About our placements Placement psychologists are based at Gateway Health in Wangaratta.
The clinic aims to support the health and wellbeing of rural and remote communities whilst providing placement psychologists with mental health training opportunities in a regional area.Vocational placements run from February to early December.
We consider candidates wishing to complete a one-semester vocational placement (5 months) and those applicants who are able to commit to 2 semesters (10 months).
One-semester vocational placements correspond with university semesters - February to June and July to December.
If your university has a different placement schedule we are happy to accommodate that.
What to expect The Gateway Health Psychology Clinic offers a nurturing and professionally stimulating vocational placement experience for our placement psychologists.
Supervisors are an experienced team of psychologists and clinical psychologists.
Placement psychologists are an integral part of our team.Service delivery is via face-to-face and telehealth.
Clients can be from a range of service streams including our GPs, Alcohol and Other Drugs service, Head to Health, allied health services, headspace, and aged care services.
Clients are also referred by external agencies such as Upper Murray Family Care and Northeast Child and Adolescent Mental Health.We see clients from across all age groups.
They can present with a wide range of symptoms and/or family, social, behavioural, and relationship issues.
While not all clients meet DSM criteria for a clinical diagnosis, there is a very high clinical component of presenting issues related to mental health.Working in rural services also offers unique insights into collaborative work with other service providers and the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the continuum of care.Training experiences include:offering short and intermediate-term individual therapyparticipating in running therapeutic or support groups on issues such as anxiety management, motivation, and distress toleranceinvolvement in projects and counselling service initiativesengaging in individual and group supervisionworking with psychologists with various orientations in counselling and psychology.Placement psychologists are expected to participate in a minimum of 2 days a week at the Psychology Clinic (16 hours) and attend weekly individual and peer supervision.
Peer supervision occurs on Wednesdays from 10am till 11:30am.To support placements accommodation is provided free of charge and there is some flexibility with working hours to accommodate travel.
Client contact The Gateway Health Psychology Clinic endeavours to provide an appropriate level of client hours to allow placement psychologists to achieve course requirements.We manage the workload so that placement psychologists also have adequate time for case notes, follow-up, and planning during the working day.At the beginning of the placement, placement psychologists are provided with an orientation to the service and technology.
They negotiate with their supervisor on when they can begin seeing their own clients - This typically occurs within the first week of placement.The minimum number of clients we expect our placement psychologists to see each day is 3.
This may increase to 4 or 5 clients per day as the placement psychologist gains confidence.We inform our clients that they have an appointment with a provisional psychologist.
Supervision, support and group meetings Experienced psychologists provide comprehensive supervision and support in the service.Placement psychologists have a weekly one-hour supervision meeting with their supervisor.
They also have a backup supervisor who will meet with them regularly.Placement psychologists attend weekly peer supervision.
This is a one and half hour group supervision session run by a rotating member of our supervision team.
This provides valuable peer support, networking and information-sharing opportunities.Besides the discussion of case material and other pertinent issues, Gateway Health psychologists and other allied health staff present on specialist topics chosen in consultation with our placement psychologists.Placement psychologists have access to their supervisor, backup supervisor, or another Gateway Health psychologist, outside the formal supervision hour for consultations regarding clients as required.Wangaratta is a regional town, situated northeast of Melbourne.
It is a well-known historical area with plenty to see and do within walking distance.If you love the outdoors there are many exciting possibilities including bike riding (or mountain bike riding if you like a bit more adrenaline), swimming and kayaking, chasing waterfalls and secret waterholes, and walking (from short strolls to multi-day bushwalking adventures).
We are close to world-class award-winning wineries from regions such as the King Valley, Glenrowan, Milawa, Rutherglen and Beechworth.
Regional produce is celebrated both within our restaurants and throughout farm gates nestled around the region.Wangaratta is only 2 and a half hours away from Melbourne along the Hume freeway.
There are daily rail services between Melbourne and Sydney stopping at the Wangaratta station.To apply for a vocational placement at the Gateway Health Psychology Clinic you must:be currently enrolled in a postgraduate psychology training programhave a current Working with Children Checkhave had at least one clinical or counselling vocational placement and/or equivalent clinical or counselling work experience.
How to apply We accept applications throughout the year.
Placements start dates are generally February and June but other options can be discussed.The application and selection process consists of 5 main stages:Submit your online application - This should include your CV/resume with your referees listed and a cover letter stating:your reasons for applying for a placement in the Gateway Health Psychology Clinicwhether you are applying for the full 10-month placement or one semester - If the latter, which semesteryour area of specialisation e.g. Clinical, Qualified, Psychology, etc.Pre-screening - The clinic's recruitment team screens all applications and suitable candidates are placed on a shortlist.Interview - If you are short-listed for a placement position you will be asked to attend a 30-minute interview via Zoom or in person, dependent on your location.Offer letter - If you are selected following the interview you will receive an email with your placement offer.Your tertiary Institution enters your accepted placement and safety screening requirements into PlaceRight.If you are a Vocational Placement Coordinator from a Masters or Doctoral program we are happy to meet with you to discuss our program in more detail and to answer any questions you may have.
📌 Psychology Clinic (2026 Student Placements)
🏢 Gateway Health
📍 Wangaratta