities to shadow senior clinicians to gain insight into the work we do.
- Access to our EMHS Learning Management System.
Applications for placement opportunities are organised through the university placement coordinators and we encourage you to discuss placements at RPBG with them.